Returning to Work After Maternity Leave — Daycare Planning Guide | Daisy Days Regina SK

The end of parental leave is one of the most emotionally and logistically complex transitions a Regina SK family navigates. Finding quality licensed daycare — ideally before your leave begins — requires early planning. At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, here’s your complete return-to-work childcare planning guide.

The Critical Mistake: Waiting Until You’re Ready to Return

Most Regina SK families who struggle to find quality licensed daycare for their return-to-work waited too long. Licensed daycare spots — particularly for infants — are reserved months or years in advance. If you wait until 2-3 months before your return date to start your search, you will find most quality centres full with long waitlists.

The rule: Join the waitlist during pregnancy, or as early in your parental leave as possible.

Return-to-Work Childcare Timeline — Regina SK

During Pregnancy

• Research licensed, CWELCC-enrolled centres in your area of Regina SK
• Book tours (Daisy Days Daycare: 306-807-3233)
• Join 2-3 waitlists — including Daisy Days Daycare — immediately after touring
• Estimate your return-to-work date (even if approximate) and tell the waitlist coordinator

During Parental Leave (Early Months)

• Confirm your target return-to-work date with your employer
• Update your waitlist position at Daisy Days Daycare with your confirmed return date
• If offered an enrollment, evaluate timing — some families start daycare 1-2 months before return to give the child a longer gradual transition

3-4 Months Before Return

• Confirm your daycare spot is secured
• Complete enrollment paperwork, deposit, and required documentation
• Apply for Saskatchewan Childcare Subsidy if applicable (processing takes several weeks)

4-6 Weeks Before Return

• Begin gradual transition: start with 1-2 hours at daycare, build to full days over 1-2 weeks
• Both parent and child need this adjustment period — don’t skip it

1-2 Weeks Before Return

• Your child should be doing full days at Daisy Days Daycare before your first day back at work
• This gives you breathing room if the transition takes longer than expected — no panicked first-day crisis

The Emotional Reality of Return-to-Work and Daycare

Many parents — particularly those returning from a first parental leave — experience significant guilt, grief, or anxiety about leaving their child at daycare for the first time. A few honest things we’ve learned in 15+ years of welcoming these families:

• Drop-off cries are temporary and normal: Most children settle within minutes of parent departure. The upset is real but brief for the vast majority of children in quality care.
• Parent anxiety is often harder than child adjustment: Children adapt faster than parents fear. Adults who expect separation to be traumatic often project this onto children who quickly discover daycare is a place full of interesting things and people.
• Quality educator relationship is everything: The child’s relationship with their primary educator at Daisy Days Daycare is the single most important factor in a smooth transition. We invest in this relationship from day one of gradual transition.
• Gradual transition is not optional: Parents who do full 8-hour days from day one — because they don’t have time for gradual transition — consistently report harder, longer adjustment periods than those who do 1-2 weeks of gradual transition properly.

CWELCC and Your Return-to-Work Finances

With CWELCC at approximately $10/day at Daisy Days Daycare, your return-to-work childcare calculation changes dramatically compared to pre-2022 costs:

• Full-time daycare (5 days/week): approximately $220/month instead of $1,100-1,500/month
• This difference — up to $15,000/year — often makes return-to-work financially compelling even for families where one parent earns a modest income
• Saskatchewan Childcare Subsidy may further reduce costs for income-qualifying families

→ Daycare waitlist guide — get on the list faster
→ Full gradual transition guide
→ Parental leave + CWELCC complete guide

Contact Daisy Days Daycare to plan your return-to-work childcare — join the waitlist today.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5