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StorkNet Home > Parenting Channel > Working Mothers Cubby
Preparing For Daycare: Bottles, Formula & Other Tips
by Kenyatta Thomas
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The hunt for daycare is just the beginning of the daycare experience. Diapers, blankets, cereal - the list goes on about what to bring and what not to bring. Depending on the age of the child you have in daycare, and the TYPE of daycare, your list of things will vary - but the basics are still the same.
- Pack your bag the night before.
- Make sure you mark all clothes, including shoes, with their name or initials.
- Bring one item from home, something that will be uniquely theirs like a bear or blanket.
- Keep in close contact with the daycare provider - and don't feel guilty about calling during the day to see how your little one is doing.
- Try and pop in once and awhile unexpected - to see how the unexpected is welcomed and handled.
- When dropping your child off in the morning, let the teacher know if they have eaten or not, had a bottle - or if you nursed before leaving home.
Here are some more tips from some experts on the subject - StorkNet Working Moms:
* Label your bottles with your child's name using a label maker.
* Take an extra empty bottle and small packet of formula in case they run out.
* Write your child's name on all the diapers instead of on just the package.
* Always use the same color pacifier, so the teachers will know which one your
child uses.
* Put your child's name on the diaper bag, blanket, jacket, clothes, boxes of
cereal, and jars of food.
* Pack extra clothes and plastic bags in the diaper bag.
~Jacki
I make a pitcher of formula at a time … I usually need to make one once every two days at this point with Joey. I err on the side of caution, and include an extra bottle instead of relying on the daycare to make one up. I usually take four bottles to daycare, and put a cap on them to keep them fresh. I find that as long as they aren't heated and then reheated again and again, they are fine. ~Becky
This is my first baby, and I find it easy to prepare four of Kaylynn's bottles the night before. She normally consumes three, and the fourth one is there "just in case". If you have a daycare situation where there is more than one caregiver, ask more than one how your child did that day. Getting several different perspectives helps too. ~ Becca
Since I use Playtex disposable bottles, I only had to sterilize everything once. I made a pitcher of formula every few days, filled the bottles, and just grabbed them in the morning. With my son on whole milk, it's even easier now - just two bottles of milk, a juice bottle and an extra set of clothes. ~Laura
So as you can see ladies, though the routines vary, they are still basically the same - with a STRONG emphasis on preparing things ahead of time, and keeping a clear line of communication between you and your caregiver.
Good luck!
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