Starting Daycare-questions

Hi all,

my daughter is starting July 1st at children's nest and i am starting to gather all her stuff for her cubby

what do i do with her bottles lol
do i get them back everyday to wash and put it in her bag to bring in the morning

this is my first time and im not really sure on how this is going to work and combine that with my nervousness im LOST lol

i bought her a schoolbag but what do i put it in everyday
im sorry for all these questions =(

Starting Daycare-questions

How old will she be? I believe most, if not all, daycare centers you need to bring in bottles for each day that day. So you bring them home each night and wash them. Your daycare really should provide you with a list of what to send in each day. For example, at 7 months, I send DS in with his bottles and containers of food (he gets solids) for each day that morning (cereal, I gave them a big box, sealed and labeled, and that gets kept there), he also has his crib sheet, paci, and sleepsack.

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

Aww don't worry. The idea of starting it is so much worse than once it actually begins - you find a routine, you get into it, and then it feels a lot better. The hardest is the anticipation, and then once it starts, that is tough in the very beginning, and then it gets easier and easier. Even as she gets older it gets easier because as my son got older he started to remember how much he enjoys it there and looked forward to going... Once he was done with bottles it was also a lot less for me to bring/do.

I'm sure you chose a great place and you'll know right away because you will see your child enjoys it. How old is your little girl?

For me, when Jude started he was like six months old so yeah I needed to bring like a bunch of bottles - each part had to be labeled. I got a bunch of labels from labeldaddy.com... great site. You can put them on clothes or anything you want and it stays on even after washing.

The bottles I brought pre-mixed with formula, as that is what he was on, and he was on the ready-to-feed stuff so just filled the bottles with formula and I did all of this the night before. They would go in the fridge and then I would put them in his bag. I didn't buy a bag because they provided one but if yours doesn't it's good that you bought a bag. I would put the bottles in there in the AM as they were in the fridge overnight and I would put, the night before, burp clothes, three changes of clothes which stayed at the daycare for accidents and spit up... plus a binky on a string -- meaning, one of those binky clips that doesn't allow it to fall. Those are great when they are at daycare. A blanket from home, a "lovey" -- so he had stuff that smelled like home. The blanket and lovey would come home at the end of the week to be washed. The clothes stayed and only had to be changed when he had an accident - I would just wash it and bring the spare set back OR when the seasons change and it was either getting cold or hot OR when he outgrew them. But they would just keep them aside for him.

Sunscreen is important now that it is summer - for when they take her out for walks and such. Any type of medicine for teething like motrin - I kept that there so they could give it to him if they saw he was teething. They would always call me first and run it by me. A good hat with a tie -- like a summer/sun hat would be great.

These are things you'll bring and if they let you, likely leave all week and only take home on a Friday for a washing.

The only stuff you'll bring each day are the bottles. My place would keep them in the fridge, and then use a bottle warmer to heat them for each feed and then rinse/wash them after the feed and they would come back to me washed and empty at the end of each day.

Once he started pureed food and then solids I would pack that as well -- prepare as much as you possibly can the night before and then you can just grab and go in the morning.

Any type of toy that she likes or would make her feel like home is helpful if the center will allow that. Mine did but I really didn't need to after the first week or so - he loved their toys and they had plenty.

Make a list, because since she is on bottles it sounds like she's young, make a list of stuff she likes or things that make her feel good -- like, my son, if he was fussy at that age and I sang "Yesterday" by the Beatles he would smile and be happy. Or he loved to be "bopped" on your lap and he HAD to be burped at least two burps after each bottle. Info like that is so helpful until they start to "learn" your daughter. After a while they just knew him - "Oh, you know Julian - loves the Beatles so today when he didn't want to be changed I sang to him to make him feel better" ...KWIM??

HTH!

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

Also -- forgot to say -- call a lot, ask how she's doing, and just explain that you need a little TLC in the beginning :) they will understand, my place really did. And ask if they wouldn't mind sending photos if they could -- either via text or email. My place uploads pics constantly to Shutterfly with a password protected link. :)

ETA - I also gave my son a probiotic, powder, in his bottle, once a day -- that helps boost his immune system because being in daycare the kids tend to get sick more often.

Message edited 6/19/2015 1:56:20 PM.

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

thanks so much...its the gitters thats getting to me and im not thinking straight lol

yes they gave me a list but it doesn't say bottles so i was confused...

my daughter is 15 months
she only drinks from sippy cups
she has one for breakfast and for her water throughout the day

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

aaha i already asked if i can call..im worried about her napping

i wish they took pics...but i don't think they do =(

thats sounds very nice if im sitting at work and i get to see a picture of her

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

Oh OK - so she's on sippy cups. So I would just give two each day, clean, and they will fill it with water and milk -- well, my daycare provides water and milk.

Starting Daycare-questions

I think it depends on the daycare. The only thing we bring home at night are dirty clothes if necessary. Otherwise everything stays there - bottles, sippy, and her nap sheet/blanket are washed by them.

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

I could (And should have) written this EXACT POST! My dd is starting at day care next week too. And funny enough she almost went to Children's Nest too.

I have the same thing -- bought the back pack but that's about it. It's almost so overwhelming to think about all that is needed where to even start!

Re: Starting Daycare-questions

Starting Daycare-questions

My DD GOES to Children's Nest (love love love it btw) and she is 13 months. She is currently on 3 bottles per day and 1 sippy cup of water. We supply the 3 bottles, and 1 sippy cup filled. It is stored in their fridge all day and every day you get them back cleaned. I hope that helps and if you have any questions feel free to message me. Are you using the one in Wantagh or Merrick?

ETA: I bring the bottles/sippy everyday in a little tote that you can get in the dollar store. They will tell you when the diapers, wipes, bibs, extra clothes need to be replaced in her cubby.
Also, the sheet/blanket for nap is given back every Friday and you take it home. Bring in a new one or washed ones on Monday morning.

Message edited 6/19/2015 7:28:14 PM.