Once you’ve enrolled into your preferred IFC, the centre will provide a list of things to pack in your little one’s daily bag. But here’s a simple list to get you started. Please note that it can vary based on your child’s centre and daily needs.
Daily Essentials
- Diapers: Some centres will ask that you store an entire pack of diapers with them, while others will ask that you pack a certain number of diapers in your child’s daily bag. Ours let us store 1 pack of diapers with them, along with 1 packet of wet wipes, and we honestly prefer it this way.
- Wet wipes: Some centres are also willing to store 1 packet of wet wipes and you only replace after 1 packet is used up. Others will ask that you pack 1 packet in your child’s daily bag.
- Barrier cream: Best to include at least 1 tube or tub of your preferred barrier cream.
- Milk bottles / Formula or breastmilk: At least 1 milk bottle, with breastmilk or your preferred formula that’s already pre-measured in a dispenser.
- Water bottle / sippy cup: For those 6 months and up, including a water bottle or sippy cup may be necessary.
- Clean bibs: At least 2 to 3 bibs, but in our experience with a drooler, we tend to pack up to 5 bibs!
- Towel: We always pack at least 1 towel, in case of spillages or accidents. As we tend to walk our baby home, this towel actually even came in handy when our child vomited or spilled water along the way home.
Clothing & Comfort
- 2–3 sets of extra clothes: When it comes to clothes, I felt that packing long-sleeved onesies and leggings helped in ensuring that my little one remains warm and comfortable in an air-conditioned IFC.
- Socks: I packed an extra pair in the bag, on top of what my baby wore.
- Comfort item: This can be a soft toy or blanket that they use to self-soothe.
- Sleep sack / swaddle: Check with the centre if this is practised before packing.
Toiletries & Health
- Infant toothbrush and toothpaste: We didn’t pack this, but you can check with your centre if it’s necessary.
- Baby lotion or moisturiser: Our baby had dry skin, so we actually packed a moisturiser daily for application after shower.
- Teething gel / pacifier: Please pack extra pacifiers if your baby tends to drop or lose them.
Other Helpful Items
- A large ziplock / wet bag: Essential for soiled clothes or damp towel.
- Hand sanitiser: Our post-Covid must-have.
Little Notes
Labels are your best friend: Do label everything, from bottles to bibs, onesies to towels. Some parents even write their baby’s name on each individual diaper. You can choose from personalised iron-on labels, waterproof ink stamps or waterproof stickers.
Get a roomy diaper bag with compartments: For us, it was also essential to ensure that the diaper bag would be able to hook on our stroller as we walk back and forth daily. We actually just reused the gift bag we got from Mount Alvernia and it worked perfectly well!
You will miss things out! It’s absolutely normal to miss out on one thing or another, so don’t be too hard on yourself to get it perfect every day. Over time, you’ll know exactly what your baby needs most.
Anything else you packed that saved your sanity? Let me know — I’ll update this list!
This Little Season 