6 Practical Tips to Prepare For Daycare l Parenting Tips l New Mom Advice

"What do you mean she's going to daycare, she's too young?" This was posed by well-meaning family members during a time when there was enough stress in a mom's life. Then, they went on about how in their day they stayed home until the infant became older (insert the eye roll here). Today most parents need to work and don't have the luxury of hiring a nanny. The decision was made and here starts the first chapter of being a working parent. Daycare, as we know, doesn't have a stellar reputation. We listen to the horror stories of what happens occasionally in centers and listen to other parent's fears. Yet, those stories are pretty rare and your mommy detector will also pick up any bad vibes if something is awry. By adjusting to a new routine, getting a mock schedule together, giving your family time to get used to a new sleeping schedule and finding ways to de-stress yourself, preparing for daycare doesn't have to be a large mountain to scale. When we are prepared for a battle ahead of time, we can ride out the challenges much easier. Jump on board and consider these 6 strategies when preparing for daycare.

Get Organized

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A mother feels guilty and could feel bewildered at the prospect of juggling more. This why you need to create a schedule. The best thing to do when you add daycare to your day is to do a practice run and time yourself. Add 30 minutes to your agenda in the morning and after work, just in case you forget a diaper bag or something else when leaving the house. As you enter appointments into your calendar, think about what has to be done first and start prioritizing. If there is a party RSVP, a play date, purchasing tickets to the zoo, add it to a paper or digital calendar. The actions you must take are not difficult, but they are monotonous. If you are a person who thrives on diversity, this will be painful, but the repetitive actions are necessary to make life peaceful for you.

Ditch the Guilt

Research suggests that children don't suffer when parents go back to work. There are "Downsides to mothers taking work during their child's first year, there are also significant advantages--an increase in mothers' income and well-being," the Guardian reported. You need to be reminded of this when someone makes a remark or guilt starts to attack the emotions. You don't want to add guilt on top of everything else that will be going on. Know that society has changed and women still need independence after having kids. If working pays the bills and makes you a better mom because your mind is stimulated, who cares about the guilt. Cast it down and affirm that you are making the right decision.

Take Care of Yourself

Between 15 and 20 percent of new moms, about 1 million women in the U.S. each year, experience some form of postpartum blues and it can last for over a year. You need to take care of yourself and plan on life becoming more challenging. Getting up at 4:45 in the morning and getting home after 6 pm will take a toll. All you want to do is pick up the baby and go home. However, if you have just 15 minutes, go for a walk or jog before you go to daycare or before you start the day. Some fitness centers offer on-site child care and you can do this after work or on the weekends. Exercise can be an outlet to deal with stress and fatigue better. If you don't care for yourself and plan to do so, adding another worry like daycare will zap a lot of energy. Make it mandatory to do something for you.

Get Up Earlier

Depending on how old your kids are, you can talk to them about attending daycare and the new morning system. "Begin to get up at the time you'll need to awaken on day care days, and set -- and keep -- an appropriate bedtime for a good night's sleep," advised Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution. You don't want to stress the kids out on the first day while getting upset yourself. Get your up child early enough so that they can adapt to the new routine and for them to enjoy a good breakfast and maybe read to them. It would be wise for you as well to get a head start. Enjoy a coffee in the stillness of the morning so you don't have to feel hurried and this will help settle the nerves.

Prepare Your Child

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Once you find a daycare take your child to do a tour and to meet the teachers. Do this a few times before the first day. Some centers will allow a free trial day where you can drop off the children, so they can get used to their new surroundings. Once the big day arrives, pack a memento with your child to reassure they're not far from home. This can be a picture or a toy that they can put in their cubby. Assure them that you will be back and that they will be fine. Arrive at the center early and allow your child to take you on a tour of the classrooms and allow them to show you where they will be doing activities. If you're nervous, call the facility for updates during the day as this will make you feel better. Ask to chat with your child on the phone to help soothe their anxieties as well.