Keeping Track of Supplies

[Abigail]

Do you keep track of supplies brought in by parents? When a parent brings in diapers, do you go to that child's "Book" and write down the date, number of diapers, and initial or is the to over-the-top?

I think it would be beneficial for various reasons...finding averages of how many you use in a time frame or protecting yourself from a bad situation if the parent claims they bring in things when they really don't.

Do you also keep track of diaper changes or diaper checks in a permanent or temporary form? Our daycare does a temporary form where each child's name is listed in a column on the left and five times (8/10/12/2/4 pm) throughout the day are listed across the top. This sheet is lamenated and hung inside the bathroom door and we need to use a dry-erase marker to initial or write W, BM, or initial by each child's name. Does anyone do this, but keep it in a book for the year? Thanks so much!

[DancingQueen]

I don't - at all.
I average diaper changes every 2.5 hours (or if needed between). I let parents know when I'm running low and they bring me another stack. The kids I have right now do not require any sort of daily log (thank goodness) and the parents only want to know about irregularly diapers.
There is a chance I'll be getting a baby in April and at that point the need for a daily log will come in - but I still don't see the need to track supplies unless a parent was questioning something.

I'd love to hear responses from others though - that is why I love this board. They help me prevent some big mistakes so if there is a reason I should be doing something differently I love hearing about it.

[Lilbutterflie]

I don't keep record of supplies when they are brought in, but I don't think it would hurt. Organization and recordkeeping is never bad!!
I don't currently keep any infants, but when I did I had a infant daily report sheet in which each diaper change, time, type were noted along with other things.

[mac60]

I don't keep track of supplies either. I have a cabinet I keep diapers and wipes and extra clothes in and when a child is low I let the parents know. I do have about 4/5 boxes of wipes, and by the end of the day I have them all out on the floor where I change them, I am thinking about making a list of the kids who use them, have the names on a paper and attach it to the cabinet, and each time I clean a butt make a slash mark to keep track of approx how many each child uses, this way I can keep only 1 box out at a time and not have them piled and in the way. Once a child has been cleaned say maybe 20 times or whatever, I will know they need another box of wipes from home. This way 1 am only using out of 1 box at a time.

[boysx5]

I don't they all have their own bins I keep all their stuff in and when they run low I let the parents know at the end of the week what we will need for next week. I tend to change alot its just my way and nobody ever complains I use too many diapers and I also tend to use alot of wipes so I buy my own

[MyAngels]

I don't keep track of the diapers that are brought in, and I supply my own wipes (I prefer one brand and so I prefer to buy them myself). I just make a note when someone is running low and the parents bring a new supply. I do keep a couple of extra bags of diapers just in case somebody runs out before bringing in a new supply, and then replace any used from that child when their parent remembers to bring them.

[DCMom]

My parents only supply diapers and formula if they prefer their own brand. I don't keep track, I just request it when their child gets low.

I also don't any type of log, but we are on a pretty regular schedule and I'm the only one here, so I could give them a pretty accurate accounting if a parent requested it.

[legomom922]

I dont either. I ask the all parents to bring in wipes, diapers at the beginning of the month, and they become community property. I just use the wipes on all until they are gone and then open a new box. The next month, I ask all the parents to bring in the supplies again. Much easier that way. In the summer, I have all the parents bring in 1 bottle each of suntan lotion too. It was crazy before using all different wipes, diapers, suntan lotion on each child. This way is much more simpler and its also the way its done in school, when at the beginning of the yr each kid has to bring in 2 boxes of tissue. KWIM?

[MarinaVanessa]

I don't keep track either. I do however keep the kids diapers and supplies in a shoe rack that hangs from the back of a door (got that wonderful idea from the forum) until I can afford one of those really nice supply shelves that I see in the daycare catalogs and the rest of the supplies I keep in their cubbies. I only a few kids in diapers so it works for me.

When the supplies get low in the cubbies I use a few of the supplies in the shor rack. The parents can see whether they need to bring more or not. If they get pretty low (less than 3 days of diapers) I tell them to bring more. The parent's here will bring my a pack of diapers and leave the whole thing here so I don't really have a problem with them running so low that they run out.

[SandeeAR]

I have parents bring wipes about 3 times a year. I supply the rest and use out of one community box. I send daily reports home, as 3 of mine are under a year. When I get down to 8-10 diapers, I add a note to the daily report. I can't ever remember running out of diapers on anyone that way.

Since I only have three, I store everything in the changing table.

[legomom922]

why do you supply the rest? Thats just adds to your operating cost.

[MarinaVanessa]

why do you supply the rest? Thats just adds to your operating cost.

I wouldn't want to do this either. I can see what the appeal would be for the parents but I would rather spend the money on the curriculum and activities. The parents bring me a box of wipes and then just the refills after that. I buy the small travel size boxes for each child and carry that when we go to the park etc.

[SandeeAR]

why do you supply the rest? Thats just adds to your operating cost.

Simply b/c I choose too. They usually bring me the large double packs. I use them for things other than diaper changes, that are my choice, rather than getting rag and cleaner. I have hardwood floors and a large rug. I use them to clean spit up on the floor and rug.

Washing the 2 y/o's hands most time b/c it is easier than lifting her to the sink etc.

I have good parents and it is just something I do. It really isn't that much cost per month in the big scheme of things. I've done the math.

[legomom922]

I understand. You are aware though that baby wipes are not the same as anti-bactirial wipes right? Wiping their hands with baby wipes is not going to kill germs. I buy the anti-bactirial wipes for clean up, and the clorox wipes for kitchen clean up.

[SandeeAR]

I call them all baby wipe, just a genertic term for me. I have the clorox or lysol wipes in the kitchen and bathroom.