You are home with you babe for his or her first 8, 12 , 16 weeks of life and then it’s time to go back to work. That means you’re sending your sweetie to Daycare or an Early Learning Center. I’m going to show you how to pack the perfect bag for Daycare.  

Whether you’re a brand-new mom or you’ve done the daycare thing before or have current kids in daycare, you’ve probably got a lot on your mind. You’re sleep-deprived for one and already receiving emails from work about your upcoming workload. Plus, you’re probably feeling a bit emotional about your future transition. Especially during the pandemic.  

My husband and I both work fulltime so we have our children in an early learning center we love. Getting ourselves and the kids ready before work is a task in itself so having their daycare bag prepped ahead of time takes away a lot of stress.

What to Pack for Daycare

Diapers and Wipes-First 3 months of life, most newborns will go through 8-10 diaper changes each day. So you will need to bring a lot of diapers. Check with your daycare and if they have the storage, bring a month’s supply at a time. And bring at least one pack of wipes every week. As they get older (like our 2.5-year-old Harper, you will need pull-ups and then underwear!!)

Extra Clothing-Your newborn will be most comfortable wearing jammies or a bodysuit. Usually, they spend their days indoors. Always have a couple of extra changes of clothes for blowouts. Extra clothing for your toddler in case of a potty accident or food spill.

Crib Sheet-You will always need a crib sheet, even as your baby turns into a toddler. When you have a baby, typically the daycare will have he or she sleep in a pack n play with your crib sheet. Label the sheet and buy at least two as they will send home with you every Friday for a wash. As he or she gets older, they will move to sleep on the ground but still need a sheet and eventually a blanket.

Swaddle-If you use a swaddle at home, then you need to bring it to daycare for naps. I love Ollie Swaddle “the only swaddle you’ll ever need.” Check out my Instagram post and review here on the Ollie Swaddle.

Bottles and Milk/Formula-My piece of advice is to start introducing bottles two weeks before daycare if you are exclusively breastfeeding. And pack at least 4 bottles a day. I love the Comotomo bottles. Their bottle is designed to mimic breastfeeding to help babies easily transition back and forth from nursing to bottle-feeding. Many Comotomo mama’s coined the term “Breastfeeding in a Bottle!” In the evening you can take the dirty bottles from the day at day care and let them run through your dishwasher while you prepare another set for the next day.

You also need to pack breastmilk in labeled bags or formula (labeled). I bring 12 oz of breastmilk daily for my 4-month-old. When Harper transitioned to milk, I packed a water bottle full of organic whole milk daily. If you are using formula, don’t forget to send in a little extra powder just in case.  

Butt Paste– Diaper rashes are inevitable and you want to make sure you leave the teachers with the proper tools to treat a rash. My favorite ointment is from Whole Foods or Amazon. You can buy it here.

Sippy Cup for Water-When your baby turns one and starts drinking water, it is important to send them with a sippy cup to school. My favorite sippy cup is from Replay Recycled. You can buy it here.

Motrin/Tylenol-You probably have to sign a release and can leave this if your child is teething, not feeling well, etc.

Soap, Tissues, Extra Items for the Classroom-The school will let you know what you need to provide for the classroom but it is usually antibacterial soap, tissues, and often bags for dirty clothing.

A Bag for all of it-For the first one to two years, a diaper bag or big tote bag is perfect for staying organized. Our Early Learning Center provides one for the first years. When Harper turned 2 1/2 we got her a backpack to bring to school. She LOVES having her own backpack daily.

Tips for Daycare

Understand the communication system. Will they let you know when you are running low on something? If your child runs out of something in the middle of the day, will the daycare center provide a backup or will they call you at work to come with supplies?  

Label EVERYTHING!! These teachers are not only looking after small children all day, but they are also responsible for keeping everything together. Make their life easier by labeling your child’s bottles, sheets, blankets, etc. I recommend using Mabel’s Labels.

Mabel’s Labels story began in 2003 when four busy moms noticed a huge gap in the market for durable kids’ labels.

Follow Mabel’s Labels on Facebook

Frustrated by their children’s things getting lost, mixed up and leaving home never to return, Julie Cole, Julie Ellis, Cynthia Esp and Tricia Mumby knew they could do better than the scribbles on masking tape that were being passed off as labels. From there, the idea for the product was born: the very best personalized waterproof name labels and tags that were equally cute and durable. Mabel’s Labels started humbly out of a basement and has grown to be an award-winning, market-leading company loved by Moms and kids alike.

Mabel’s Labels are durable, laundry, dishwasher, and microwave safe – and they’re 100% guaranteed. What’s not to love? Shop them here.

Understand that some things you send to daycare will get lost or ruined. Your baby is there to have fun, which includes playing with arts and crafts and maybe even food. So stains will happen. Avoid sending in anything that can’t be easily replaced or that is really expensive. 

 

Lastly, you are your child’s greatest advocate. Ask questions. Stay on top of things. Be kind to the teachers. Bring them just because gifts to show you care. They are taking care of your most prized possession daily.

XOXO Kenzie