What to pack for childcare?

DD is starting child care this week, she is 7 months old. We are sending her 2 days a week but for January, just a couple of hours a day - then February 5 hours a day and then in March she'll start going 6.5 - 7 hours for the 2 days per week.

I am just wondering what to pack? So far this is on my list:

Nappies
Nappy bucket (as we are using cloth)
Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea
3 bottles (she only really needs 2 but just in case)
1 spare set of clothes
Spare socks
Sippy cup of water
Hat

We don't need to send sheets.......but do I need to send sunscreen? Is there anything else I am missing?

Thanks in advance :)

id maybe send 2-3 sets of clothes.
a jumper.
her fav snuggle toy/ dummy
snacks, like a rusk or something.
i always send fav teddy.
we use cloth as well.
i send a couple of disposables JIC

make sure everything is labelled and easily identifiable by you

I would pack more than one spare set of clothes as sometime poo splosions happen just after a change of clothes from something else! Centres usually supply sunscreen, but chuck in your own just in case. Do they supply wipes, most do but there are a few that don't.

Yeah - I too pack 2 set of clothes - and I usually make sure one is a little warmer - like long sleeve - especially as inside they usually have the air con on and even I've found it a little chilly sometimes when I've walked in.

I don't worry about sunscreen - I usually apply a coat before I leave the house - as they are usually outside in the morning (before morning tea) and then they reapply their own sunscreen for the afternoon play (but I guess if you want them to use a specific sunscreen then yes).

Also if your DD gets nappy rash occassionally - maybe your preferred and cloth nappy friendly cream.

And maybe whatever you use for teething relief (gels or whatever).

Check with your centre to about medication - if you ever need to send your DD with panadol or nurofen you may also need to have a scripted labelled bottle - ours does - so I've had to go to the doctors get a script so the chemist can properly label it.

I too introduced a teddy to take as well - mainly to cuddle for bed - thought it might help with sleep time (which it did).

But otherwise I think you've got everything covered :thumbsup:....but don't forget a box of tissues in the car for the first day - for you that is ;) if your anything like me you'll have a good cry when you get back to the car - even though DD was probably happy to be left playing with her new friends...you could end up a blubbering mess.

Thanks ladies! I had totally forgotten I'll need to pack her sleeping bag and bunny! I have labelled pretty much everything but I was a bit unsure how much I had to label. Eg - with the sippy cup, I only labelled the cup part but with the containers for food I labelled the base and lid. I don't think I'll bother labelling the socks. So to add to my list:

Sleeping Bag
Bunny
1 extra set of spare clothes
A jumper/hoodie
A couple of sposies

Do I need to send bibs?

You shouldn't have to send bibs- ours supplies them.

As for labelling- i was also unsure what to label. At first i did everything- except the socks too. Now i don't worry to much about clothes- i just put them in 'kindy' day clothes- so not a big deal if they get lost (or ruined). Though they still managed to loose a couple of hats which were clearly labelled...so don't think it mattered to much anyway.

Also label your drink lids too if you haven't already. I found/find these are regular missing items from the bag- but usually find them a week or so later when the other parent returns them.

have you asked the centre what you need to send? ours gave new parents a booklet, which spelt out what you need to pack.

some centres don't have the physical room to accomodate a nappy bucket, so i provided wetbags as the alternative. Others prefer nappy buckets.

the first CCC we used, didn't use babywipes to clean baby bottoms, regardless if child was in sposie or MCN, they supplied their own facewashers/flannels - wet those, cleaned bottom with those and laundered them on the premises. If they hadn't done that, i would have supplied our own babywipes (nature babycare - the only supermarket brand of wipes back then, that wasn't full of chemicals).

the 2nd CCC we used, used paper towels to clean babies bottoms - i thought that would be very drying - but that's what they used. i supplied Nature Babycare baby wipes, so they had the option (esp when cleaning up pastey poop on bilby).

i 2nd the putting in more outfits.

socks are the hardest thing to label at CCC. i think it's easier for the workers, if the child is not in plain colour socks, but in something memorable like a print or picture (on the sock).

be prepared to explain how the MCN are used to many workers. they usually say "x is the primary carer and the only one changing your child" but i rarely found that to be the case. The primary care worker can'[t be everywhere at once, they have X number of kids in their care simultaneously, they have meal breaks, they have loo breaks, they go for programming, they have RDO's, they get sick (as all humans do), so the more workers you explain how MCN works to , the better. I found some just nod at you (whether they understand or not). it'[s more effective to have a mcn out and show them stuff with the mcn in your hands. All the carers we had, none had ever seen mcn before. i needed to explain many times that paper liners get taken OUT of the nappy and flushed down the loo. it was weird, i had one of bilby's primary carers, change her three days a week for over a year, she never really understood how to do it. And in the next age group room, the new primary carer understood it totally within two days. different attitude. I've had temp CC workers (in hospital CC) who had never met bilby before, never seen a MCN before, who looked after her for three hours, and THEY understood the concepts and coped with changes just fine - in a short period of time. so it really varies.

bilby did not have one sposie on her ever, and she was in CC since 16 months old. it was my gift to her skin.

i began my child's CC experience by taking her there, acclimatising her to the room and the people, with me there, breastfeeding her, leaving when she was settled. Then i would return at lunchtime, breastfeed her and settle her. Then come again in another two hours, feed her and take her home. So each time i came, i would come into contact with different workers, and while i sat there bf-ing, would observe how the centre was run. E.g kids were left in singlet in nappy all day long (left to lie on floor blankets, near open external doors , until parents came at the end - in the middle of winter. So i made a specific request that bilby was to be completely dressed at all time, and they did it - because i asked. I woudln't have known how they operated, if i hadn't been dropping in and out. Most parents only saw how the centre operated at say 8am and 6pm. if only they knew.

if your child has an allergy, or you are keeping chemicals away from your child (e.g using organic sunscreen), then supply (and label) their sunscreen. but if your child uses ANY sunscreen, most CCC supply it - but once again, it's something to ask the centre.

