Being a mom is a tough job, and adding in a full-time or part-time job to your everyday mom hustle can be an extra layer of challenge, especially when it comes to finding the right daycare for your child. As a parent, you want to make sure that your child is in a safe and nurturing environment while you're at home completing the roles and responsibilities of your job.
10 Daycare Tips For Working Moms That Only a Parent Would Tell You
This of us as your mom BFF, as we walk you through daycare tips for working moms that only another parents would tell you.
1. Start small, if possible
So, you've gotten to the point where you know that you can't juggle working from home full time and also being a stay at home mom? It's a lot to handle! When you make the choice that daycare is going to be the right answer, start small if you can. Test out part-time daycare or possibly a nanny share of some sort. This can help make the transition easier for everyone if your little ones do need to be put in daycare full time.
2. Start looking for a daycare early
One of the most important daycare tips for working moms is to start looking for a daycare early. Finding the right daycare can take time, so it's important to start looking as soon as possible. This will give you enough time to research and evaluate your options.
3. Plan as much as you can the night before
Once you have chosen the right daycare for you and your family, planning ahead is key. Your morning are about to get busier because you will need to get out the door and get your little one to daycare, so plan as much as you can the night before will make things as seamless as possible once the morning arrives. Lay out clothes, snacks, meals, diapers - everything that needs to be transported with you. This way, you aren't scrambling in the wee hours of the morning and you can come home refreshed and ready to work.
4. Label EVERYTHING!
With so many kids going in and out daycares on a daily basis, making sure that everything you send with them is labeled is super important.
5. If you can, find a daycare that provides meals
While this is not something offered at ever location and you might prefer to have more control over your child's meals when they are away from you, many moms have told us that having their daycare provide meals has been a game changer for them while they are busy working. Not having to even worry about packing up food, snacks, and drinks takes a lot of pressure away.
6. Don't worry about dressing them in fancy clothes
Daycare is not a fashion show and honestly, it's probably easier for you, your child, and the daycare workers for it not to be. Save the perfect outfits for weekends and special times outside of work hours. While they are at daycare have them dressed for comfort. And no one is judging if your little one shows up in footie pajamas!
7. Make sure to learn ahead about holiday hours, snow days, etc
This is not something you want to find out too late, especially if you have older children in school and younger children in daycare. Find out how your facility handles all holidays as well as snow days - you don't want to be stuck without childcare.
8. Teach your kids independence early
This is a really helpful tip for working moms because you can't be everywhere or do everything for everyone all at the same time. Whenever they are able to do basic things like dressing themselves in the morning and grabbing a bowl of cereal without help, the second chapter of your life can begin.
9. Let go of the mom guilt
Last but not least, let go of all that pent-up mom guilt! Seriously. Wash your hands of that. Being a working mom is extremely challenging - especially when you have little ones - and you are doing the best you can every single day. You're a rockstar, mama!
Also, if you have kids who are slightly different ages and have to attend two different day cares or programs, hiring a responsible college-age young adult to help with drop-off and pick-ups is a great help for chaotic mornings and evenings!
Looking for more work from home tips? You'll find these helpful:
- 10 Things To Consider When Choosing A Daycare
- 3 Baby Registry Mistakes To Avoid
- Hilarious Parenting Tweets That Will Make You LOL
- Self-Care Tips For New Moms
- 5 Things To Consider Before Sending An Under-The-Weather Child To Daycare
Finding the right daycare for your child can be a daunting task for working moms. However, by following these 10 daycare tips, you can make an informed decision that ensures your child's safety, well-being, and development. With these tips in mind, you can find a daycare that works best for you and your family that will also help with your work/life balance being a busy mom.
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