Starting at Teddy Kids: The Baby Guide
Everything you need for a calm, confident start in the baby group
Before we begin
Starting daycare is a big step.
For your child, it is a new world.
For you, it is trusting someone else with the most important thing in your life.
That matters to us.
This guide explains what your child needs before starting, what the first days will look like, and how we work together to make the transition calm, safe, and steady for both of you.
Two things your child needs before they start
Before your child can begin in the baby group, two things need to be in place.
They may feel strict at first. We understand that.
But they exist for one reason: a baby who arrives unable to feed or sleep safely in our setting can become very distressed — and that is not the start we want for any child.
Bottle feeding
Your child must be able to drink from a bottle.
If you are breastfeeding, please start practicing one bottle per day with expressed milk at least six weeks before the start date. This gives your child time to adjust gently, without pressure.
Every bottle must be labelled with your child's name and today's date.
If a bottle is not labelled, we cannot serve it.
Sleeping in a bed
Our babies sleep in a crib or bed, on a flat surface, with a sleeping bag.
We do not use blankets.
We do not hold children to sleep.
This helps babies learn to settle safely and calmly in a new environment.
If your child is not there yet, please reach out to our Teddy Kids Sleeping Coach:
sleepcoach@teddykids.nlWe help. We do not judge.
If your child cannot yet drink from a bottle or sleep in a bed, the official start may need to be postponed. This is not policy for policy's sake.
It is care.
What a day looks like
Children trust rhythm.
The same things, in the same order, day after day, teach them that the world is predictable — and that we are too.
From around six months, the baby group day usually follows this rhythm:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Arrival |
| 09:00 | Fruit |
| 09:30 | Morning nap |
| 11:00 | Milk |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 15:00 | Milk |
| 16:00 | Small snack or water |
Play and pick-up happen around these anchors.
Babies usually sleep around 2.5 to 4 hours per day, depending on their age and needs. The midday nap is usually the longest and most important.
From day one, we follow your child's individual rhythm and build gently from there.
The try-out period — at your child's pace
Before your contract starts, your child has up to 10 free try-out days.
The goal is not to test your child.
The goal is to let them learn the room, the teachers, the sounds, the rhythm — before daycare officially begins.
How we use those 10 days depends on your child.
If your child already knows daycare and adapts easily
A few days may be enough. Most children in this situation need around three try-outs:
One or two moments in week 1 to confirm everything feels calm.
One final try-out close to the start date, so the rhythm is still fresh.
You are welcome to use more days if it helps. Most children who already know daycare do not need the full window.
If this is your child's first daycare experience
We use the full window carefully.
Week 1 — one-hour sessions: Day 1, you stay in the room for the first 15 minutes, then step outside. From day 2 onward, you do not come into the group, but you stay close — just outside the room or near the building. If your child cries for more than 15 minutes, we will come get you. We pause for that day and try again the next time.
We ask parents to wait outside the group for a reason. A child learns the room is safe by experiencing it without their parent inside it. If a parent stays too long in the group, it can send a confusing signal: "Is this place safe only because my parent is here?"
Your child's job is to discover the teachers. Your job is to come back. That is how trust is built.
Week 2 — half-day sessions: Your child stays for a longer stretch. You no longer need to stay next door, but you do need to be reachable by phone.
If day 10 arrives and your child is not ready yet
We do not force the start.
The try-out window extends by another week, free of charge.
Daycare begins when your child is ready to begin — not before. During the extension, you stay available under the same 15-minute rule.
Why we do it this way
A child who arrives stressed and stays stressed cannot enjoy daycare yet.
And in a baby group, stress can spread quickly. We protect the beginning so everything that follows is built on calm, trust, and safety.
What you can do at home before day one
You do not need a complicated system.
Just a few small habits, started early.
Build your child's trusted-adult circle
If the gap between "only mom and dad" and "a room full of new teachers" is too big, the first day becomes harder. Before the first try-out, give your child short moments with trusted adults — grandparents, friends, family members, or a nanny — without you present. This helps daycare become the next step, not the first separation.
Visit the location beforehand
Bring someone your child trusts if possible. The more familiar the building feels, the softer the first day becomes.
Speak about daycare calmly
Your child reads your energy before they understand your words. If you speak about daycare with warmth and confidence, your child feels that.
Keep goodbyes short and calm
Long goodbyes often make separation harder. And please — do not sneak away. It may feel easier in the moment, but it breaks trust faster than anything else. A clear, calm goodbye teaches your child: my parent leaves, and my parent comes back.
Send a comfort item
A small blanket or soft toy with your scent can help your child feel connected to home.
Practice tiny separations
Leave the room. Come back. Repeat. Your child slowly learns that leaving does not mean disappearing.
Play peekaboo
Peekaboo teaches object permanence — the understanding that something still exists, even when you cannot see it. That little game builds the emotional foundation for goodbyes.
Illness
We keep this short because the stakes are clear.
- Your child may not attend if they are unwell or have taken paracetamol that day.
- If your child becomes ill while with us, we call you immediately.
- Pick-up is required within one hour.
- If we cannot reach you, we call your emergency contact.
Please keep your contact details — and your emergency contact's details — current at all times.
How we stay in touch
You will not be left guessing.
Daily updates and photos are shared via KidsKonnect and WhatsApp — short stories and the little moments that mattered.
Need a real conversation? Scan the QR code at the entrance to request a meeting with the manager. We will get back to you quickly.
Before your first try-out
Six small things that make the first day calmer.
None of them are formalities — each one helps your baby settle safely.
What to pack — every day
Label everything with your baby's name. Even socks find their way into the wrong cubby.
Day one
This is a real moment in your family's life.
We prepare for it the way we would want someone to prepare for our own children:
Carefully.
Calmly.
And with you.
We are ready when you are.
— The Teddy Kids Team
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