The first drop-off is hard. You've done the research, chosen a trusted home daycare provider or licensed facility, and told yourself your child will be fine. Then they cry. You walk to your car and wonder if you made the right call. Here's what most parents need to hear: the transition period is normal. It's not a sign that your child is unhappy, that you chose the wrong care, or that something is wrong. It's evidence that your child has a healthy attachment to you — and that they're in the process of building new ones. That process takes time. But there's a lot you can do to make the first month smoother, for your child and for yourself. Why the First Month Feels So Hard Young children thrive on predictability. Their sense of safety is built on knowing what comes next — who will be there, what the routine looks like, and that the people they love will return. Daycare disrupts all of that, at least initially. For infants and toddlers especial...