As a new parent, the decision to place your baby in infant care can be overwhelming. At Sunflower BabyHouse & Preschool, we understand the emotional and practical challenges involved in this transition. Our comprehensive infant care program is designed to make the process smooth and nurturing, but matter of fact is preparation starts at home. Here are 10 ways to help your baby prepare for infant care:
1. Start with Short Separation Periods
Begin by introducing short periods of separation from your baby. This will gradually get them used to being away from you for longer durations, making the transition to infant care less stressful. We know how gut-wrenching it can be for parents too, this will also help you to be ready for morning drop-offs too! Leave your baby with someone he/she knows so they feel safe in your absence and you’ll feel at peace as well.Â
2. Familiarize Your Baby with a Routine
Infant care centers in Singapore, like us at Sunflower Baby House, follow a structured daily routine. Establishing a consistent routine at home, including set times for naps, feedings, and play, helps your baby adjust to the predictability of a day at infant care.
3. Introduce Your Baby to New Environments
Taking your baby to different environments outside of the home, such as parks or playgroups, can make the transition to infant care smoother. This helps them get comfortable with new surroundings and different faces. You’ll also feel more relieved knowing that they’re not going to have a tough time adapting.Â
4. Practice Social Interaction
Allowing your baby to interact with other children in informal settings prepares them for the social aspect of infant care. Babies thrive on social interaction, and this helps develop important skills like sharing and communication, which they’ll use at our infant care center.
5. Create Positive Associations with Caregivers
At Sunflower Baby House, we encourage trust and bonding with caregivers. You can prepare your baby by introducing them to new caregivers at home, like a grandparent or a babysitter, to show that being in someone else’s care is safe and comforting. It also builds up confidence in parents like yourselves, knowing that our teachers and caregivers have their 100% heart and attention on your child.Â
6. Gradually Adjust Sleep Patterns
If your baby’s sleep schedule differs from that of the infant care center, slowly start adjusting it to align with the care center's routine. This ensures your baby will be well-rested and ready to engage in activities while at the center.Â
7. Introduce Independent Play
Encouraging independent play helps your baby develop self-confidence and become more adaptable in new settings. Independent play builds essential cognitive and problem-solving skills that will be nurtured at our infant care center through structured and unstructured play.
8. Prepare for Feeding Changes
Infant care centers may follow specific feeding schedules. If your baby is breastfeeding, consider introducing bottle feeding to ensure they can adapt to different feeding methods. We provide nutritious meals and formula at Sunflower Baby House for different child age groups too, but preparing your baby for potential changes is key.
9. Comfort with Transitional Objects
Introduce a favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal that your baby can take with them to infant care. These objects provide a sense of familiarity and security, helping your baby feel more at ease in the new environment.
10. Stay Calm, Positive & Take Care of YourselfÂ
Your emotions can influence your baby’s perception of infant care. It's normal to feel emotional about leaving your baby with someone else for the first time. For some mums, they may feel guilty about having to return to work after maternity leave ends. Show excitement and confidence when discussing the transition to care with your baby. This positive energy will reassure your baby that the experience will be a happy one.
We are open for new enrolments for 2025, for children aged 2 months up to 3 years specifically. So new parents, if you’re interested to see how our programme, center facilities and team of teachers are prepared to care for your child, make an appointment with us to visit and we’ll happily bring you around and share with you more information.
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