Some people also put a family photo in the nappy bag, so the carer has a comforting pic to show your child when they get upset. With a 7 month old, i would also put in a tshirt of yours, with YOUR smell on it, to comfort her.

i ahve met mums who put disposable cameras in the nappy bag, so that when their child does soemthing for the first time, the carer can record it (for the mum). I'm not sure about that, cos from what i observed, the carers are flat out looking after their allocated number of children. The carers do a fantastic job, so many demands on them, and they do it all without blowing their tops. I admire anyone who works all day with kids, i think they must sleep VERY well.

oh yes, a COMFORT TOY (that can be a challenge to label!). They will be wanting that, to put your child in the cot with. some familiar toy that will reassure your child - some familiarity.

some places want you to supply sheeting for the cot too.

Does your cc not supply food/ snacks ?

Agreed with the extra clothes and comforter


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We were given a very specific list by our centre on what to pack. They are very strict on NO FOOD due to allergies. All food is supplied by them.

I'd ask the centre in case they have any rules such as these.

2 x Hats - one summer and one winter. I keep both in the bag at all times. Most centres won't let kids outside without a hat.

For DS, I supply a complete change of clothes including 2 pr pants, wellies, slippers, goat milk (he can't have cow), suncream and sun hat. All that stays at nursery, coming home to be washed. Nursery supply nappies and food - although when DS had nappy rash, I would supply nappies, covers, flushable liners and a re-usable nappy bag.

Comfort toys - if your child has not needed a comfort toy until now, take 3-5 until your child picks a favourite. DS didn't latch onto his absolute all-time favourite until he started childcare - almost 3 years later, he still sometimes takes a toy. They are really good at ensuring the toy comes home, but not all centres are that good.

I'm a family day carer and I give parents a booklet which includes what I want them to send with their child (and what I don't want)

nappies (cloth or disposable) plus wetbag if using cloth
change of clothes - at your bubs age, at least 2 sets - but I ask for all ages. A lot of parents think because their child is toilet trained they won't need extras, but I find even without toileting accidents, changes need to be supplied for things like water play, spilling drinks, etc
jumper & jacket for cooler weather,
sun hat - our scheme supplies them on enrolment and I keep a hat for each child here so they can't be forgotten next time
creams, powders, etc for nappy changing
sunscreen if child has allergies, otherwise I use mine


all food and drinks for the day - I supply water if needed,
make sure to send plenty, if something gets dropped the carers won't be allowed to give it back to the child

having the extra bottle is great

bedtime cuddlies (I ask these are left in bags, although if needed to comfort for a bit I will pull them out for that time)
dummies (extras) if needed


Another thing to think of is clothing to dress your child in. T-shirts with sleeves are usually required due to sun safety policies (also helps with air-conditioning, I know my place gets quite cool with my air conditioner on)

label what you can, especially with a centre, I find it hard enough here some days with just 4 kids remembering who owns what containers



I'd be asking your centre for a list of what they do/don't need you to bring, especially food related.

Our centre supplies food, milk, sunscreen and nappies. When Jazzy first started I had to supply some formula until she was weaned onto cow's milk. I keep one cuddly toy at nursery in case she needs it. Other than that I supply nappy rash cream and take each day 2 extra sets of clothes. I also keep a sun hat and a cold weather hat in her bag.

Janie x

our centre only supplies suncream and milk.
we have to supply everything else.
which isn't to much fo a hassle as i send what my girls eat so i know they are getting a good feed

Thank you so much ladies - I really appreciate it!!

THe centre supplies food to all rooms except the baby room which I am fine with as I would prefer to know what DD is getting.

Big week for us, feeling pretty confident about it - more just uncertain about the logistics (what to pack, where to go etc etc) rather than leaving DD. I have full confidence that she will be well cared for, we've been to the centre quite a few times and even when there is mayhem, they seem in control and having fun so in some ways I am really looking forward to DD being involved in that.

Oooh and I also meant to add that I think we were given a list of things to take but somehow it has gone missing. Ooops

our lists had stuff on like

covered shoes (no thongs)
tops with collars and sleeves (for sun protection)
legionaire style hats (so sun protection for the neck)

having some clothing that is OUT of season in the bag is a good idea - for the times when the weather changes unexpectedly. Just remember to change that every few months, babies grow into other sizes.

Not sure where your little one is in terms of mobility, but one thing that worked really well for my DD is that i provided the centre with a spare bouncinette (bouncer thingy). It helped her not get trampled and pulled at so much by the bigger kids but then, she was younger than your little one.

Dont forget the most important thing - tissues for you!!!

best of luck

n2l