What to Label for Daycare and the Best Ways to Do It
Are you thinking about what to label for daycare? If there is one thing every daycare parent learns quickly, it is this: label everything.
Every bottle. Every pacifier. Every sleep sack. Every outfit. Even the socks.
If it goes to daycare without a name on it, there is a decent chance it comes home in the wrong bag, goes missing, or causes confusion for the provider.
Labeling is not about being overly organized. It is about making daycare easier for everyone.
Why Labeling Matters
Daycare rooms are busy.
Providers are managing multiple babies, bottles, pacifiers, outfits, diapers, sleep sacks, and bags at the same time.
A clear label helps your provider know exactly what belongs to your baby. That matters most with feeding items, but it also matters for clothes, sleep items, and anything that moves between home and daycare.
Bottles and Feeding Items
Bottles are the most important thing to label.
Label:
- Bottles
- Bottle caps
- Nipples, if needed
- Formula containers
- Milk storage bags
- Food containers
- Pouches
- Sippy cups
- Straw cups
Most daycares require the baby’s name and date on bottles of breastmilk or prepared formula. Some also ask for the time pumped or prepared.
Ask your daycare exactly what they want on the label.
Put the label on the bottle itself, not just the cap. Caps can come off or get separated.
Clothing
Label all clothing that goes to daycare.
That includes:
- Onesies
- Shirts
- Pants
- Pajamas
- Sleepers
- Socks
- Hats
- Jackets
- Sweaters
- Shoes
Socks are annoying to label, but they disappear constantly.
For clothes, you can label the tag, collar, waistband, or inside seam.
Sleep Items
Label anything used for sleep.
- Sleep sack
- Swaddle
- Crib sheet, if you provide one
- Pacifiers used for sleep
Most daycares do not allow loose blankets or stuffed animals in the crib for babies, so check the rules before sending comfort items.
Diapering Items
Label:
- Diaper cream
- Prescription ointments
- Wipes, if you send your own
- Diaper sleeves or packs, if stored in the cubby
If your baby has sensitive skin and uses a specific cream, labeling is especially important.
Also check whether daycare requires a signed form before applying diaper cream.
Bags and Containers
Label the things that hold everything else.
- Daycare backpack
- Diaper bag
- Bottle cooler
- Lunch box
- Wet/dry bag
- Zip pouches
- Cubby bins
A labeled bag makes pickup easier and helps providers keep everything organized.
Pacifiers and Small Items
Small items are the easiest to lose.
Label:
- Pacifiers
- Pacifier clips
- Teethers
- Small toys, if allowed
Pacifiers are tricky because they are small and get washed often. Waterproof labels, pacifier clips with names, or writing on the handle can help.
Best Ways to Label Daycare Items
Permanent Marker
This is the fastest and cheapest option.
It works well on:
- Clothing tags
- Diaper cream
- Wipes
- Bags
- Some bottles
The downside is that it fades, especially with washing.
Waterproof Stick-On Labels
These are probably the easiest daycare option.
They work well on:
- Bottles
- Food containers
- Sippy cups
- Pacifiers
- Lunch boxes
- Bottle coolers
Look for dishwasher-safe and waterproof labels.
Clothing Labels
For clothes, stick-on clothing labels, iron-on labels, or a name stamp can all work.
A clothing stamp is fast if you have a lot to label at once.
Painter’s Tape or Masking Tape
This works surprisingly well for daily bottle labels.
Write the name and date on the tape, stick it to the bottle, and remove it when you wash the bottle.
It is not fancy, but it works.
Labeling Tips That Help
Label before the first day, not the morning of.
Label the item itself, not just the bag.
Date bottles every day.
Check labels every few weeks.
Refresh anything that has faded.
Keep extra labels near the bottles.
Label backup cubby clothes too.
The cubby is where unlabeled clothes go to disappear.
Related Daycare Prep
Labeling is only one part of getting ready for daycare. It also helps to have your daycare packing list for baby ready, bottles packed the same way every day, and a daycare bag that is easy to restock. If your baby is starting soon, our daycare first day tips and first week of daycare posts may help with the transition too.
Final Thoughts
Daycare labeling feels like overkill until the first time something goes missing.
Then it makes sense immediately.
Start with the important things: bottles, pacifiers, sleep sack, clothes, diaper cream, and the daycare bag.
Once everything is labeled, daycare packing gets much easier.
