Sending your child to daycare for the first time can be a bit nerve-wracking for both you and your child. Many parents don't realize that there are a few polite etiquette guidelines they should follow in order to make the daycare experience run smoothly and show respect for the child care providers. Here are four daycare etiquette tips to keep in mind:

Be Mindful of Drop-off and Pick-up Times

You may think that if the daycare is open anyway, it doesn't matter what time you drop your child off or pick them up. But in reality, the set drop-off and pick-up times are important and should be respected as much as possible. If you routinely drop your child off late, you may be disrupting scheduled activities, naps or meals.

If something comes up and you have to pick your child up late, you should call as soon as possible and offer to pay for the additional time. In general, you should treat your scheduled daycare hours the same way you would treat school hours for older kids or your own office hours.

Communicate Any Changes

It's critical to communicate any important changes to your daycare provider in a timely and proactive manner, rather than expecting them to figure things out on their own. Your daycare providers should known if your child's nap or bedtime schedule has changed, if your spouse is now going to be picking them up instead of you, or if your child has recently shown signs of separation anxiety in order for them to best accommodate you and care for your child. 

Drop-off and pick-up times can be very hectic, so you may wish to communicate this sort of information by email, handwritten note, or text.

Keep Your Child at Home When Sick

It can be hard to get time off of work to stay home with your sick child, but it's important to do so as long as their doctor says they are contagious. Giving them baby-safe cold or flu medicine will mask their symptoms temporarily but will not make them any less contagious. Your child will get better faster if they're allowed to stay home and rest, and you won't have to deal with feeling guilty that you caused other children to get sick too.

Call If You're Missing a Day

Maybe you got the day off unexpectedly and want to spend it with your child, or you need to bring your child to the doctor. It's normal to miss daycare from time to time, but it's important to call the daycare and let them know. Your daycare provider plans activities, purchases supplies and food, and plans meals based on how many children will be attending that day. The more notice you can give the better, but at least be sure to call that morning.

By following daycare etiquette and treating your child's daycare providers with respect, you will be doing your part to help create a respectful and beneficial relationship with your daycare providers. For more information, contact a company like Big Adventures Day Care.

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