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what to send to daycare
Hi all! I am going back to work tomorrow (and I am so not ready 
), and Carly will be going to a daycare center. I am trying to get a bag ready for her, and I am wondering what I should include. The documentation from the center is not very helpful, and I didn't really have a chance to ask since the spot just opened up last week! It does say an extra change of clothes, and I will be sending bottles of breastmilk. I also have diapers in there, but I am not even sure if I need to do that. What about wipes, desitin, burp cloths, etc...? I sure every place is different, but any guidance would be greatly appreciated! TIA!
), and Carly will be going to a daycare center. I am trying to get a bag ready for her, and I am wondering what I should include. The documentation from the center is not very helpful, and I didn't really have a chance to ask since the spot just opened up last week! It does say an extra change of clothes, and I will be sending bottles of breastmilk. I also have diapers in there, but I am not even sure if I need to do that. What about wipes, desitin, burp cloths, etc...? I sure every place is different, but any guidance would be greatly appreciated! TIA!
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Re: what to send to daycare
If you aren't sure, definitely send it!
I would send multiple changes of clothes, plenty of diapers, wipes, butt cream, etc. (the teachers will tell you what you don't need to send)
If your dd takes a pacifier, send several.
As far as burp clothes/bibs, most daycares that I know of will provide those, but it doesn't hurt to send a couple for the first day.
If she has any specific lovey, special blanket, etc, send that along. If possible, sleep with her blanket tonight so that it will have your scent on it tomorrow. Lots of babies find that comforting.
Also, I would label everything with her name.
As far as breast milk, I have learned that every mom's preferences with breast milk are different. DD's teachers used to ask me *so* many questions, not because they didn't know anything about BM, but because everyone has different preferences.
I would write out specific instructions for how you want dd's milk handled. Include: how many ounces to offer at a time, instructions for milk she was served but didn't drink (should they dump it, or save for X amount of time), order that milk should be used (will some milk 'expire' before others), if you are sending frozen - how should they thaw? etc, etc. I found, the more specific the better!
For myself, I found it easiest to prepare dd's bottles the first couple months. I would thaw milk at home/sort out fresh milk, etc. I always labeled the bottles in the order they should be served. Once I was comfortable with their handling of the milk, I would send frozen/fresh in bags, but preparing dd's bottles myself the first few months really helped me trust them. (sounds silly, I know, but I literally counted every ounce for her entire first year - it was the only way we made it to 1 without formula)
GOOD LUCK!
A Little Bird and a Monkey Butt
would you be comfy PMing me the name of the daycare your dd is going to go to?
I send DD to a daycare in Duluth when I have to travel up there for work. I also looked at several other ones up there, so I may be able to give more specific advice if I know where she is going
A Little Bird and a Monkey Butt
My Bio
Married Bio
DS's center required us to provide: diapers, wipes, butt cream, extra change of clothes (only 1), a blanket for naps, 1 pacifier, formula, one bottle, and I had to fill out a form about his eating habits. They sent a sheet home with us daily about when he ate, how much, when he napped and how much, and if they were out of any supplies that I needed to bring in.
The provided burp cloths, bibs, and if DS did have a double trouble they had extra onesies that they could use (but realistically if he had two blow out poops they'd send him home since their rule is 1 and done). Now he's on regular food so they provide everything I just have to bring diapers, wipes and ointment.
One and done? That's harsh! Way more restrictive that state licensing requirements. What if they are teething? Some babies get horrible BMs from just teething.
I'm sorry for you for that rule
My dd would've been getting sent home needlessly all the time - I would probably have gotten fired!
It is interesting the spectrum of rules that different centers have
A Little Bird and a Monkey Butt
One thing that is weird about this place is that they won't take breast milk frozen in bags. I have to bring it in the bottle ready to go. It's not that big of a deal, but since I'm breastfeeding, I really don't know how much she is getting and don't really know how many bottles to send. I have to find out more tomorrow. She has been refusing the bottle the last 2 weeks, so I don't even know if she will eat at all. I am hoping she will since she will be away from home. Sigh...this sucks!
My Bio
Married Bio
At that age, my DD was taking 4-5 ounces at a time.
She also went through a stage where she would refuse the bottle at daycare. Some days they would only get an ounce or two in her. (and often-times, I would end up dumping 20+ ounces a day - it SUCKED)
They make it through though. She will either give up and take the bottle, or her body will adjust to just wait for you. Depending on how long she is there during the day though, I may suggest to the teachers that they can try spoon feeding some milk to her, or offering a small cup (we used the bottle covers for the Avent bottles which worked well) of milk to her, to get some liquid in.
A Little Bird and a Monkey Butt
I am sorry for me too because we spent almost the entire month of June home with him because of that stupid rule...with only one REAL issue thrown in there...he got Coxsacksie and was out three days for that...the other times were due to that rule...we finally had to have pedi send a fax saying that he was normal!