Mom Shares the Small Ritual That Makes Daycare Dropoff a Little Easier

Mornings can be hectic for any parent, but as you prepare for those first few daycare dropoffs with baby, the stress reaches a whole new level. Between your little one’s apprehension to part from mom and dad and your own mix of anxiety and sadness, it can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. But one mom has found a way to transform this challenging transition into a smoother, more reassuring routine for everyone.

In a popular new post TikTok user @kate.n.h recently shared her daily ritual with her daughter that has changed daycare dropoffs from the most stressful to the sweetest time of the day. “A few months ago, my daughter started hating childcare drop-offs,” Kate explained in the video. “We went through a few weeks of massive tears and being peeled off me to her educators. It broke my heart.”

In an effort to help her daughter feel more connected throughout the day Kate tried something new—drawing a heart on her daughter’s hands and then letting her daughter draw the same shape on mom’s hands with a pen each morning. “We’ve done hearts, stars, smiley faces and now landed on her choice of balls,” she added. “It’s such a silly gesture, but some days it makes the world of difference.”

In the caption of the video, Kate cheekily added that bribery also helps. And like any parenting trick, this method isn’t foolproof and doesn’t work every day. But she keeps up the ritual regardless, because whether it eases her daughter’s anxiety or not, it’s a meaningful way to remind her that she’s deeply loved.