The Top 15 Tips For Getting Your Child Daycare Ready In 2024

This could be one of the single most important tips you’ll learn throughout your daycare experience. Odds are, yes, you will lose something at some point, but by having labels for both clothing and items such as drink bottles, the ‘daycare item replenishment fund’ should stay fuller for longer. Choosing labels that actually stay on your child’s belongings means that you won’t have to worry about replacing them - or about rummaging through the lost and found every few weeks!

Our top pick: Hippo Blue Starting Daycare Pack, $25.00

The Hippo Blue Starting Daycare Pack features 132 stickers, including medium, mini, small, tiny and round stickers. It also includes 16 medium and 64 mini clothing labels, which are simply ironed on to any piece of clothing and last wash after wash, after wash, after wash! Likewise, the stickers will attach to your child’s belongings (such as their drink bottles, baby bottles and creams) with ease! They have incredible staying power and will even stay secure in the dishwasher!

What makes the Hippo Blue Starting Daycare Pack different?

The Starting Daycare Pack from Hippo Blue is able to be completely personalised! You begin by choosing your collection (we love the Superhero collection!), you then choose one of the many styles available within the collection you chose, and you finish up by choosing a colour scheme and font! This means no two designs are likely to ever be alike! You can even see a preview of your design instantly, which means you can make tweaks in real time with ease!

Why try Hippo Blue Starting Daycare Pack?

Once you’ve created a design you like, the options are endless! You can use that design on anything from a personalised Bento Lunch Box for your child, to a backpack and even a personalised story book with your child as the star!

This is a prerequisite for daycare centres, who need to see evidence that your child’s immunisation records are fully up to date. Of course, injections can be a big issue for young children, who more often than not are scared of getting a jab! NeedleCalm™ could very well be just the thing to help, as it is said to help with the anxiety around injections - amazing!

Our top pick: NeedleCalm™, $10.45 each

NeedleCalm™ is a single use adhesive pad with biocompatible medical grade silicone designed to promote comfort and minimise the perception of pain associated with needle related procedures. NeedleCalm™ is intended to be used to relieve pain and/or anxiety and/or fear associated with injection / immunisation / venepuncture / catheterisation procedures.

Why try NeedleCalm™ for your child?

If you can do something to help your child’s fear of needles, why wouldn’t you do it? The best bit is,  the NeedleCalm™ device is registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as a Class 1 medical device.

Whether your baby is sleeping in a cot of a toddler trundle bed, it’s always a good idea to send a set of good quality sheets from home that you know have been washed in detergent that’s safe for your little one’s skin, and that comes from home - so smells just like home - and may make them settle down at rest time a little easier.

Our top pick: Good quality silk, linen or cotton sheets

A good cot or bed sheet should be both breathable and durable for sleep time. You want your little one to be as comfortable as possible as they will no doubt be put to sleep in a room with other children, so you want their space to be as calming and inviting for sleep as possible.

What should you look for in cot sheets?

Silk sheets are incredibly popular for young babies, as their delicate skin and hair glide smoothly across the surface, eliminating the friction that causes knotting, matting, and baby bald spots, whilst promoting re-growth. We love Silky Tots sheets as they’re pure, natural and made from 100% Mulberry Silk, which is breathable, hypoallergenic, and non-absorbent, meaning it won’t strip natural oils from baby’s skin or hair. Likewise, Go To Bed’s range of fitted cot sheets are made from soft 100% jersey cotton fabric that is suitable all year round. You heard right! Jersey Cotton is lightweight and breathable for use in Summer, and soft and comfortable during the cooler months. The organic cotton fitted cot sheets from Banabae are also incredible for daycare and home alike, as they’re made from Hemp/organic cotton voile. This means they are both hypoallergenic and thermo-regulating. It feels just as soft as linen and is one of the most sustainable fabrics available.

Did you know that some daycare centres don’t provide nappies? Yep! It’s always worth asking the question early on so you’re prepared. If your daycare does not provide nappies, or you’re looking to choose an option that’s better for the environment, reusable cloth nappies may be of interest to you!

Our pick: Designer Bums Cloth Nappy, $36.95

If you’re looking to do your bit for the environment - and your wallet - reusable cloth nappies are the way to go! They fit babies up to toddler age!

