What to send in bag to daycare?

[marie3246]

Last week was DD's first day at part time daycare and I totally failed. It's just 9-1 and I live right around the corner so it wasn't a huge disaster. I forgot to repack her diapers (she only had 1) and just packed her snacks instead of lunch. (There was some miscommunication and I was told they provided it, but they don't they just have fruit and snacks). She was fine, but I would like to plan better this next week. 

What type of bag do you send? What type of lunch box/bag (I saw some Bento boxes)? What type of lunches? (DD just eats random stuff). Do you label everything? I just sent her diaper bag and some things ended up missing, not a big deal, but I need to send stuff I don't mind being gone if it happens. Any other tips?

[ewall]

Diapers labeled individually with Sharpie, pack of wipes labeled.
Rubbermaid LunchBlox or OXO Tot bowls w/ lids. I put a Name Bubble sticker on each container. Same with his sippy.
Bibs with his initials on the tag.
I send a Munchkin spoon which usually makes its way back home even though it's not labeled.
I gave up on labeling his pacis. I'm pretty sure they share them anyway
Change of clothes with his name on the tag. Receiving blanket with his name on the tag.

I use a Thirty-One organizing utility tote for daycare because it's what I had on hand when he started daycare. I like the wide open top so I can take quick stock of what's inside and toss more stuff in as needed. I use a six pack soft side cooler because we are still sending bottles, but I plan to switch to a Skip Hop lunch bag.

Today I packed a pouch, Rice Chex, shredded cheese, and peas/carrots. That's my basic formula - puree/pouch, cereal/grain, dairy, veggie.

[motzie]

Send a big pack of diapers and wipes. They should keep them separate for her and will let you know when she gets low. They also kept spare clothes, diaper cream, sunblock.

In her bag I kept warm clothes (jacket, hat, mittens) for walks.

[jeaniebueller]

We have a cubby so I can leave everything there, but some moms use thirty one bags.

ETA: I always have a spare outfit plus another extra pair of pants. Sun hat for summer, warm stuff for outside for winter.

[hocus2]

I used to send in diapers and wipes for the whole month. I left clothing there in a shoe box and refilled it as needed. I bought the hot lunch. When there is no hot lunch I often just use a large ziploc bag for lunch. I'd probably get a proper lunch box if we did it daily. My son gets a pretty simple lunch when I make it. It is something like string cheese, hard boiled egg or yogurt, cut up fruit or raisins if we're out of fresh fruit, some pretzels or crackers. I toss in water since daycare has milk as snack. If I think he's doing to be picky I might toss in chocolate milk

[starlily]

I send in a pack of diapers and a big pack of wipes at a time, labeled with her name on the outside of each pack. I also send in a crib sheet and blanket weekly, and keep 3 extra outfits (including socks) in her cubby. I don't label her socks, but I label the other items with a Sharpie on the tags.

[mandapanda18]

I sent a pack of diapers/wipes (they let me know on the daily report if I needed to send more).
3 snacks (he is there 7-5) & his milk
fork/spoon/sippy
2 sets of clothing
1 toy
blanket
shoes
coat when the weather calls for it
sunscreen

[mandapanda18]

Oct 12, 2015 9:53:32 GMT -5 ewall said:

Diapers labeled individually with Sharpie, pack of wipes labeled.
Rubbermaid LunchBlox or OXO Tot bowls w/ lids. I put a Name Bubble sticker on each container. Same with his sippy.
Bibs with his initials on the tag.
I send a Munchkin spoon which usually makes its way back home even though it's not labeled.
I gave up on labeling his pacis. I'm pretty sure they share them anyway
Change of clothes with his name on the tag. Receiving blanket with his name on the tag.

I use a Thirty-One organizing utility tote for daycare because it's what I had on hand when he started daycare. I like the wide open top so I can take quick stock of what's inside and toss more stuff in as needed. I use a six pack soft side cooler because we are still sending bottles, but I plan to switch to a Skip Hop lunch bag.

Today I packed a pouch, Rice Chex, shredded cheese, and peas/carrots. That's my basic formula - puree/pouch, cereal/grain, dairy, veggie.

Wait, you write on the box of diapers or each one? Or are you using cloth? 

