My 3 year old is starting daycare soon, and I’m a wreck. He’s super attached to me, like, if he gets upset, he always needs my hug to calm down. It honestly breaks my heart to think about him crying for me when I’m not there. What if he gets lonely? What if they don’t notice when he needs something? I’m scared he won’t eat well or feel safe without me. I just want to do what’s best for him, but I don’t know if I’m ready for this change.
Oh mama, I feel this so much. My daughter was the same way when she started daycare. She’d cry for me every morning, and I’d sit in the car crying too. BUT, it got better. After a couple weeks, she started running in excited to see her friends. You’re not alone in this!
This is so hard, I totally get it. My son was a Velcro baby, and when we started daycare, I felt like I was throwing him to the wolves. But honestly, he surprised me. Kids are resilient. It took some time, but the teachers were amazing at helping him adjust. They sent me updates to ease my anxiety too. Maybe you can ask for that? It helped me a lot.
daycare drop, offs are the worst. I swear I cried just as much as my kid in the beginning. The guilt is real, but it’s okay to feel that way. You’re doing this for him, even if it feels so hard right now.
I went through this with my kids, and here’s what worked: We practiced short separations before daycare started, like leaving them with grandma or a sitter for an hour or two. It helped them get used to me not being around all the time. Also, bringing a comfort item from home (like a stuffed animal or blanket) really helped them feel secure
I totally get the worry about food! My son didn’t eat for the first couple days at daycare either. But the teachers assured me it’s normal and that he’d eat when he was hungry. They were right. It just took him a little time to adjust.
My eldest was super shy and attached, but daycare honestly helped her bloom. She became more confident and independent. I won’t lie, the first week was rough, lots of tears (both hers and mine). But the caregivers were pros at helping her settle in. One tip: Have a consistent goodbye routine, like a special handshake or phrase. It worked wonders for us!
It’s gonna be okay. I know it feels impossible now, but kids are so adaptable. My daughter cried for weeks, and I was ready to pull her out. Then one day, she didn’t cry. She just waved goodbye and ran off to play. That day is coming for you too!
Does your daycare allow you to stay for a bit during drop-off? My daycare let me do that for the first week. I stayed for 10 minutes, then said goodbye. It made the transition easier for both of us. Maybe check if that’s an option?
Thank you so much, everyone. It helps so much to hear I’m not alone in this. I love the idea of a goodbye routine, I’m going to try that! And I’ll definitely talk to the daycare about updates. I just hope he’ll adjust quickly, but hearing your stories gives me hope. 
I’m literally in the same boat right now. My son is starting in a couple weeks, and I keep wondering, what if he just cries all day? How do they even handle that? I’d love to hear from other parents how long it took for their kids to adjust.