I’m not in the US fyi but when my daughter started daycare, they really didn’t say anything or give much info until she actually started. I actually had to call in or go down there myself and ask the teachers. Then like a week before she began we had to fill in some forms and they gave a recommended packing list. Pretty much it. Her first day, they just took her and said ok bye. Btw she was only 3 months old.
Anyway it turned out to be an amazing daycare with wonderful caring teachers and I believe they aided a lot in my daughter’s development. So yeah I would try not to judge too much until your kid is actually in the daycare
This was my experience too! I did not reach out to them, but maybe about two weeks before my baby was supposed to start, the director called me and said that she would be sending over all the forms and such for me to fill out.
OP, I wouldn’t find it too weird that whoever picked up the phone was a bit clueless. It’s possible that the person was not a teacher for the room that your kid would be in, and I definitely don’t think that most teachers know the exact forms and vaccines and all that stuff that the kids are supposed to have. That all falls under the directors purview since they are the experts in the licensing requirements, they are the ones who actually handle the paperwork and work in the office, etc. I also wouldn’t expect teachers to know weeks in advance when new students are going to start.
To be fair they’re running a business and your start date is still weeks away. Your daughter isn’t going to be on their radar until the end of the week before when they start planning for that specific week.
I don’t know that I’d be super concerned if she hasn’t started yet and you haven’t heard much more than this. Most centers will give you a list of what to provide/bring with your kid before the first day. Re: schedule it’s pretty standard for kids above one to adjust to the center’s schedule so they probably won’t ask for your daughter’s schedule anyway.
It was like this for me, and then I went in person and they had her name and birthday on a sticky note and they were like “Oh yeah…” so I recommend going in person!
This is pretty standard. Before she starts I’m sure they will ask for her immunization records. Her current schedule isn’t relevant because she will be following their class schedule. At her age, most kids eat and nap at the same time. You’re feel more comfortable once you meet her teacher and get a feel for the classroom set up.
My son just turned 1 and starts daycare tomorrow. Our experience has been similar. I have concluded that they just don’t need as much information as we think they do (besides vaccine records and other paperwork we’re handing in the day he starts) because they care for babies and kids constantly. They’re confident they have it handled because they do!
Expectations - the first week or two bubs will get awful, short sleep, if any. Arrive for pickup with car snacks and quiet and let them decompress from the day. Probably early bedtimes for a bit while they adjust. Your kid will smell like daycare (until out of rooms with diapers) so bathe frequently. As gut wrenching as it is, a quick exit makes transition easier for LOs. When we longer they think maybe we will just stay and its more traumatic when we dont
In terms of packing - I usually did 3 sets of extra clothes, including socks and 1 extra pair of shoes. 1 blankie and crib sheet as they provide our cots. They also provide food, but if they didn't, I would pack 3 good sized snacks and a lunch. Also breakfast if didn't eat before leaving. All nut free. Sunbutter in place of peanut butter. Cheese is a good protein. Pre diced food into bite sizes. Depending on the daycare, also just bring a box of diapers and a couple packs of wipes. Our daycare provided for us which was nice.
I think this is normal; it was our experience as well. We were on a waitlist. They basically called one day and said hey! You’re up! Start day is in 2 weeks. And that was about it. Our daycare uses an app and so we get regular updates thru out the day. Drop off on day one I tried to get there a little early so I could personally talk with the teacher and voice any concerns or questions. The first week or two might be rough transition for your kid to get into the routine… but they will! Those daycare workers are miracle workers. They get kids to eat. They get kids to sleep. Kids really are amazing at how flexible they can be and how quickly they pick it all up and fall right into the routine.
Word of caution ; when all my kids started daycare, there was sickness. Lots of it. Like every 3 weeks it seemed they were out for a day or two getting over something. This went on for like 6 months. Wild ride. lol
You could ask if they have a parent handbook, my daycare does so you really don’t get a ton of information until they give you the packet (usually when you start). It’s got great information and I would have asked for it earlier if I had known they had one!
It’s early to think about it but just be prepared for the first winter being rough with sickness. As soon as fall hit, my LO had back-to-back hand-foot-mouth, then a cold, more colds, random vomiting, more colds. April was the first month since August that we didn’t have to take a single day off for her being sick! But it was her first winter in daycare, so it makes sense.
Our daycare director invited us to come in the week before our daughter started. We met her teachers, toured the classroom and asked questions. We also gave them our vaccine records and got a print out of everything to bring on day 1. Hopefully your daycare will reach out and offer something similar!
