We are living in a time where there are more working parents than ever. Many parents use daycare centers as a way to ensure that their children are well cared for while they work to provide a living for their families. Now more than ever, daycares are seeing an astonishing number of infants enrolled in their centers. Believe it or not, this is quite difficult for both their children and their parents. If only there was a way to prepare babies for daycare. Well, there is, and I’m here to tell you how… 

When preparing a baby for daycare, you need to remember to include plenty of tie burps cloths and bibs, extra bottles, nipples, and liners, and breast milk if the baby is breastfed. When dressing a baby for daycare, it’s important to remember to keep things simple. To ensure that your baby’s temperature can be regulated throughout the day, dress your baby in layers. You should also send your baby to daycare with diapers and changing supplies, extra clothes, blankets, and transitional objects. 

In this article, I will list several categories of supplies that your baby will need when attending a daycare center. I will also explain why these objects are necessary items for your baby to have at daycare. We will also discuss topics such as when a baby should start daycare, as well as what they do at a daycare center. Finally, I will offer you a few tips on how to choose a good daycare that fits your needs and your child’s needs. 

What Type of Feeding Supplies Does My Baby Need At Daycare? 

There is no doubt that every child needs to eat. This means that sending supplies to feed your infant with them to daycare should be a no-brainer. Some of the supplies that your infant will need to be fed at daycare include bottles, liners, and nipples. The type of food you send to your infant will depend on what you choose to feed them. If your infant is breastfed, make sure that you send plenty of breast milk with them to daycare. If you choose not to breastfeed your infant, send plenty of formula.

What Type of Changing Supplies Does My Baby Need At Daycare? 

During the day, your baby will undoubtedly need to be changed at least a few times. Of course, you are going to need to send plenty of diapers and wipes with your infant every day to daycare. The type of diapers used will depend on your personal preference, which can either be cloth or disposable. You are going to need something large enough to store all of the things your baby is going to need throughout the day. I would suggest purchasing a large diaper bag that has enough pockets to store all of your baby’s essential needs.

What Other Supplies Does My Baby Need At Daycare? 

Now that the essentials are covered, can you think of any other items that will help your baby throughout the day? Perhaps your infant we’ll need a few transitional items to help them adjust to the change of being at a daycare center all day, instead of being with you. Items that help your baby adjust to change are called transitional items. Some of these items may include a favorite stuffed animal or the blanket and pillow that they sleep with at night. These items will comfort your baby, and help them adjust to the change of not being around you all day.

When Should I Send My Baby To Daycare? 

If there is one topic that has been debated and discussed amongst new parents around the globe, this is it. When is an infant ready to go to a daycare center? I know that I have faced this conundrum three times in my life. I sent my first child to daycare when she was six weeks old. My second child went to daycare when she was two years old. My third child went to daycare when he was one year old. Some circumstances dictated when each of my children went to daycare. However, this is my personal experience. Yours may differ.

Most experts feel that separation anxiety in infants peaks around 9 months old, which is why they suggest sending a baby to daycare when they reach 12 months old, according to Frederick Montessori. Of course, each baby is different and may experience separation anxiety at different stages in their lives. This is another situation in which I would suggest using your judgment because nobody knows your baby like you know your baby. If there is one thing that I would suggest, it would be that you should ensure that your daycare is prepared and qualified to care for an infant, should you choose to send your baby to daycare at a very young age.

What Do Babies Do At Daycare? 

Most daycare centers follow a schedule. As I’m sure you are well aware, newborns and infants sleep most of the day. However, daycare centers have structured nap times in which they put the children down to sleep. They also get to experience “free play,” which is normally conducted in the infant room. Daycare centers will also set aside time where your baby will play with blocks or engage in activities that revolve around music. The primary focus of a daycare center is to keep your child engaged and interested, which will promote brain development. Daycare centers will also work with babies to develop their fine motor skills as well.

Learn the advantages of an in-home daycare!

 

How Do I Choose the Right Daycare Center? 

First and foremost, when choosing a daycare center for your baby, I would suggest trusting your instincts. You will immediately know if you are comfortable with a daycare center, and the employees at the center. As a parent of three, I always found that the most important aspect of choosing a daycare center was making sure that I was comfortable with the center and its staff. I would suggest speaking to the daycare director and asking them any questions you may have. A good daycare center directors we’ll be able to answer any questions you have regarding the center.

Aside from feeling comfortable with the daycare center and its employees, another necessity that every daycare center should have is proper CPR training. This has always been a primary prerequisite of mine when choosing a daycare center for my children. After all, if the inevitable should occur, I want to know that the staff has been trained to provide as much help to my child as possible. If the staff is properly trained in CPR, their certificates should be prominently displayed in a visible area of the daycare center. If you do not see CPR certification certificates displayed in the daycare center, ask the director to see their certification.

Conclusion 

Preparing a baby to go to a daycare center can be a stressful and emotional time for both the parent and the child. I have always found that the one thing that alleviates much of the stress involved in sending your child to daycare is being comfortable with the center that you choose. A kind and caring staff, along with proper CPR training, have always been prerequisites of mine for using my child’s daycare. However, sending an infant to daycare is a bit different than sending a toddler to daycare. Make sure that the center has at least a 1:2 staff to child ratio in the infant room, although a 1:1 ratio is preferable. 

Ensuring that you send your child with all of the essentials is also part of preparing your baby for daycare. If you are breastfeeding your child, make sure that you send enough breast milk to get them through the day, or enough formula for formula-fed babies. You should also send plenty of bottles, liners, and nipples. Diaper changing supplies are also necessary to get your child through a day at daycare. Purchase a large diaper bag, and fill it with hi there disposable or cloth diapers, as well as plenty of wipes. If you are unsure as to when to send your baby to daycare, trust your instincts. Nobody knows your baby better than you, and you will be able to tell when they are ready.

Related Questions 

What are some of the benefits of breastfeeding your child? For years, many experts have touted the benefits of breastfeeding your infant. For example, the Cleveland Clinic has listed several benefits of breastfeeding. Some of these benefits include:

• Lower risk of breast cancer.
• Lower risk of ovarian cancer.
• Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
• Less endometriosis.
• Less osteoporosis with age.
• Less diabetes.
• Less hypertension decreases blood pressure is. 
• Less cardiovascular disease.

What are the top daycare center franchises in the United States? When choosing a daycare for your child, there are several options that are going to be available to you. There are many daycare center franchises around the country. Some of these may be located in your area. If you are considering sending your child to a daycare franchise, here are the top franchises available:

• The Goddard School
• Primrose Schools
• Kiddie Academy
• The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education
• Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies

 

Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.

To learn more on how to start your own daycare checkout my startup course and documents here.