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Read some of our great articles on a range of parenting topics from sleeping to teething. We publish new blog posts regularly and feature a number of baby sleep experts and their top tips

Helping Baby Adjust to Nursery

Helping Baby Adjust to Nursery

Hands up who has a little one starting nursery for the first time this month? September seems to be the month for changes, doesn't it? Maybe you're returning to work after maternity leave, or maybe your little one is starting a new term, moving to a new room... whatever your situation, its bound to take some getting used to.

We've put together a few tips to help baby adjust to nursery. Let us know if they help!

Be prepared

There's no two ways about it, starting nursery for the first time is a big deal- for you and for your baby. To make the transition as easy as possible you're going to want to be well prepared. Visit as many settings as you can ahead of your baby's start date and make sure that you are 100% happy with it. Make the most of the settling in days that should be offered to you and don't be afraid to ask as many questions as possible. Other ways to prepare:

  • Ask about the nursery's day time routine so that you can mimic this at home. This way, your baby won't be disrupted when she starts
  • Note down any special needs that your baby has- a special toy for sleep time perhaps, or an allergy that is essential for your nursery to know about.

Sleep

Your baby is likely to experience a little sleep disruption when she starts nursery, and this is totally normal. Big changes can cause minor and temporary sleep disturbances and the only way you can deal with these is by going with the flow. Make sure your baby knows that you're there for her when she needs you, and keep your routine consistent at home as much as possible. Don't be tempted to keep your baby up for later after nursery because you want to spend more time with her- we all know that an over tired baby is no fun at all! Other things to consider:

  • nursery may only offer your baby one nap a day, so make sure you find out and either make arrangements for two sleeps if you need to, or get baby used to just one nap at home.
  • If your baby is used to sleeping only at home, get her used to different sleeping environments. You can experiment with a travel cot, or use a pram (with SnoozeShade, of course) to help her nap on the go. This could make the difference between her being able to sleep at nursery, and coming home to you upset and over tired!

On the first day

Don't panic! Make sure that you've prepared everything the day before so you're not rushing around in the morning. Your baby is going to pick up on your stress so keep as calm as possible. Don't be tempted to hang around for too long when you make the drop off. Some babies can become more upset when this happens, so if your childcare provider recommends you leave, take the advice. You can always call up later on to check on how they are. Liken it to pulling off a plaster- its less painful if its done quickly! Remember that nursery will call you if your baby is unusually upset or if your'e needed, so now is the time to trust in them.

What are your top tips for helping baby to adjust to nursery?

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