As a parent with a newborn, your mind is probably whirling with questions! It can be basic things, like “Why are they crying?” or “Are they hungry, or just tired?” Or, you may be struggling with more complicated questions, such as, “What should I pack them for daycare?”
Your daycare should provide you with a list of items they’ll need in order to care for your newborn each day. (If a list is not provided, be sure to ask!) While the specific items may vary, there are a few things that almost every daycare provider will want you to have.
What Should I Pack My Infant for Daycare?
1. Diapers & Wipes
If there’s one thing infants go through a lot of, it’s diapers! You’re going to want to pack a diaper bag at the start of each week, and label it with the name of your baby. If you’re unsure how many diapers your little one will need, we recommend starting with 8-10 a day, or around 50 for the week. (When in doubt, it’s better to bring too many diapers instead of not enough.)
Baby wipes and diapers go hand-in-hand, so you’ll want to include a full package of wipes with the diapers each week. Keep an eye on how many are left at the end of each day in case another pack is needed before the week is over.
Note: If you prefer to use cloth diapers, make sure to pack extra plastic covers as well as a resealable bag or container for the dirty ones.
2. Rash Cream or Ointment
Help ease the (nearly unavoidable) discomfort of diaper rash by providing the daycare with rash cream or ointment. The daycare will likely have some on hand at their facility, but these tend to be medicinal, so you will probably be more comfortable purchasing your favorite brand or type.
Some popular, parent-recommended rash creams include:
3. Milk or Formula
Consult your daycare or child care provider on how they deal with breast milk. Some facilities prefer frozen packages stored on-site, while others prefer fresh packages to serve each day. Make sure you also pack bottles of sippy cups! If your baby is drinking formula, make sure you include premeasured formula containers.
4. Comfort Items
Your child is going to be away from home for the first time! Make this transition easier for them by packing comfort items that will help soothe them throughout the day. Whether it’s a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or pacifier, don’t forget to add it to your bag!
It may help to purchase exact duplicates of these comfort items. That way, you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving the beloved blanket at daycare or home. For pacifiers, you’ll likely want to buy several—like at home, they’re prone to getting lost when they fall unnoticed out of a newborn’s mouth.
5. Extra Clothes & Bibs
Be sure to always pack one extra outfit (in addition to the one your newborn is wearing) when you drop them off for daycare. Accidents, whether from food, going to the bathroom, or throwing up, are very common, and you don’t want your child to have to sit or nap in their dirty onesie. You’ll likely want to pack:
- Zippered sleepers (keep them warm while they sleep)
- Comfortable onesies (go for soft, breathable options)
- Extra layers (such as sweaters or hats)
- Plenty of socks (Your wriggling baby will be prone to losing them!)
Along with clothes, you’ll also want to get plenty of bibs. You’ve seen how much your little one can drool all over themselves! Consider getting two sets of bibs: smaller ones for drool (especially if your child is teething) and larger ones for eating. Make sure to include a labeled plastic bag for the daycare to put the dirty bibs in to send home.
6. Any Medicines
Don’t forget to pack any necessary, prescribed medications that your newborn needs to take. Either include specific instructions or contact the staff to go over the exact medication process. You’ll want to let them know information such as:
- What time does the medication need to be taken at?
- How should it be administered?
- How much should they be given?
- What’s the contact information for your child’s doctor or prescriber?
Be sure to label all of the medication if there isn’t information on the package or container it is in. If your child is allergic to something, you should also let the daycare know what their reaction may be and what needs to happen in case of a severe reaction.
7. Crib Sheets (Sometimes)
Some (but not all) daycares want you to provide crib bedding sheets for your child. Some parents prefer this, as it lets them send their child to daycare with a little piece of home. In fact, some parents swear by sleeping with the sheets before they send them to daycare so their child can be comforted by their scent!
You’ll likely want to pack an extra set just to be safe, although some daycares will be able to do laundry if the sheets do get dirty. It’s recommended you purchase durable, 100% cotton fitted sheets that can withstand frequent washing and drying.
What Happens if I Forget to Pack Something for Daycare?
Raising a newborn is hard enough; how can you be expected to also remember all the little things they need for daycare? Diapers, bibs, wipes, ointment—it’s all so much! However, if you accidentally forget to pack something for daycare, there’s no need to worry!
The good news is that most daycares have the majority of these items on hand for your child to use. (As long as you don’t make a habit of the daycare substituting items.) However, if you forget things such as medicine or breast milk, you will likely be required to return to the daycare midday to drop them off.
Looking for a Daycare in Kenosha? Contact Cornerstone Academy
Are you a new parent struggling to juggle all the responsibilities of an infant? Then consider Cornerstone Academy for daycare! Our infant and baby daycare program is designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and formative environment for your little one to explore their first developmental milestones. Just contact us today to learn more or to take a tour of our facility!
