What to pack on day one at child care.

A little preparation goes a long way in helping your child feel safe and comfortable when they first come to stay with us. Here’s a handy checklist of things to remember to pack: 

• Nappies (if needed)  – around 4–6 for the day is usually enough 

• Milk bottles (if needed)  – if your child is on formula, please pack bottles and measured formula in containers (no tins please!). Breastmilk is also welcome and will be stored safely in our fridge. All bottles should be clearly labelled and please let staff know when the next feed is due. All bottles will be rinsed and returned to the child’s bag. We are unable to sanitise so please bring the full number of bottles needed. If your child needs cow’s milk, we will provide this along with soy and rice milk alternatives.  

• Extra clothing  – we recommend comfy, SunSmart clothes with covered shoulders that are okay to get messy! Our days are full of hands-on learning like painting, gardening and water play, so a few spare outfits are a good idea.  

• Comfy shoes that are good for running in  – we recommend closed-toe shoes that are easy to run and play in. If you have a spare pair then feel free to pack those too, just in case they get wet. In winter, pop some gum boots in so we can explore those muddy puddles! 

• Comfort item  – a clearly labelled dummy, blanket or soft toy can really help if your child needs a little extra comfort during the day. We don’t accept regular toys simply because it becomes too hard to track them, and we wouldn’t want anything to get lost. If your little one is in our babies room and sleeping in a cot, please bring in a sleeping bag for their naps. Once they are out of a cot and sleeping on a floor mattress, only sleeping bags with legs can be accepted for safety reasons.  

Please don’t forget to label everything (yes, everything!) with your child’s name to help us keep track of their belongings.