What makes Designer Bums Cloth Nappies different?

Designer Bums cloth nappies feature the signature trim-fit and exclusive prints. Lined with silky soft vegan Suede Cloth inner-lining which is a one-way fabric, allowing liquid to pass through and be drawn away, keeping baby’s skin dry and comfortable. Also, due to the press studs featured around the nappy, you’re able to adjust the size so that you can use them on small babies, as well as toddlers!

Why try Designer Bums Cloth Nappies?

Designer Bums All-In-Two cloth nappies each come with a super-thirsty tri-layer bamboo insert made from high-quality, natural bamboo/cotton fibres that feature a convenient, rectangular snap-in booster insert, plus a large anchor-shaped insert that can be customised to provide a variety of boosting options. Featuring an additional pocket opening in the back of the nappy, it can be boosted internally as well as laid and snapped on top of the pocket to suit your needs. An additional super- absorbent Trifold insert can be purchased separately to boost for very heavy wetters, longer stretches or to convert for night-time use!

A protective hat is a major must-have for daycare, in fact, many have a ‘no hat, no play’ policy that they enforce, because we live in Australia - and our kids always need to be protected from the harmful UV rays!

Our pick: Bedhead Hats, from $28.95

The great thing about these hats is that if you want to change up the look and feel, you can simply turn it inside out for a whole new pattern!

What makes Bedhead hats different?

For Bedhead Hats, the urge to protect, nurture and enjoy life extends beyond their products and into the way the entire company operates. From the people who make their hats, to how they package them up to you, to where and how they operate as a business, they’re doing their best to do their part for the planet, their customers, their community, their makers and employees.

Why try Bedhead hats?

To ensure Bedhead hats are of greatest protection, they are tested on the overall hat design. Most hats in the marketplace are only tested on the fabric alone - which can deteriorate over time reducing protection, let alone taking into account the size or angle of a hats brim.

All Bedhead Bucket hat, Baby Bucket hat & Legionnaire styles have achieved a rating of UPF50+ Excellent Protection.

One of the key things for your children throughout their day at daycare is to keep up their hydration! An attractive, kid-friendly drink bottle will have them reaching for it more often!

Our pick: Camelbak Eddy + Kids Insulated 400ml drink bottle, $27.99

What you want from a drink bottle is something that’s easy for your little one to pick up and drink from, is easily identifiable and will keep their drink cool!

What makes Camelbak different?

The Eddy®+ Kids Insulated Bottle is spill-proof and built tough for all of life’s tumbles and accidental drops. Your tiny adventurer will definitely flip for this lightweight and durable bottle that keeps their drink colder, longer. Plus, you'll love that it's so easy to clean as it's dishwasher safe! Hooray!

Let’s be honest, we’re not going to be sending our kids to daycare in their Sunday best - what with all the painting and sandpit play they’re sure to do! What we need are affordable brands that offer both comfort and quality.

Our picks: Kmart, Target, Big W and Bonds

Quality, on-trend garments that move with your active little one, what more could you ask for in daycare clothing? The low price tag doesn’t hurt either, as no doubt there’ll be paint splatter and texta marks all over those pieces.

What kind of clothing should you choose for your child’s daycare wardrobe?

It’s best to dress your child in layers when you send them off to daycare each day. That way they can peel off layers if they get too hot, or put them on if it gets chilly. Stretchy leggings are always a good option in the in between seasons, where as cotton shorts and great for summer, and fleece-lined tracksuit pants are a must in winter. Cotton t-shirts are great for warmer days, where as long-sleeved tops underneath a fleece-lined jumper is a winning recipe for winter. Always pack a puffer best or jacket along with a beanie when winter sets in.

Top tip for buying daycare clothes:

Did you know that stores like Kmart, Big W, Target and even Cotton On Kids do end of season sales? This is a great time to buy larger sizes for the next season at a much cheaper price! You also want to buy clothing that isn’t too tight, and is breathable. That goes for socks too! Make sure you buy 100% cotton so they don’t get sweaty feet! Bonds are amazing for this!

There are so many great brands out there providing sturdy, good quality shoes that won’t break the bank. Because feeling supported throughout the day is so important as baby’s grow and their walk turns into a run!

