{"id":"9e3ba76911e64cebb74607afd28934c4","slug":"how-do-i-prepare-my-18-month-old-for-their-first-week-of-daycare","question":"How do I prepare my 18-month-old for their first week of daycare?","answer":"The best preparation is keeping your routine normal and then being consistent once they begin. Toddlers adjust faster than you might expect — research following 18-month-olds in their first two months at daycare found that comfort behaviors increased and distress decreased, with most improvement happening in that first month. Kids who attended more consistently adjusted even faster.\n\nAt drop-off, keep goodbyes brief and calm. Your toddler will pick up on your confidence that this is a safe place and that you'll be back. If they seem clingy or fussy, that's normal and tends to shift quickly with consistent attendance.\n\nTeachers who are warm and engaged help toddlers settle in better. If your daycare is transparent about staff training and creates emotionally supportive spaces, that's a genuine advantage for your child's adjustment.\n\nTrust the process — your toddler is built to adapt to this transition, and your consistent presence is what they need most.","sources":"[]","thread_json":null,"topic":"starting-daycare","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-09-17T23:00:55.629Z"}