The things I wish every second-time mom knew before the first daycare drop-off.
Sending your baby to daycare for the first time is hard.
Even when you know your baby is going to be loved, cared for, and completely fine, that first drop-off can still feel like someone is taking a tiny piece of your heart and walking away with it.
And as a second-time mom, I thought I would be more prepared for this transition.
Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.
My little one is six months old, and suddenly we’re packing up bottles, clothes, diapers, sleep gear, food, and approximately 47 other things every morning before heading out the door.
The good news? The second time around, I know a few tricks.
I’ve learned that daycare is basically an entirely new organizational system, and there are a few products that make the whole process SO much easier.
If you’re getting ready to send your baby to daycare, these are five things I’d recommend having before that first day.
And one thing I learned very quickly:
You have to label EVERYTHING.
I’m not exaggerating.
Clothes. Bottles. Containers. Pacifiers. Sheets. Sleep sacks. Basically, if it belongs to your baby, put their name on it.
So let’s get into the daycare essentials that have made this transition a little less chaotic for me.
1. Brother P-Touch Label Maker
Shop the Brother P-Touch PT-D220 on Amazon
If you’re sending your baby to daycare, buy the label maker.
Seriously.
I originally thought I could get away with writing my baby’s name on things or using a few stick-on labels.
Then daycare happened.
Suddenly I was looking at bottles, clothes, bibs, pacifiers, containers, blankets, sheets, and sleep sacks thinking, Does this have his name on it?
The Brother P-Touch PT-D220 makes this part of daycare prep SO much easier. The labels are designed to be water- and fade-resistant, which is especially helpful for things that are going through daily use and washing.
This is one of those purchases that seems unnecessary until you actually need it.
Then suddenly you’re sitting at your kitchen table labeling everything you own.
My second-time-mom verdict: Buy the label maker before daycare starts. You will use it WAY more than you think.
2. American Baby Company Mini Crib Sheets
Shop the American Baby Company Mini Crib Sheets on Amazon
One of the things I wasn’t fully prepared for the first time around was how much sleep-related stuff daycare needs.
If your daycare provides mini cribs or Pack ‘n Plays, they may ask you to send fitted sheets that fit their particular sleep space. Always check your daycare’s requirements and mattress dimensions before buying.
These American Baby Company fitted mini crib sheets are made for portable/mini crib sizing, with the brand listing a 24″ x 38″ x 5″ size for its mini/portable crib sheets. They’re made from cotton and have elastic for a snug fit
And here’s my advice:
Buy more than one.
Because babies are babies.
Someone will spit up.
Someone will have a diaper leak.
Someone will somehow get a mysterious substance on the sheet at 10:17 a.m.
You do not want to discover at bedtime that the one daycare sheet you own is sitting in the washing machine.
Having a couple of extras makes daycare laundry much less stressful.
My second-time-mom verdict: Don’t send just one sheet. Having backups is worth every penny.
3. PurComfy 1.0 TOG Sleep Sack
Shop the PurComfy Sleep Sack on Amazon
Sleep is one of the biggest things I worried about when sending my baby to daycare.
At home, you know your baby’s routine. You know what they wear. You know their favorite sleep sack. You know the exact way they like to be settled.
Daycare is a new environment with new people and a completely different routine.
So I like sending a sleep sack that my baby is already familiar with—assuming it meets the daycare’s sleep policies.
The PurComfy 1.0 TOG sleep sack is made from a soft viscose/spandex blend and has a two-way zipper designed to make diaper changes easier. The 1.0 TOG version is intended as a lightweight wearable blanket, and the brand offers multiple sizes as babies grow.
I especially love the two-way zipper for those inevitable diaper changes.
And because this is daycare, I’d recommend having at least one backup sleep sack at home.
Even if you send one to daycare, you’ll eventually forget to wash it, it will come home dirty, or your baby will suddenly have grown three inches overnight.
My second-time-mom verdict: Send the sleep sack your baby already knows and loves, and keep a backup ready.
Always follow your daycare’s sleep policies and safe-sleep recommendations, including appropriate sizing and temperature-appropriate clothing.
4. A REAL Backpack—Not a Tiny Baby Backpack
Shop the Simple Modern Backpack on Amazon
Let’s talk about something I wish someone had told me before my first baby started daycare:
Do not waste your money on a tiny little baby backpack.
They’re adorable.
They’re also approximately the size of a sandwich.
And daycare?
Daycare requires STUFF.
That tiny backpack isn’t going to cut it.
I would much rather have a backpack with enough room to actually hold what my baby needs than something that’s cute but completely impractical.
The Simple Modern Large 18L backpack is designed as a larger kids’ backpack, making it a much more practical option for daycare than those tiny novelty bags.
My second-time-mom verdict: Get the bigger backpack. 12L is not enough. Get the 18L version. You need the space. Cute is nice. Functional wins.
5. KeaBabies Baby Food Containers
Shop the KeaBabies Food Containers on Amazon
At six months, we’re also entering the world of baby food—and that means another thing to pack for daycare.
Whether you’re sending purées, snacks, or eventually more substantial baby meals, having dedicated little food containers makes packing much easier.
The KeaBabies food containers are designed for storing baby food and are marketed as leak-proof and suitable for meal prep and storage.
I love having a set of containers specifically for daycare because it keeps everything together and makes it much easier to portion out baby’s food ahead of time.
Instead of standing in the kitchen every morning wondering what I’m going to send, I can prep things ahead and grab what we need.
And let’s be honest: anything that saves me five minutes in the morning is a win.
Just make sure whatever you send follows your daycare’s food-storage, labeling, reheating, and allergy policies.
My second-time-mom verdict: If your baby is starting solids, get a dedicated set of food containers and make daycare meal prep part of your routine.
The Real Daycare Essential: Preparation
If I could go back and give my first-time-mom self one piece of advice before daycare started, it would be this:
Prepare everything the night before.
The morning rush is not the time to discover that your baby needs three labeled bottles, two changes of clothes, a clean sleep sack, diapers, food, and a fitted sheet.
Make a daycare station at home.
Have a spot for:
Daycare Backpack → Bottles → Food → Diapers → Clothes → Sleep Gear
And label everything.
Seriously.
Label. Everything.
I promise it sounds excessive until you get a bag of unlabeled baby clothes sent home because nobody knows whose they are.
My Daycare Shopping List for a 6-Month-Old
If you’re about to start daycare, these are the products I’d buy first:
1. Brother P-Touch Label Maker — because you’ll be labeling EVERYTHING.
2. Mini crib sheets — buy extras so you’re never caught without a clean one.
3. Sleep sack — send one your baby already knows and keep a backup.
4. Full-size backpack — skip the tiny baby backpack. You need room.
5. Baby food containers — especially once solids become part of the daycare routine.
And if you’re a second-time mom like me, remember:
You don’t need to have everything figured out before the first drop-off.
You just need to get through the first day.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Eventually, daycare becomes part of your routine—and you’ll wonder how you ever managed those mornings without it.
Save this post to your Pinterest board for later if you’re preparing for your baby’s first day of daycare, and send it to another mom who is getting ready for that emotional first drop-off.
You’ve got this, mama. ❤️
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my Amazon links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Product availability, pricing, and features may change. Always follow your daycare’s specific requirements for your child’s belongings.