Our picks: Skeanie, Just Ray Baby, Tikitot

All of these brands provide quality, style and flexibility for your little one’s feet. They won’t wear holes in the soles due to endless running all day long, and will ensure your child is equipped with the right shoes to carry them through each day.

Why is finding the right shoes so important?

In summer, a breathable sandal is key for comfort throughout the day. You want to choose something with flexibility that will move with your child’s foot and remain unstretched, even if they wear them daily. We love the Brooklyn Nude Spot Toddler Boots from Tikitot (pictured) as they feature a flexible yet durable rubber sole to encourage natural foot movement. For sneakers, you can’t go past the SKEANIE Toddler Leather Trainer Shoes, as they feature luxurious leather uppers and lining with flexible rubber soles. The velcro closure and a toe kick guard are perfect for growing feet. The Lonnie Sneaker from Just Ray Baby is also a firm favourite, as it comes in a variety of styles and have a rubber sole and a cushioned insole which is flexible enough to still allow natural movement.

Separation anxiety can reach an all time high when it comes time to start daycare. It could be the first time your kids are away from you since they were born, so it’s a tough time for everyone involved! A good tip is to buy your child a ‘cuddly’ toy (in fact, maybe two or three of them!) that they can have with them at home and at daycare, to provide a sense of familiarity in new surroundings.

Our pick: Sack Me! (pictured), Kippins and Riff Raff!

All three of these brands create beautiful, easy-to-love cuddly toys that your little one will no doubt become attached to instantly. Hence the reason to buy two or three, in case bunny, unicorn or dragon needs a wash! We love the Sack Me! Dee Dragon Security Blanket, the Splits Kippin Organic Cotton Baby Comforter, and Raffy the Fawn Riff Raff Sleep Toy.

Nappy rash is an unfortunate reality for almost all kids at one time or another. The key to dealing with it effectively is to ensure it’s not further agitated by your little one’s wet or soiled nappies. That means creating a barrier over the nappy rash with a thick nappy cream.

Our pick: Mustela or al.ive baby

Mustela 123 Vitamin Barrier Cream is fragrance-free and specially formulated to tackle the factors that trigger nappy skin discomfort at their source thanks to a unique combination of patented natural active ingredients, to 1) Prevent 2) Soothe 3) Recover the baby’s skin discomfort. Likewise, the al.ive body baby Nappy Cream is formulated with carefully selected ingredients that will help protect and soothe the discomfort of nappy rash.

How do you send your nappy rash cream to daycare?

If you’re dealing with nappy rash at home, which can often occur when babies are teething, you don’t want the protection to stop just because they have attended daycare for the day. To effectively treat nappy rash you have to keep the area clean, dry and protected around the clock, so you can’t have the ball dropped at daycare!

Did you know?

Daycare legally requires any cream, teething powder or teething gel you’d like applied to your child at daycare to have a pharmacist's label on it? Otherwise it cannot be given. You just have to ask a pharmacist to print out a sticker with the child's name and the dosage or application suggestion on it and attach it to the product - you don't have to buy it at the pharmacy either!

If your child is starting daycare while they’re under one, no doubt you’ll have done the hard yards when it comes to finding a breast-like bottle that they’ll take. It’s crucial if they’re going to have a smooth transition to daycare, as mum won’t be around to feed them!

Our pick: Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Bottle, $19.49

This bottle is the most breast-like bottle on the market, with a super soft silicone bottle and a wide base, meaning it’s sturdy and able to placed down between feeding with ease. The super soft silicone of the Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Bottle is also a favourite for babies to hold as they feed, and the nipple-like teat feels familiar. They’re also easy to clean, due to the wide neck and bottle.

Top tips for sending a bottle to daycare:

Ensure your baby’s bottles are washed and sterilised before sending them to daycare is key, as you don’t want to depend on daycare staff to do this. Also, like with your child’s clothing, it’s integral to ensure all your child’s bottles, formula and cleaning utensils are clearly labelled with waterproof labels, such as the ones from Hippo Blue. You should also create and print out a clear feeding schedule for your baby, so that the daycare staff stick to the same timings you would at home.

As children in daycare approach the cooler months, you may consider sending a sleeping bag to provide them with extra warmth. Additionally, some parents prefer to include a sleeping bag or sleeping sack for their younger children, as it serves as a bedtime cue that it's time to rest!