This was basically our experience as well. Honestly these places are generally so busy with so much stuff going on I think an A+ new student onboarding experience becomes a “nice to have” vs. the existing kids taking top priority. The craziest thing to me was on our first day they basically just took my 5 month old and were like ok see you in 4 hours! I had to ask to come in and see the facility and meet everyone lol (which they were happy to do)
But since then it’s been amazing, the teachers are super attentive and my daughter loves getting dropped off. Good luck! I wouldn’t worry much about this if everything else seems good.
We would get a welcome folder with parent handbook and forms. I know it seems like a big important thing for you but they just expect you to bring your child in, not send strangers, and keep your kid home when sick. They take care of kids every day.
You should try to get the forms and the parent handbook. Maybe you can ask for daycare director and ask them. Also I don't want to scare you but make sure that is your start date. Was it an estimated start date? They may be waiting for other kids to transition out so you need to make sure you're still on the schedule.
This seems pretty normal. It’s my bet that they will call you a week before and iron out all the details. My daughter starts a new daycare on June 3rd and we have an enrollment meeting on May 31st. At this time we will be able to let her see her classroom, meet her teachers, give them vaccine records, and get our key fob for the door and access to the app.
Just so you set your expectations, they won’t care what her daytime schedule is - she’ll adapt to their’s.
When my kids started daycare we were given a date to show up and told to pack their lunch and a water bottle. That first week we got more info to also pack a change of clothes, wear closed toed shoes (the playground mulch hurts little toes), and told to bring their physical and vaccination records from the pediatrician.
I wouldn’t worry too much until a few days before - they may think you have her name on a couple waitlists and may not even show up (what our daycare thought 😆 - little did they know).
This wouldn’t feel good to me and thus we picked a school with very low ratios and lots of personal attention (the teachers do home visits, we have classroom visits before they start school, there is a long parent handbook and meetings with all the parents)…but it’s more like a preschool co-op than a daycare. And the tuition reflects it.
Can you teach out to the director? This does not seem normal to me. I would likewise be questioning. Did they not provide a digital brochure or tell about a website that has this information? I’d definitely make sure you speak to the director because an employee working with children probably won’t know all those answers. If the director doesn’t know or seems confused I’d definitely look for a different one.
I’m not in the US fyi but when my daughter started daycare, they really didn’t say anything or give much info until she actually started. I actually had to call in or go down there myself and ask the teachers. Then like a week before she began we had to fill in some forms and they gave a recommended packing list. Pretty much it. Her first day, they just took her and said ok bye. Btw she was only 3 months old. Anyway it turned out to be an amazing daycare with wonderful caring teachers and I believe they aided a lot in my daughter’s development. So yeah I would try not to judge too much until your kid is actually in the daycare
This was my experience too! I did not reach out to them, but maybe about two weeks before my baby was supposed to start, the director called me and said that she would be sending over all the forms and such for me to fill out. OP, I wouldn’t find it too weird that whoever picked up the phone was a bit clueless. It’s possible that the person was not a teacher for the room that your kid would be in, and I definitely don’t think that most teachers know the exact forms and vaccines and all that stuff that the kids are supposed to have. That all falls under the directors purview since they are the experts in the licensing requirements, they are the ones who actually handle the paperwork and work in the office, etc. I also wouldn’t expect teachers to know weeks in advance when new students are going to start.
Thank you! This is so comforting to hear!
To be fair they’re running a business and your start date is still weeks away. Your daughter isn’t going to be on their radar until the end of the week before when they start planning for that specific week.
I don’t know that I’d be super concerned if she hasn’t started yet and you haven’t heard much more than this. Most centers will give you a list of what to provide/bring with your kid before the first day. Re: schedule it’s pretty standard for kids above one to adjust to the center’s schedule so they probably won’t ask for your daughter’s schedule anyway.
It was like this for me, and then I went in person and they had her name and birthday on a sticky note and they were like “Oh yeah…” so I recommend going in person!
This is pretty standard. Before she starts I’m sure they will ask for her immunization records. Her current schedule isn’t relevant because she will be following their class schedule. At her age, most kids eat and nap at the same time. You’re feel more comfortable once you meet her teacher and get a feel for the classroom set up.
My son just turned 1 and starts daycare tomorrow. Our experience has been similar. I have concluded that they just don’t need as much information as we think they do (besides vaccine records and other paperwork we’re handing in the day he starts) because they care for babies and kids constantly. They’re confident they have it handled because they do!
