Settling In and the First Time at Daycare

Starting daycare is a major transition – both for your child and for you as parents. Your child needs to get used to new adults, new surroundings, and an entirely new everyday life, and you need to let go and entrust your child to others. It's completely natural that this can cause both worry and many questions. Therefore, it's in everyone's interest that the transition becomes as safe as possible, so your child can gradually get used to their new everyday life.

The Settling-In and Attachment Period

The settling-in period – also called the attachment period – is designed to create security for your child. For most children, the settling-in takes about two to three weeks, during which the child gradually spends more time at daycare. The first days, you as parents are present for shorter periods, so your child can explore the new surroundings with you as a safe base. Eventually, you will leave the room for short periods, so the child slowly gets used to being with the staff without you.

Close collaboration between you and the caregivers is an important part of settling in. Feel free to share your thoughts and observations, and be open about your child's signals. The caregivers have experience reading children's needs and will adapt the settling-in process to suit your particular child. Trust and dialogue are crucial for making the settling-in as safe as possible.

For many children, familiar objects can provide extra security in the new situation. This could be a comfort blanket, teddy bear, or pacifier that helps the child create a connection between home and daycare. At the same time, recognizable routines mean a lot. When meals, sleep, and play happen within fixed frameworks, it becomes easier for the child to find calm and feel at home.

Remember that all children are different. Some settle in quickly, while others need more time. As parents, it's important that you are patient and flexible and prepare for the settling-in to take the time your child needs. When you speak positively about daycare and show trust in the place, it helps your child build a secure expectation.

The First Time at Daycare

When the settling-in is complete, your child has usually bonded with one or two regular adults and has become familiar with most daily routines. After this begins a period where the focus is on creating stable and safe frameworks so the child can thrive in their new everyday life. This adjustment period often lasts about three months – for some children longer.

In the first period, the new environment can still feel overwhelming. Many children need to get used to many impressions, new faces, and sounds, and it takes time to feel completely safe. Saying goodbye to you as parents can still be difficult, and crying or restlessness are completely normal reactions. An important part of the process is that the child slowly learns that you always come back – here the staff plays an important role in supporting the child.

At the same time, your child is forming new relationships. The caregivers work with presence and care to build trust and security, so the child feels seen and understood. The fixed routines around meals, sleep, and play provide structure and predictability, which helps create calm in everyday life.

It's completely normal for children to react differently to the transition. Some children become more upset or seek extra closeness, while others quickly adapt. Regardless of how your child reacts, they need patience, support, and understanding – both from you and from the caregivers.

Amidst all the changes, it's also a time of great development. Your child gradually begins to develop more independence, engage in play with other children, and explore new activities and communities.

Your Role as Parents

As parents, you play an important role throughout the entire process. It can be difficult to entrust your child to others, but when you approach daycare with calm, trust, and positivity, it often rubs off on your child. Your sense of security helps the child feel more safe in their new everyday life.

Settling in and the first time at daycare is a major developmental milestone. With patience, open dialogue, and close collaboration between you and the caregivers, you give your child the best conditions for settling in and thriving.