When is the right time to start daycare?

There isn't one universal answer. Some families need care from 6 weeks. Some wait 12 months, some 24. We have seen all these choices over many years. Here is what we have learned.

The earliest we take babies

Six weeks. That's the youngest we enrol, in line with common practice across Australian centres, and not a recommendation. Some babies who start at that age have parents returning to work earlier than they would have chosen. Our role is to make that transition as gentle and practical as possible for your baby and for you.

What we tell first-time parents starting that early: the first 2 weeks will be hard, and that's normal. The first drop-offs are usually harder for you than for your baby. By week three or four, most babies have a routine here and a couple of educators they look for at the gate.

The most common starting ages

In our Joeys Room (0–2 years), we see two common starting ages:

• Around 6 to 8 months. Often parents going back to work after extended leave. The baby is sitting up, can hold a bottle, and is interested in faces other than family. Settling in usually goes smoothly.
• Around 12 to 14 months. Walking, sometimes a few words, often coinciding with an end-of-leave date. Slightly more separation anxiety, but also more capable of holding a routine.

Neither is "better." They're different starts, with different challenges.

What actually matters more than age

How you prepare them for it

Children settle in well when adults prepare them well. The orientation period (we offer 2 free orientation visits before the start date) is for the family as much as the child. Both of you need to know the room, the educators, and what to pack each day.

Whether they can sleep somewhere new

In our experience, sleep is the biggest factor in how the first month goes. Babies who have only ever slept in their cot at home, with their specific routine, find a room of cots harder than babies who've slept at grandma's, in a pram, in a carrier. If you've got time before they start, helping them sleep in a couple of different settings is more useful than reading anything we send you.

How you say goodbye

The hardest version is a long, unsure one. Children read it as they're not sure I'll be OK here, so maybe I won't be. The easier version is a clear, warm, brief goodbye, even if it produces tears. Tears at drop-off usually stop within five minutes. A long, unsure goodbye upsets a child for much longer.

You're welcome to call us at any time during the day to check on your child. Most families do, in the first week, and then stop because it stops being needed.

Older starts

Children starting with us at three or four, stepping straight into the Star Room (3-4) or Rainbow Room (4-6), settle in their own way. It's a common age to begin, especially when families come from a different centre or move into the area. They can tell you what feels new or strange. They can say which educator they like and which child they're confused by. The challenge is making friends, not the care itself.

One thing we'd flag: a child starting at three or four into a long-running peer group has to find their place in friendships that have been forming for years. We pay attention to this and are deliberate about pairing new starters with the right children.

Timing to avoid if possible

Starting daycare in the same week your family is moving house, your partner is starting a new job, you're traveling, or anything else big and disruptive. Children handle one big transition. Two big changes at the same time are much harder than one change after the other.

If you can give us at least two weeks of just-daycare, before any other change, the start tends to go much better.

Practical things to bring on day one

• A spare set of clothes including socks (two sets for under-twos)
• Sleep comforter if your child uses one
• Labelled water bottle
• Bottles or expressed milk if relevant (the Joeys Room has a fridge and steriliser)
• A photo of family if your child likes one in their cot
• For children in the Joeys and Jungle rooms (under three), we provide disposable nappies and formula; you don't need to bring those
• For everyone, we provide all daily meals and sunscreen, so no food packing

What we'll do on the first morning

We'll greet you both at the front gate. One of the educators from your child's room will walk you in, take a quick handover (how was the night, anything we should know), and start the day with your child. We'll keep you in the loop on the OWNA app through the day. We'll call you if anything is concerning.

Pickup tends to be the moment everything settles for parents. Your child will find a way to tell you about their day. That is when you know they are settling in.