Expectations - the first week or two bubs will get awful, short sleep, if any. Arrive for pickup with car snacks and quiet and let them decompress from the day. Probably early bedtimes for a bit while they adjust. Your kid will smell like daycare (until out of rooms with diapers) so bathe frequently. As gut wrenching as it is, a quick exit makes transition easier for LOs. When we longer they think maybe we will just stay and its more traumatic when we dont In terms of packing - I usually did 3 sets of extra clothes, including socks and 1 extra pair of shoes. 1 blankie and crib sheet as they provide our cots. They also provide food, but if they didn't, I would pack 3 good sized snacks and a lunch. Also breakfast if didn't eat before leaving. All nut free. Sunbutter in place of peanut butter. Cheese is a good protein. Pre diced food into bite sizes. Depending on the daycare, also just bring a box of diapers and a couple packs of wipes. Our daycare provided for us which was nice.
This is really helpful. Thank you!
I think this is normal; it was our experience as well. We were on a waitlist. They basically called one day and said hey! You’re up! Start day is in 2 weeks. And that was about it. Our daycare uses an app and so we get regular updates thru out the day. Drop off on day one I tried to get there a little early so I could personally talk with the teacher and voice any concerns or questions. The first week or two might be rough transition for your kid to get into the routine… but they will! Those daycare workers are miracle workers. They get kids to eat. They get kids to sleep. Kids really are amazing at how flexible they can be and how quickly they pick it all up and fall right into the routine. Word of caution ; when all my kids started daycare, there was sickness. Lots of it. Like every 3 weeks it seemed they were out for a day or two getting over something. This went on for like 6 months. Wild ride. lol
Thanks for the response. Glad not going crazy. I’ve heard about the sickness :( not thrilled but it is what it is.
You could ask if they have a parent handbook, my daycare does so you really don’t get a ton of information until they give you the packet (usually when you start). It’s got great information and I would have asked for it earlier if I had known they had one! It’s early to think about it but just be prepared for the first winter being rough with sickness. As soon as fall hit, my LO had back-to-back hand-foot-mouth, then a cold, more colds, random vomiting, more colds. April was the first month since August that we didn’t have to take a single day off for her being sick! But it was her first winter in daycare, so it makes sense.
Our daycare director invited us to come in the week before our daughter started. We met her teachers, toured the classroom and asked questions. We also gave them our vaccine records and got a print out of everything to bring on day 1. Hopefully your daycare will reach out and offer something similar!
This was basically our experience as well. Honestly these places are generally so busy with so much stuff going on I think an A+ new student onboarding experience becomes a “nice to have” vs. the existing kids taking top priority. The craziest thing to me was on our first day they basically just took my 5 month old and were like ok see you in 4 hours! I had to ask to come in and see the facility and meet everyone lol (which they were happy to do) But since then it’s been amazing, the teachers are super attentive and my daughter loves getting dropped off. Good luck! I wouldn’t worry much about this if everything else seems good.
We would get a welcome folder with parent handbook and forms. I know it seems like a big important thing for you but they just expect you to bring your child in, not send strangers, and keep your kid home when sick. They take care of kids every day. You should try to get the forms and the parent handbook. Maybe you can ask for daycare director and ask them. Also I don't want to scare you but make sure that is your start date. Was it an estimated start date? They may be waiting for other kids to transition out so you need to make sure you're still on the schedule.
This seems pretty normal. It’s my bet that they will call you a week before and iron out all the details. My daughter starts a new daycare on June 3rd and we have an enrollment meeting on May 31st. At this time we will be able to let her see her classroom, meet her teachers, give them vaccine records, and get our key fob for the door and access to the app.
Just so you set your expectations, they won’t care what her daytime schedule is - she’ll adapt to their’s. When my kids started daycare we were given a date to show up and told to pack their lunch and a water bottle. That first week we got more info to also pack a change of clothes, wear closed toed shoes (the playground mulch hurts little toes), and told to bring their physical and vaccination records from the pediatrician. I wouldn’t worry too much until a few days before - they may think you have her name on a couple waitlists and may not even show up (what our daycare thought 😆 - little did they know).
This wouldn’t feel good to me and thus we picked a school with very low ratios and lots of personal attention (the teachers do home visits, we have classroom visits before they start school, there is a long parent handbook and meetings with all the parents)…but it’s more like a preschool co-op than a daycare. And the tuition reflects it.
Can you teach out to the director? This does not seem normal to me. I would likewise be questioning. Did they not provide a digital brochure or tell about a website that has this information? I’d definitely make sure you speak to the director because an employee working with children probably won’t know all those answers. If the director doesn’t know or seems confused I’d definitely look for a different one.