While your infant’s daycare may provide some supplies, they may still need other items. Each daycare program is different and can require you to contribute items such as bedding, diapers, wipes, and food for your child. Our Crème de la Crème staff invites you to check out what to bring to day care for an infant at other centers, then explore what we require you to bring.

What Is Day Care?

A daycare center, also known as a day nursery or nursery school, is an educational and care organization that provides supervision for infants and young children during the daytime so their parents can go to work. Parents can rest easy and go about their jobs knowing their infants are cared for by professional daycare staff.

Mealtime Supplies

Your daycare provider may require you to provide breast milk, formula, baby food, and snacks for your infant. If you’re worried about transporting food from home to daycare, you can purchase an insulated lunch bag. Bottles, bottle liners, and nipples will also need to come from home for your little one. You’ll also need to supply any bibs your infant needs for mealtime.

Personalized Labels

You’ll want to put your child’s name on all their belongings, from their clothes to their bottles. You can order custom labels with your child’s name pre-printed from shops such as Mable’s Labels. It would be best if you also placed waterproof labels on your child’s lunch bag, jacket, and inside their shoes. You can also order convenient labels to note if your child has food allergies.

Diaper Supplies

Most daycare centers require you to supply your child with all the diapers, wipes, and diaper creams they need. You can usually label the package of diapers, a box of wipes, and a tube of cream to keep at the center rather than packing a diaper bag daily. Most centers will let you know when your supplies are running low so you can re-stock.

Medications

If your child takes any medicine, you should expect to pack a brand-new bottle of medication in its original package. Most daycares have strict rules about medications to keep your child safe. Carefully follow all regulations and procedures regarding medication, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, so your child’s medicine is available for the daycare staff to administer.

Spare Clothes

Please send your child to daycare with at least two spare outfits in case they have a bathroom accident or get soiled with art supplies or food. This change of clothes is important as most daycares don’t have spare clothes available in every size. If you leave clothes at the daycare center or in a bag that goes back and forth, check the clothes sizes and which season the clothes are for every few months. You want your child to have more than shorts and a T-shirt during winter, and you want them to fit. You should also pack some extra socks appropriate to the season.

Weather Gear

Getting out into fresh air is beneficial for babies, so most daycares bring kids outdoors frequently, even for a few minutes. It would help if you packed gear appropriate for different types of weather, as your child may be outside in the rain or snow. Be sure to pack jackets, hats, scarves, and boots to keep them comfy, no matter the weather.

You’ll also want to protect your baby’s skin during playtime outdoors in the summer months. Choose a sunscreen specially designed for babies, and pack a labeled bottle of it. A sun hat is also an excellent idea for added protection from the sun’s rays.

Special Toys or Blankets

To make the transition from home to daycare a bit easier, pack a special toy or blanket, often referred to as your child’s lovie. Don’t send an irreplaceable snuggly item, or buy a backup for home. Blankies and snuggly toys have a way of disappearing at daycare. Check the policies at your daycare on what items your child can or can’t bring along. To help soothe your child at daycare, spend a few days beforehand holding the lovie to impart some of your comforting scents.

Your Infant’s Preferences and Essential Paperwork

Send information letting your daycare know specifics about your infant. Do they hate bananas and love avocados? Do they tend to nap easier if you sing a lullaby first? Daycares tend to send paperwork for you to fill out, including a “get to know you” form to note your child’s preferences. You also need to send important information such as medical history, milestone updates, and notes on development. Be sure to fill out all the forms you’re given and add any additional information the daycare may need to provide the best care possible for your infant.

What To Bring to Daycare for Your Infant at Crème de la Crème

The list of items you need to supply for your infant at Crème de la Crème centers is much different than the one you see here. Your tuition at Crème de la Crème provides your infant with the following:

• All diapers, diaper wipes, and diaper creams
• All pull-ups for children up to age 4
• All linens, including sheets, bibs, sleep sacks, and washcloths
• All meals and snacks for children on table food
• All milk for children over the age of 12 months
• All supplies and resources for our curriculum and enrichment

Our all-inclusive tuition takes the stress out of packing the diaper bag or remembering to grab a box of wipes or crackers to take to daycare.

While sending your infant to daycare can put a pang in your heart, you can rest assured that your baby is cared for by experienced, responsible professional daycare staff. Using the above list as a guideline, you can also set your mind at ease knowing that you’ve sent them everything they need to have a good week.

If you’re looking for high-quality infant care, contact the Crème de la Crème nearest you. One visit to our facilities and you’ll know you’ve picked the best care for your child.