Starting nursery is exciting but making sure your child (and you) are ready for this change of routine can be overwhelming. The nursery bag should contain everything your child might need during the day. It doesn’t hurt to overpack at first, you can always whittle down the selection as they settle.
Table of contents
What should I pack in a nursery bag?
What to pack in a nursery bag is very similar to what you’ll be used to taking out and about – changes of clothing, nappies and items for changing weather.
Make sure to speak to your child’s nursery about exactly what they do and don’t provide. Nappies are a big one, as is baby formula.
You know your child and what they need day to day best, but here is a general list of items to consider.
Babies
Feeding items
- Bottles
- Formula (read more about milk at nursery)
- Breast milk
Clothing
- A couple of spare babygrows/onesies
- Spare socks
- Cardigan
- An all-in-one snowsuit or pramsuit for going outside
- A warm hat and a sun hat
- Gloves
Other
- Dribble bibs
- Dummies
- Dummy clip
- Nappies and wipes if your nursery does not provide them
- Barrier cream
- Sun cream
- A comfort toy or blanket, if the nursery allows them
Toddlers and older children
Once children are toddling and weaning they often require more by way of clothing but less milk. This actually means less time packing as you won’t need to be dealing with bottles, or at least fewer of them, on a daily basis.
Clothing
- Trousers (or shorts in hot weather). You may want to pack extra spares when your child is potty training
- T-shirt and long-sleeved top
- Cardigan or jumper
- Socks
- Pants/knickers if they are potty training/trained
- Wellies
- Snowsuit or puddlesuit
- A warm hat or sun hat
- Gloves
Other
- Nappies/nappy pants and wipes if your nursery does not provide them and your child isn’t potty trained yet
- Barrier cream
- Sun cream
- Sunglasses
- Snacks or food if your nursery asks you to, always nut-free.
Medication
If your child needs to take any medication or medical equipment, you should clearly label it, pack it in a separate container or bag and hand it straight to nursery staff. Don’t be afraid to ask exactly where they store it, particularly if it need to be refrigerated or kept out of direct sunlight.
Expert advice straight to your inbox
Join our growing community for clear, expert guidance on finding, choosing and paying for a nursery.
Should all my child’s stuff have their name on it?
Yes, generally nurseries ask that all items of clothing be named.
If you forget, nursery staff are pretty good at knowing what belongs to which child but it’s easier if everything is named. Sometimes things get mixed up or children even swap shoes or clothing items between each other.
You can buy sew-in name tags. They take longer to put in but are easy to cut off later if you sell clothes on that your child has outgrown.
Alternatively, you can write your child’s name on their labels, just be sure to use a waterproof pen that won’t smudge or wash away. You can buy laundry permanent markers online for a few pounds.
What should my child wear to nursery?
As tempting as it is to put your child in the cutest outfits possible, comfortable and practical clothes are best. They’ll be playing all day, and staff need to be able to change them quickly and easily. Exactly what’s the most suitable can change a little depending on their age, for example dresses and skirts can be difficult for crawling.
Some pre-schools have uniforms. The pre-school will provide a link to their supplier.
What happens to dirty clothes?
Nursery staff usually put dirty or soiled items in a thin plastic bag for you to take home.
You may wish to use a reusable wet bag instead, just pack it in your child’s bag and let the staff know.
Find a nursery near you
What type of bag should my child take to nursery?
The main objective of the bag you choose for nursery should be one in which nursery staff can find what they need easily and quickly. Too many pockets and compartments can hinder them, as can everything being in one big muddle.
A simple changing bag or rucksack is best.
It’s not a bad idea to have a personalised nursery bag, so nursery staff can easily identify whose it, but it’s not necessary. Babies have very low staff to child ratios so staff can quite easily remember which bag belongs to who, and they may have a box for each child’s things labelled with their name and photo. Older children often have a box or peg assigned to them. As with their clothing, it’s a good idea to put their name on their bag anyway.
It isn’t advisable to send your child in with a very expensive or designer bag (there is such a thing as a Gucci nursery bag).
