What do you put in toddlers nursery bag?

[bumblebeewine]

I found out yesterday that DD starts nursery next week! I've had no letters but called the school and they confirmed that was the start date (where I live the nursery is in the primary school- rural living). So now I'm panicking. She's got a backpack coming on Monday which hopefully is big enough but I don't know what to pack? She's 3 and toilet trained but I know a spare pair of clothes and underwear. She will be taking lunch so meal ideas would be fab too! Tia

I'd have two spare of every clothing. If they are playing in the water and get changed they may need to be changed again if have a toilet accident etc. Do they wear the same shoes inside and outside?

Hi @angelofthelight , thanks! We've not been told anything, just the day she starts. Don't even know how many days she's going, it's that unorganised. So with the shoes, I've been told they can wear any shoes and no one has said they have to have two?🤔

will the nursery provide snacks, or do they expect you to provide your own?
you'll also want a cardigan/jumper, waterproof coat and trousers (these can be left at nursery if they allow that, a puddle suit also works), suncream, waterbottle, and a change of clothes.

for lunch, a bento lunch box works well. you can get one off amazon here
www.amazon.co.uk/Yumbox-Original-Leakproof-Container-Sunburst/dp/B081DW5ZV9/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Yumbox&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1596892239&sr=8-3
which has room for things like yogurt (buy a big pot and put a few spoonfuls in), a sandwich, veggie sticks etc.

Two sets of spare clothes.
Nappies and wipes.
Comfort toy.
Inside and outside shoes.
Hat.
Sun cream.
Calpol.
Moisturiser (due to lots of hand washing).

Think that's it. He's with a childminder, not nursery.

Take in some sun cream either to keep in her bag or keep at nursery, sun hat, two pairs of spare clothes including socks. Wellies are always good to take in too.. just put her name in them and you should be able to leave them there for whenever needed

We send DS with:

Sun cream and a sun hat (but then they take them to store at the nursed)
A light jacket in case it gets cloudy
2 spare sets of clothes including socks and underwear

You may want to check if they are letting you take the bag home daily. At the moment our nursery are making us pack for a full week to stop the number of items going in and out due to covid.

Oh yes wellies is a good shout too.

Include a carrier bag for putting wet/soiled clothing. Sunscreen is a must too, but you should apply before leaving home anyway. Plus what everyone else says

Change of clothes, waterproof apron, drink flask, lunch, not a favourite toy 'cause they go missing 🙄.

I usually put in more than 1 set of pants and trousers in case there’s more than 1 toileting accident.

For lunches, we’ve been told it’s packed lunches only next term. If we’re sending one in (rather than having a school pack lunch from the school kitchen), then we’ve been asked to send it in containers / packaging that the children can open themselves.

Spare clothes including socks, hat, suncream.
For lunch I follow the idea of a piece of protein, dairy, fruit or veg and carb. So might be a meat sandwich, yoghurt, fruit and something else snack like

On the first day I would take a change of clothes in a zip lock bag, lunch and some wellies then ask what else they need when you get there.

I wouldn't go mad buying lots of new stuff until you've been to the nursery/ got more info - our nursery provides waterproofs/ wellies etc & have additional cleaning in place for shared items just now.
Changes of clothes - at least 2
Indoor shoes - gym shoes or trainers are good, preferably with Velcro so she can try to put them on herself *nit slippers as the soles are very slippy!
I'd discourage toys favourite or otherwise as they go missing/get broken & can cause huge upset.
The school/nursery should send out some induction info before starting - we'd normally chat this over with parents at the first visit but had to create a digital information letter given the current circumstances

Two set of spare clothes and a sun hat.

Each nursery might ask for different things though

As an ex nursery nurse:

Yes to spare outfit x2 but don't forget the socks! Socks always get wet and parents rarely include them.

I'd say for this weather a light rain coat and wellies for outdoor play. Write her name in both wellies and her coat.

Do not pack calpol (or any other medication) and leave it in your child's bag. You shouldn't have to take medication but if you really feel the need to hand it to the staff to put away safely out of the children's reach.

For lunch box. Keep it simple, you know what she'll eat. A sandwich or wrap, some fruit, a yogurt and some crackers? Depending on what hours she ends up doing they often do a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack so anything that can be split up into snack and lunch. Don't give her juice, nurseries like to stick to water.

Good luck

And as pp said, sun hat and factor 50!

As an Early years teacher I like to see 2 x spare clothes and as PPs have said please include socks. Our children also have a pair of pumps in their bag too. For PE type activity and for a spare pair after accidents or puddles!!
A sun hat, suncream, light coat and we keep wellies too.
A useful thing is a small photo of you /and daddy to show her if she's a bit upset. As in
'oooh Shall we have a look at Mummy? I'm sure she's on her way etc'.
Lunch: please give her lots of bits, that are easy for her to deal with. It's hard to sort a few little ones with all having to be helped to eat their lunch. And that she likes!

And please name things.

I keep a puddle suit & cardigan/hoody in nursery, my DC don't wear jackets in their car seats so saves me forgetting them. My DC's nursery is great fir storage so they can keep their spare clothes/suncream, etc together. Check though whether a bag is allowed. Lots of nurseries this term are stating only plastic or paper bags are allowed

Hmm.

We have been told no bags. No possessions other than a plastic lunch box.

In normal circumstances with older child her nursery bag contained

Sunhat, suncream / wellies / hat / gloves depending on season
A million pairs of pants
Two sets of spare clothes
Lunch and snack
Water bottle
Spare cardy

A drink, for lunch.Sun hat and cream, spare clothes (Ideally enough for 2 changes, including socks.) Lunch.

Two changes of complete outfit plus sun cream and your nursery will love you.
Toys from home get lost and argued about!

You really need the nursery to confirm as requirements will be very different. At daughter’s old nursery we had to provide wellies, waterproofs, 2x change of clothes, hats (sun or winter), gloves in winter. They did suncream. But, at summer camp, my daughter just takes one change of clothes, sun cream, hat and a lunchbox.