Nursery Bag Essentials for Babies

Meet Laura, mother to a 2-year-old and newborn, and member of our fantastic Parent Panel; a diverse community of Bright Horizons parents sharing their experiences of raising happy, thriving and confident children. 

When I registered my son for nursery, he would be starting in the baby room two days after his first birthday. As a first-time mum, one of the biggest questions I had was, “What should I pack for him?”. And though as parents, we want to take action for our children and make sure they are set with everything they need - the good news is that there's actually very little to pack as the nursery takes care of so much! 

Henry was still having a couple of formula bottles a day when he started, so naturally I assumed we'd have to supply the formula and bottles - but no - once I let the nursery staff know what kind of formula he was on and what bottles he was used to, they supplied everything. It wasn't one of the formula brands they normally stocked either, but they made sure to have some ready for Henry's first day, which I really appreciated. 

When it comes to comfort, Henry is a thumb sucker, but we were invited to send in any lovies or stuffies, blankets or dummies to help bring comfort during any difficult first days or for settling during nap times. The familiarity of a loved item or comforter can really help the transition and settling in process. 

Food was another question mark in my mind, but I was pleased to learn that, again, everything was provided. I must admit, it's a relief not to have to think about packing a lunch every morning!

Finally, what you do need to pack! Here's a checklist and I'll explain a bit more underneath:

• Bag
• Spare clothes
• Spare shoes
• Outdoor wear
• Creams, meds, breastmilk

First of All, a Bag!

This one's self-explanatory, of course, and could be a backpack or canvas bag; just make sure your child's name is on it somewhere (spoiler alert: this is true for pretty much everything else on this list!).

Spare Clothes

In this I include bibs if you've got a little dribbler on your hands, but basically one or two of each item that you send them in that day (e.g. In summer I'd normally dress my son in a short sleeve vest, t-shirt, and shorts. So, I'd pack two vests, two t-shirts, and two pairs of shorts in his bag). A spare pair of socks and a jumper or joggers in colder weather are also must-haves! Bear in mind that anything you send in could end up exposed to all kinds of substances (paint, glitter, glue, mud, sand, food, etc.) most of which are washable, but can occasionally leave a mark or stain. No precious clothing! Add your child's name to everything so it doesn't get lost or sent home with someone else! 

Spare Shoes

If your little one is walking, a change of shoes from indoors to outdoors could be handy. I also include wellies here, which often can be left at the nursery to avoid having to remember to bring them every day!

Outerwear

At Bright Horizons, we love outdoor play, come rain or shine! It's best to prepare for wet weather, no matter the forecast, so if you can, leave a puddle suit or similar at nursery to avoid having to remember it each morning. A hat is also essential - a wooly one for colder months and something with a brim for when it's warmer and sun cover is needed! Add your child's name to each item. I usually take these things home once a week for washing.

Creams, Medicines, Breastmilk

Sudocrem nappy cream and some medicines like Calpol are supplied by the nursery, so you don't need to worry about these. But if your child has a preferred brand due to sensitivities or allergies, or has a prescription for medical reasons, you can of course send these in. Make sure they are labelled clearly, and please do check ingredient lists for things that could be banned due to allergy risk (e.g. nuts). And if your child is having expressed breastmilk, your nursery will be able to store and serve this to your child per your instructions. Just make sure it is clearly labelled with your child's name. 

At the start it may seem overwhelming to try to think of everything your child might need while they are away with you. But rest assured that it gets easier as you settle into nursery life, and you can always ask the staff in your room if you are ever in doubt! Finally, I'll leave you with my best tip for packing the nursery bag: do it the night before wherever possible!