Please tell me what's in your preschooler's backpack?

[5lilducks]

Just that really. DD is due to start preschool next week. Snacks are provided by preschool. So far I can only think of water and a change of clothes. She needs nappies for poo, so I will pack a couple of nappies too. How many clothing items should I pack (bearing in mind it's a small backpack)? Two tops and two bottoms or would just one each suffice? She will also have to take her plimsolls and some wipes. Would it be too much for her to carry a pack of water wipes? What else should be in my preschooler's backpack? All ideas will be most appreciated.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

• water bottle
• change of clothes (don't forget socks and pants)
• seasonal wear as needed (sun hats, or wooly in winter)
• daily correspondence- so that's mainly them bringing home a forest worth of craft.

[5lilducks]

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Thank you for replying. I actually forgot socks and pants🤦, so thanks for reminding me!

[LaTomatina]

Do they not tell you? Ours asks for:

Slippers
2 complete changes of clothes
Packet of nappies (if still in nappies, obvs)
100 paper tissues
Cup
Wellies

Everything lives in the nursery (although obviously the clothes have to be replenished/brought home for washing as required). The tissues are to last for the whole year. Teacher asks for new packs of nappies as required. In the winter you're also meant to provide appropriate jacket and overtrousers.

[LaTomatina]

In the past, you could also send a dummy/cuddly toy if it would help at nap time, but I think since covid that is discouraged.

[5lilducks]

@LaTomatina

Thank you for replying, much appreciated. The lady who spoke to me was a new recruit so she said she will ask someone else and get back to be which she never did. I didn't want to push it either. All she said was nappies, wipes and plimsolls. She also said that everything need I have dd's name on it 🤷

[5lilducks]

Also, is it just the outer clothing that needs her name on it or do I need to put her name on her change of clothing as well? I am assuming the change of clothing will be kept in her backpack until needed?

[LaTomatina]

Yeah - name tags are essential. I buy the stick on label ones online from Stickins. Or just write on the label /inside collar/waistband with a permanent marker.

[CaptainSpirit]

Ooh following! My DD is 3 and starts preschool on Tuesday. They've just said a spare change of uniform for us, they provide drinks themselves and she'll only be staying the morning so lunch won't be needed.

I'm thinking the spare uniform, a couple of pairs of fresh knickers (just in case!), socks, and a sun hat maybe?

[LaTomatina]

Label absolutely everything, unless you don't care if it goes missing. Small children can't necessarily be relied on to recognise their own stuff, and the teachers have a lot to do, it helps them a lot if everything is clearly labelled.

[kimTimFin]

Put her name on everything (Including backpack itself). They make take them to different areas to change them so clothes could be away from her bag. Jumper especially as they’ll come on and off during the day.

Every nursery is different. Ours use to provide all outdoor gear but that’s changed with Covid. So complete change of clothing x 2 Don’t forgot spare cardigan or jumper as well. It’s not even for accidents it’s for things like the water table and then downing sleeves etc.

Then I’d pick sunhat if weather warmer or winter hats gloves etc but again check with nursery some provide. Same with waterproof trousers wellies etc.

[olderthanyouthink]

I'm packing:

• bottle
• a spare top or two
• spare jumper
• several pants
• several bottoms
• several socks
• extra shoes
• teddy
• cloth wipes maybe
• wet bag

DD is potty trained but is in a patch of wetting herself all the time (I got her checked for a uti) her bag is a little big to accommodate all the spare clothes

[olderthanyouthink]

Also does anyone know where I can get name labels made ASAP (nursery starts Wednesday and I haven't got any!)

[Fairybatman]

DS used to take

Complete spare change of clothes in a bag (2 when he wasn’t reliably dry) include a couple of nappy bags for wet stuff to come home in.
Water bottle
Wellies (which will stay there)
Rain suit (which stays there)
Hat and gloves in winter or cap and suncream in summer.

When he was little he also used to have a dummy in a tuppaware tub and a teddy.

When he was in nappies we used to take a full pack of nappies and a couple of packs of wipes and they would stay there and be replaced when used up.

[Grrretel]

Mine doesn't need a water bottle as they provide drinks. In her backpack she has a change of clothes and hat/gloves/suncream depending on the weather.

[whirlwindwallaby]

DS used to take one full change of clothes, water bottle and bucket style sun hat. Caps don't provide enough sun protection unless they are a legionnaire style.

[Kaffiene]

olderthanyouthink stinkins delivery is usually fast

[LaTomatina]

Yeah if you order some Stickins now you'll probably get them Tuesday or Wednesday. Or just use permanent marker to begin with.

[5lilducks]

Thanks for all your replies. Most helpful indeed. I ordered Stickins on Amazon but they said they would be delivered mid september which is no good for me. I have ordered some from Woven Labels UK instead ..they are due to be delivered on Monday.

[5lilducks]

@olderthanyouthink I ordered from Woven Labels Uk yesterday and they are due on Monday. Had to pay 3.99 more for express delivery . They had next day delivery too but costs quite a lot more.

[NameChange30]

Everything labelled with Stikins.

2/3 pairs of pants
1/2 pairs of trousers
2 pairs of socks
1 t shirt
Sun hat
Wellies if wet weather (or trainers if he goes to preschool in wellies)

And we still leave a pull-up in his bag because until relatively recently he would ask for a nappy when he wanted a poo, but luckily he's started pooing on potty/toilet at last, so he doesn't really need the pull-up any more. We just leave it in the bag just in case.

We don't put a water bottle in there as nursery ask us not to, they provide water as well as snacks.

[NameChange30]

I wouldn't have thought there'd be any need to pack wipes in her bag unless they request them for nappy changes? When DS was still in nappies, we'd take in nappies and wipes and they would be kept at nursery (they have shelves in the room for changing with a labelled basket for each child).

[NerrSnerr]

My son's preschool bag has pull ups, wipes, clothes, in the summer hat and sun cream, in winter hat and gloves and a purple train. Wellies stay at preschool.

[YorkshireIndie]

I got my labels from the same place and they came very quickly and look really good!

[Boringnamechanging]

@olderthanyouthink

Also does anyone know where I can get name labels made ASAP (nursery starts Wednesday and I haven't got any!)

I just use a sharpie on the washing label

[Boringnamechanging]

Spare clothes -including underwear and socks
Drink bottle
Sun hat/winter hat if needed
Coat
Waterproof trousers (or puddle suit)
Wellies