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Maryland Babies
Couple of Questions for Starting DC
Jillian is going to day care for a few hours tomorrow, a full day on Thursday and then starting full time on Monday. I'm trying to get things together while she's napping now. Couple of questions for you guys.
I have diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, 3 bottles, and formula in her bag. DC said they would provide food but I'm not sure if that meant baby food or not. I'm just going to throw some in there just in case as well as a couple of spoons and some bibs. Am I forgetting anything?
Also, am I crazy if I write down the food's she is eating and how much formula, etc? Do you label the stuff you send? I want to be organized/prepared but I don't want to look overbearing or crazy! She is going to an in-home provider who DH and I are excited about and trust but things are a little crazy right now. DC provider had surgery on Aug 2 and cannot do any stairs, lifting, driving, basically nothing, for 5 weeks. Her SIL and MIL are certified subs for her and one of them is with her all day. However, DC provider told me that things are a little chaotic right now b/c of everything. Also, there is an 8 month old girl starting at the same time as Jilly (mom also a teacher) so I'm just worried things would get mixed up.
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Re: Couple of Questions for Starting DC
When EC started dc, she told me she would supply formula but she would buy generic formula but if we needed anything special we would have to supply it ourselves.
I also gave her more bottles/day then she would drink - so there were 5 or 6 bottles at daycare instead of the 3-4 that she would drink/day.
I didn't label the stuff that I sent but I also didn't send anything that I didn't care if I ever saw again. So the spare clothes were hand me downs that I didn't really like. The bottles actually stayed at daycare and with only one other baby there, I wasn't too worried about it.
I don't think there is anything wrong with being extra organized, more so since your dcp is telling you things are a little crazy at the moment.
Does she (or will she need) diaper cream, a paci (or 2)? I have 2 full changes of clothes, back up diapers and wipes. I always send 1 bottle more than I think he will take a day, and there is an emergency bottle with emergency formula just in case (DS still BFs). We go to a center so things are very procedural there. Each child has a color for all their things, i.e. John's color is orange, and they have a roll of orange tape there, so everything that is his has a little bit of the orange tape on it, paci's, bottles, food containers, diaper and wipe packages. Each child also has a Daily Communications sheet where his teachers write down every time he eats (the time and how much and now that he is taking solids what he eats), every time he is changed (their policy is they are changed every 2 hours or more frequently if needed), every time he naps and for how long, what his disposition was, and what they did that day. We also have to update a feeding schedule every month for him that says how much and how often to give him BM and when to give him solids. There are also separate labels for BM and formula (BM is a red lable and Formula is white) and each childs name and date is written on each one every day. It sounds very regimented, but I love it.
I would absolutely write down a loose feeding schedule, honestly I don't think when it comes to your child you can provide too much info. I would also label everything that you send so there isn't any confusion. Rule of thumb, do whatever you need/be as prepared or organized as you want so that you feel comfortable everyday while your LO is in DC.
I think it's a great idea to write down feedings, what she likes, such as food, etc. Every day I send DD to DC with notes for DCP. Like when she ate that morning, I also provide food and bottles for DD too.
I would also send a favorite toy of Jillian, so just in case she gets nervous or upset, she has something from home to remind her of you guys.
Good luck tomorrow. I'm sure she will do wonderful.
Yep, I over-label and over-inform DCP.
I send lots of extras (clothes, bibs, blankets, burpcloths, etc) there - my LO spits up all the time.
My DCP will eventually provide solids. We did provide cereal initially when we started and spoons. (LOL, the pink and purple ones from the set of 6 we got!)
We also get a daily activity sheet and we live and die by that at our house. I love knowing exactly what DS did all day, how often he was changed, what times he ate, napped, his disposition. It helps me so much at home in the evenings.
GL tomorrow! The first few days were so hard, but each day got a little easier for us. I still call at least once a day though!
Happy Birthday, little man. We love you so much!
My favorite money saving tip: I've earned more than $300 in gift cards (Amazon, Starbucks, Southwest!) using SwagBucks for internet searching - and you can too! It's FREE and EASY!
Evelyn goes to a daycare center, so your situation may be somewhat different, but yes, I make the bottles up ahead.
The Goddard School has a policy that they will NOT prepare food, they will only heat it. I am sure this is because some parents of the older kids took advantage.
The night before I make up Evie's bottles for the next day. I have a big glass measuring cup. I use that along with the directions on Similac's website to make a large quantity of formula at once. (23 oz of water to 1/2 cup formula or 46 oz of water to 1 cup of formula.) I got a little cooler, the kind that carries a 6 pack of soda and I use that to transport her prepared bottle to daycare.
Good Luck tomorrow!! It definitely gets easier...
I actually send DD to DC with formula already made, but that's my choice. DCP told me to just bring formula and then would mix it for me. I already make them at night, so I figure it's just easier to make for the whole day.
My DCP requires premade bottles.
If things are a little crazy there right now, I would make them ahead for her. When things get more crazy for you, you could always just bring the formula.
Happy Birthday, little man. We love you so much!
My favorite money saving tip: I've earned more than $300 in gift cards (Amazon, Starbucks, Southwest!) using SwagBucks for internet searching - and you can too! It's FREE and EASY!