Everything You Need to Pack When Your Kid Starts Daycare
These essentials will ensure you (and your child) are ready.
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When you drop your child off for the first day of daycare, there are so many thoughts running through on your mind: How is your kiddo going to take it? Will he sleep enough? Will she like her teachers? How are you going to take it?
With so much to think about, the last thing you want to worry about is having all the necessary supplies. Enter: the packing checklist below, which will help ensure you have all your bases covered.
And before you throw anything into the bag, remember that every single item needs to be labeled with your child's name on it. It can take 7 to 10 business days for pre-printed labels to be mailed, so plan head to make sure you're ready.
You could go the custom route, and spring for pre-printed name labels from places like Mabel's Labels or Name Bubbles, which saves you from having to write your kid's name over and over. Or, you could DIY and print labels at home with a Brother P-Touch Machine. Another option: Order these self-laminating, dishwasher-safe labels, which have nearly 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Many daycares request that you bring a change of shoes for your child to wear inside. That way, dirt and mud won't get dragged onto floors where kids crawl and play. Just make sure the pair you choose still has no-slip grips on the bottom (that goes for socks, too). These moccasins not are not only good for traction, but they also have a flexible sole, which is better for kids just learning to walk because their toes can grip like they do when they're barefoot. Plus, they have style.
Lunch bags tend to get beat up, so you'll want one that can withstand a lot of abuse. This one from PackIt is a Good Housekeeping Institute favorite because you can stick it in the freezer overnight and the gel lining will freeze to keep your kid's food cold all day.
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Between drool and food messes, you can't have enough bibs so make sure you pack a bunch of them. The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends Green Sprouts because they have a waterproof barrier that'll keep messy babies dry all day. The fact that they come in a colorful 10-pack doesn't hurt, either (though you still might want to buy more than one set).
The Good Housekeeping Institute likes Dr. Brown's bottles because the design can "help eliminate colic, spit-up, burping, and gas." But they caution that babies sometimes have their own bottle preferences, so test out a few before buying in bulk.
Once your child gets past the bottle stage, you'll need a designated cup they can bring to school. Again, the process of finding the best one for your kid is mostly trial and error, but parents like this Munchkin one because the weighted straw means that a kid can hold it at different angles and still get water. It's good for those who are transitioning off the bottle and still have the tendency to lift the cup and tip it back.
When your baby starts solid food, you're going to need small containers for lunch. The OXO Tot 12-Piece Baby Blocks Set is useful because it comes with two sizes of containers and trays to put them on so you can stack them in the fridge or freezer.
This one's a biggie. Designate some bodysuits and leggings as your backup daycare outfits (and don't be surprised by how often your child comes home wearing them). To keep your baby comfortable, try the super-soft clothes from Burt's Bees Baby.
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A wearable blanket will keep your baby cozy and comfortable during nap time. Halo, which coined the term "sleepsack," offers versions that the Good Housekeeping Institute finds loose and comfy.
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Pampers Swaddlers are the Good Housekeeping seal holder for infant diapers because of the way they "quickly absorbed and trapped fluid." Pampers' Baby Fresh Wipes got good reviews from our testers, too.
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Having a bag that fits everything and helps you stay organized is crucial. The Skip Hop Duo bag not only has 10 different pockets, but it can also clip easily onto a stroller.
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