Our picks: Love to Dream and Anchor and Arrow (pictured)

Both of these brands provide comfortable sleeping bags for babies to toddler age with varying degrees of warmth for the different times of year. While Love to Dream has a gorgeous array of subtle shades and comfortable quilting, Anchor and Arrow feature more colourful hues and eye-catching designs.

Both brands feature a TOG system that helps you identify the appropriate sleeping bag based on the temperature. During warmer months, opt for a lower TOG rating, and in winter, choose a higher one.

Tips for finding the right sleeping bag for your child:

If you've found a sleeping bag style that your child prefers, such as an 'arms out' vest-style sleeping bag or one that covers both their arms and body, it's advisable to stick with that style.

Consistency is key when transitioning your child from home to daycare, and maintaining familiar items from home can help ease the adjustment process. Since daycare already introduces numerous new experiences, it's best not to introduce additional changes at this time. Be sure to label your child's sleeping bags clearly to avoid any mix-ups."

Many daycare centres focus on a decent amount of outdoor play each day, as a chance for the children to receive a good dose of vitamin D, but of course, they need to be protected too! When searching for a sunscreen to send to daycare for your child, you need to look for one that will provide the utmost protection from UVA and UVB rays, and won’t clog their skin.

Our picks: Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF50+ and Happy Hours Protect Natural Sunscreen - SPF50+

We love the Cancer Council Sunscreen for children as it provides SPF50+ broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, is fragrance and paraben free, and specially-formulated and dermatologically tested for the most delicate of skins. Happy Hours Protect Natural Sunscreen SPF50+ is a natural SPF50 broad spectrum zinc sunscreen, with a 4 hour water resistance that is safe for all skin types and ages. Free from octocrylene, oxybenzone, octinoxate & synthetic fragrances, this sunscreen is reef, kid and pregnancy friendly... hallelujah!

Tips for sending sunscreen to daycare:

Most daycare educators are trained to reapply sunscreen every four hours if children are outside in the sun. However, it can’t hurt to relay this information to your child’s educator on a warm day during dropoff. Likewise, always send your child to daycare with sunscreen already applied, and let the educator know you have done this, so that they don’t reapply straight away. As with everything else you send with your child to daycare, label your sunscreen clearly!

Even though we all know what a crazy world we’re living in at the moment, our children don’t know any different, which is a good thing. By the time they're old enough to fully comprehend the world around them, we’ll hopefully have a real sense of normality back! For this reason, hand sanitiser is all part and parcel of the daycare process, as your children have probably used hand sanitiser in the last year more than you have in your life!

Our pick: Happy Hours skincare sanitiser

To add a sense of novelty for children, the Happy Hours Skincare sanitiser is actually a spray! Fun! The hand and surface spray sanitiser is designed to protect the whole family and keep the skin clean, healthy and hydrated. Using only natural ingredients, this non oily or sticky formula is kid safe, pregnancy safe, vegan and cruelty free and can be used on anything your child touches, hopefully before they touch it!

Finding the perfect daycare bag is part and parcel of the whole transition to daycare! It’s the fun part, where children can be included in the process of selecting a bag they love (once they’re older of course!). For the little ones, a personalised backpack (like the ones from Hippo Blue) are a wonderful bag to choose, as they’re big enough to fit all of the bits and pieces your child will need throughout the day, plus they’re easily identifiable by educators, as they have your child’s name clearly visible on the front!

Our picks: Hippo Blue and Marmalade Lion

Hippo Blue child backpacks come with a handy inner pocket, spacious front zippered compartment and two side pockets, meaning you’ll never run out of space. It’s a high quality, totally personalisable bag made out of super durable, lightweight and woven polyester with piping. The Marmalade Lion Expect-A-Spill children’s backpacks are unlike any other! Made from Maramalade Lion’s signature waterproof fabrics and including an inbuilt lunchbox cooler and bottle cooler, these super-sturdy bags are built to take everywhere. From a nappy bag to a preschool bag, as you might have guessed the Expect-A-Spill backpacks are super easy to simply wipe clean inside and out. Plus, the ergonomic, padded shoulder straps make it extremely comfy for little shoulders to carry.