[ewall]

Oct 12, 2015 13:41:08 GMT -5 mandapanda18 said:

Oct 12, 2015 9:53:32 GMT -5 ewall said:

Diapers labeled individually with Sharpie, pack of wipes labeled.
Rubbermaid LunchBlox or OXO Tot bowls w/ lids. I put a Name Bubble sticker on each container. Same with his sippy.
Bibs with his initials on the tag.
I send a Munchkin spoon which usually makes its way back home even though it's not labeled.
I gave up on labeling his pacis. I'm pretty sure they share them anyway
Change of clothes with his name on the tag. Receiving blanket with his name on the tag.

I use a Thirty-One organizing utility tote for daycare because it's what I had on hand when he started daycare. I like the wide open top so I can take quick stock of what's inside and toss more stuff in as needed. I use a six pack soft side cooler because we are still sending bottles, but I plan to switch to a Skip Hop lunch bag.

Today I packed a pouch, Rice Chex, shredded cheese, and peas/carrots. That's my basic formula - puree/pouch, cereal/grain, dairy, veggie.

Wait, you write on the box of diapers or each one? Or are you using cloth? 

Disposables. I label each diaper because our daycare requires it. Open one side of the pack and flip through them with a marker while I'm watching TV. It's times like that when I'm thankful I gave my kid a short name. 

[mandapanda18]

Oct 12, 2015 13:44:27 GMT -5 ewall said:

Oct 12, 2015 13:41:08 GMT -5 mandapanda18 said:

Wait, you write on the box of diapers or each one? Or are you using cloth? 

Disposables. I label each diaper because our daycare requires it. Open one side of the pack and flip through them with a marker while I'm watching TV. It's times like that when I'm thankful I gave my kid a short name. 

I think I would die! My kid went through 8-10 a day at daycare when he was tiny! Although, I guess I would know if he came home in another kids diaper (which I swear has happened once or twice)

[marie3246]

Oct 12, 2015 13:57:03 GMT -5 mandapanda18 said:

Oct 12, 2015 13:44:27 GMT -5 ewall said:

Disposables. I label each diaper because our daycare requires it. Open one side of the pack and flip through them with a marker while I'm watching TV. It's times like that when I'm thankful I gave my kid a short name. 

I think I would die! My kid went through 8-10 a day at daycare when he was tiny! Although, I guess I would know if he came home in another kids diaper (which I swear has happened once or twice)

This is how I knew. DD came home with a size 5 and she wears a size 3 (same type). I thought it was weird and then I went to repack her back and saw her stack I meant to put in the night before. I sent 1 diaper with her....

[cricketwife]

I really like the Easy lunch boxes. I also use glass containers with a locking kid for anything that would leak.

[chickadee77]

Honestly, I would ask, because it differs so much.

At ours, they provide food but like a shelf-stable backup snack in case the kid refuses a meal (so I send pouches and crackers and fruit cups, applesauce, etc). If there's a lunch I know she won't eat, I have to pack something that doesn't require refrigeration or warming beyond me using an ice pack/thermos.

We have to take her sippy cup home every day to wash, and it needs to be labeled. We also have to bring in water because they're not on city water.

Don't have to label diapers or wipes (though I labeled the reusable box part for wipes and just bring in refills). I leave a couple of swim diapers there, too, for if they do water play and I forget, lol.

A couple of spare outfits in case of accidents - I still send one-piece rompers or such because otherwise they just throw on whatever and she looks ridiculous if we need to stop somewhere afterwards.

They specifically request no plates, bowls, flatware at this point (early one-year-old room).

ETA. We also have to bring a crib sheet for her cot and a blanket/sleep sack that need to be labeled and come home every week to wash. Loveys are optional. 

[anna7602]

Oct 12, 2015 9:53:46 GMT -5 motzie said:

Send a big pack of diapers and wipes. They should keep them separate for her and will let you know when she gets low. They also kept spare clothes, diaper cream, sunblock.

.

This is what DS's daycare did. I never took a daily "bag," just his lunchbox and his lovey for naps. If he came home in an outfit that was one of the daycare spares (always kept there, labeled), then I just took another back-up outfit the next time I sent him.

For lunch, I just sent whatever he was eating at home- leftovers from the previous night's dinner, usually. He wasn't really eating sandwiches yet at that point (ages 8-11 months).