Daycare Packing List: What to Bring on the First Day

What Daycares Ask You to Bring

Daycare tuition covers care, staff, and usually meals or snacks — but almost every center and in-home provider still expects parents to supply personal items: diapers and wipes, a change of clothes, bedding for nap time, and labeled bottles or cups. Licensing rules also require paperwork such as immunization records, emergency contacts, and authorized pickup lists before your child's first day.

Ask your provider for their exact list, then use the checklists below to fill the gaps. Shop at least a week early so you have time to label everything — unlabeled items are among the most common things that go missing or get sent home.

Daycare Packing List by Age

Infants (0–12 months)

• Diapers & wipes — a full pack to keep at the center; many daycares ask for a week's supply. Buying diapers in bulk lowers the per-diaper cost.
• Diaper cream — most centers need a signed medication form for it, even though it's over-the-counter.
• Bottles — enough for every feeding plus one spare, labeled on both bottle and cap. Anti-colic baby bottles are a common pick.
• Breast milk or formula — pre-portioned and dated; carry pumped milk in a breast milk cooler bag.
• Fitted crib sheets (2) — one to use, one for the wash. No blankets, pillows, or bumpers.
• Sleep sack — if your center allows it; check the size and style rules.
• 2–3 full changes of clothes — including socks, in a zip bag labeled with your child's name.
• Pacifiers (2) — if your baby uses one, plus a labeled case.

Toddlers (1–3 years)

• Nap mat or cot sheet — a toddler nap mat with attached pillow and blanket rolls up for weekend washing.
• Small blanket and comfort item — allowed for most children over 12 months.
• Sippy or straw cups (2–3) — spill-proof sippy cups keep cubbies dry.
• Diapers or pull-ups & wipes — plus extra underwear if you're potty training.
• 2–3 changes of clothes — potty-training toddlers may need more.
• Wet/dry bag — for sending soiled clothes home.
• Backpack — a toddler-sized backpack they can carry themselves.
• Weather gear — sun hat and sunscreen (with a medication form) or a coat, hat, and mittens, depending on the season.

Preschoolers (3–5 years)

• Backpack — big enough for a folder of artwork and a lunch box.
• Lunch box — if your program doesn't provide lunch, a leak-proof bento lunch box makes packing faster.
• Water bottle — a labeled kids insulated water bottle.
• Nap-time bedding — cot sheet and small blanket if your program still naps.
• One full change of clothes — accidents still happen.
• Rain boots and outdoor gear — many preschools go outside in all weather.

Paperwork (all ages)

• Signed enrollment and tuition agreement
• Immunization record and recent physical or health assessment
• Emergency contacts and authorized pickup list (with photo ID requirements)
• Allergy action plan and medication authorization forms, if applicable
• Feeding, nap, and comfort notes — the more your child's teacher knows on day one, the smoother the transition

Labeling: The Rule Most Parents Forget

Daycare classrooms are full of identical sippy cups, bottles, and jackets. Licensing rules in most states require bottles and food to be labeled with the child's name and date, and nearly every center asks for clothing to be labeled too.

• Bottles, cups & containers: use waterproof, dishwasher-safe name labels — and label the lids separately.
• Clothes & outerwear: iron-on or stick-on clothing labels in the collar or waistband.
• Milk & food: add the date (and time pumped, for breast milk) every day.
• Shoes & boots: a label or marker on the insole.

What Not to Send

• Blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals for infants — they aren't allowed in infant cribs under safe-sleep rules.
• Toys from home — they get lost or cause sharing battles; save them for show-and-tell days.
• Unlabeled or unauthorized medicine — even sunscreen and diaper cream usually need a signed form.
• Food that breaks the center's allergy policy — many programs are nut-free.
• Jewelry, hair clips, or anything with small parts — choking hazards for young children.

How Much Do Daycare Supplies Cost?

Supplies are a small cost next to tuition, but they add up in the first month. Typical retail price ranges:

Estimates for planning purposes; prices vary by brand and retailer. Startup supplies typically total about $75–$200. Tuition is the real budget driver — see average daycare costs or use the calculator below for your zip code.

Frequently Asked Questions