A drop-in daycare day makes sense when your usual plan falls through for a day: an extra shift, a sick sitter or a school closure. Call ahead, pack for the whole day, and tell the staff the two or three things that help your child settle.
Good reasons for a drop-in day
- ✓An extra or changed shift.
- ✓Your usual caregiver is unavailable.
- ✓School is closed but work is not.
- ✓Trying a centre before enrolling.
Call ahead
Drop-in spots depend on your child's age group. Call the day before if you can. At Nana's, drop-in days are available on weekdays and Saturdays at both buildings and on Sundays at Northern.
Pack for the whole day
- ✓A change of clothes, a jacket, and a blanket and pillow for nap.
- ✓Diapers or pull-ups and wipes if needed.
- ✓For babies: labelled bottles and spare clothes.
Tell the staff what helps
A favourite comfort object, a usual nap time, the word your child uses when they need the toilet. Three facts like these make a new room feel familiar faster.
After the drop-in day
At pick-up, ask how your child ate, napped and played. Talk about the day on the way home — the new friends, the toys, what they made. A good first drop-in day makes the next one easier.
If drop-in days become regular
Several drop-in days a month may mean your child would do better with a regular spot. Ask the centre about part-time care.
Keep the goodbye short
Say goodbye, say when you will be back, and go. A quick, confident goodbye is easier on most children than a long one. More on drop-in daycare in Glendale.
drop-in daycare in Glendale →Frequently asked questions
Can I book a drop-in day on a Sunday?
At Nana's, Sunday drop-ins are at the Northern building. Call ahead to confirm a spot.