What to pack in your toddler’s backpack for daycare

The other day Claire wanted to pack her own water bottle and snacks for daycare. I said yes. And didn’t think to check. The morning was so chaotic I forgot. She missed out on her afternoon snack that day. When I looked in her backpack that evening, she had her blankie, her hat, a hard cover Bluey book that weighs a ton, and the yogurt pouch was on her bed. This wouldn’t have happened if I had prepared the night before and ticked off the essentials on my checklist. I’ll go through the ‘must-haves’ for daycare and other stuff you can allow if the backpack isn’t too heavy.

Daycare Essentials

Water bottle

The water bottle is the one most important thing to bring to daycare. Children run around so much and sweat like crazy. They need their hydration.

Lunch box and snacks

Fortunately Claire and Tommy’s daycare provides lunches. They put more thought into it than I do. All I need to do is make sure they have afternoon snacks. Food is really high up the priority list. Your toddler will not forgive you if they have to go without. Some moms hang lunch boxes off the backpack but I prefer not to. This Skip Hop Backpack has an insulated pouch for snacks and an adjustable mesh side pocket for water bottles:

Check it out on Amazon

Change of clothes

Toddlers puke, pee and spill on themselves at random times. Plus, if its summer, they sometimes let them play with water in the afternoon to cool down. Toddlers always need a change of clothes in their bag. Leave an older pair in the backpack indefinitely so you never forget. Just make sure to check once in a while that it still fits.

Jumper

If it’s a cold day but your kid didn’t want to wear their jumper into daycare because they wanted to show off their Frozen dress, stuff one into the backpack. You can bet your warm wooly socks they’ll be looking for it when the cold breeze hits.

Favorite soft toy

Having their familiar blankie with them will go a long way in helping your toddler feel more comfortable at daycare. Claire went through multiple phases of separation anxiety but her trusty Cuski was with her throughout.

Sun-safe hat

No hat, no play is the motto in Australia. Melanoma and skin cancer is a real problem here so a hat while outside is a must. I don’t know how it works at your center but at our daycare center, if a child doesn’t have a hat, she gets loaned a ‘shared hat’. Yucks. This is how lice spread people.

Bug spray and sunscreen

Don’t forget the outside gear! Pack your child’s favorite non-toxic bug spray and sunscreen to stay sun-safe. If you find these items are too bulky and heavy for their little backpacks, check with your daycare center if you can leave a set there for continued use. After making sure all the essentials are packed, most parents find nothing else will fit. Remember, even if there is space, your child’s backpack should not be more than 10% their body weight. If they are leaning forwards or backwards while carrying their backpack, it’s too heavy. If by some miracle, you can still fit something else in, these are some other favorite kid items:

Other favorite items

Hair accessories

They don’t take up much space and hardly weigh anything. So pack your daughter’s favorite hair clips and ribbons if she wants them with her.

Small toys

You can let your toddler pack one or two favorite toys if they are light and small. Just keep in mind daycare restrictions and the risk that the toys will go missing.

Favorite book

It didn’t happen as much when Claire was younger but now that she’s three, she has a library of favorite books she wants to share with her friends. It’s fine to let your child bring a book in provided it’s not too heavy for them to carry. Make sure it’s labeled.

Packing tips

Preparing the evening before

I often forget but when I remember to prep the night before, mornings are so much nicer. Make lunch for the next day and keep the water in the fridge overnight. Go through the essentials checklist and tick them off. That way, all you need to do is pack the lunch box and water bottle in the morning and you’re good to go.

Keep your toddler’s backpack as light as possible

It might be tempting to keep on packing as long as there is space. As your toddler’s are so small, you’ll run out of weight quota before you run out of backpack space. Remember the 10% rule – the backpack plus its contents can’t be more than 10% their body weight.

Pack heavier stuff nearer to the body

If you’re letting them carry a book to daycare, make sure it’s packed nearer to the back of the pack.

The water bottle should go in the side mesh pocket

All of Claire’s water bottles eventually leak. They drop them countless times each day, it’s a matter of time. To save yourself from having to clean out a moldy backpack, never allow a water bottle in the main compartment. The CAMTOP Toddler Backpack has not only one, but two mesh side pockets for water bottles and juice boxes.

Check it out on Amazon

Keep lunch boxes outside

Lunch boxes can be large and heavy. They also tend to leak and smell if not properly closed. If I had to pack lunch boxes, I would keep it in a separate insulated lunch box rather than pack it in the backpack.

To wrap up

Every day, your little munchkins take their backpacks to daycare. Sometimes your center will give parents a list of what to pack. However, it can be hard to remember everything that needs to go in there. Keep a checklist of the essential items listed above on the fridge door to remind yourself.