By the second week of daycare you will understand why teachers ask you to label everything. There are eleven identical blue water bottles in that room, and three kids named Liam.
What to label
Start with the things that come home dirty or go missing first. Most of them are on the first-week packing list anyway:
- Bottles, cups and every separate lid and valve
- Lunch box, snack containers and their lids
- Water bottle
- Spare clothes, including socks
- Jacket, hat and mittens
- Shoes and rain boots
- Nap blanket, crib sheet and comfort toy
- Pacifiers, if your child uses them
- Diaper cream, sunscreen and any medication (your daycare will have its own rules for medication)
Which labels hold up
Dishwasher-safe stickers are the easiest choice for bottles, cups and containers. Look for ones sold as dishwasher and microwave safe. Stick them on a clean, dry surface and give them a day before the first wash.
Stick-on clothing labels go on the care tag inside a shirt or jacket. They are fast, but some peel after many hot washes.
Iron-on labels last longer on clothes and blankets. They take ten minutes on a Sunday night and then you forget about them.
A permanent laundry marker is the cheapest option and works fine on tags, shoe insoles and the inside of a hat.
Silicone name bands slide around a bottle or cup and move to a new one when you switch.
Bottles need extra care
Many daycares ask for the child’s full name and the date on every bottle, especially for breast milk. Some ask for the time it was pumped too. Ask your daycare exactly what they need, because these rules often come from state licensing and teachers cannot bend them.
What to write
First name and last name is standard. With twins or a very common name, add a small picture or a color that your child can recognize before they can read.
