Do You Provide Infant Supplies

[Abigail]

I'm not completely sure how the food program works with infants or not, but how many of you provide everything except diapers? I will provide the wipes (I recently found that I LOVE huggies because they pop right up out of the box and hold together nicely!) I think it would just be easier to provide my own bottles, even though I don't have children of my own yet, it's just for basic organization sanity and then I don't have to label every bottle.

I guess I'm not sure if I would be required to label bottles according to licensing. I assume if I am sure the right child gets the right bottle I am safe. Besides, they all get washed in the dishwasher. Then, I think if I offer a specific formula (Probably Up and Up brand) that the parents can choose to use it or bring their own. It was something like that which would allow me to use the food program, but I can't quite remember so please share what you know.

Last thing, baby cereal, baby food, and puffs....do you provide all those or ask the parents to provide it? Thanks

[Rachel]

I don't live in the states so things here are different.

Here, if you officially watch infants you are need to provide all food (not fomula or bm). That includes mushed food, baby cereal, etc. If you work privately you can choose what you provide.

I would rethink providing bottles. Certain babies like certain types, and I think it's easier to have the parents provide and label rather than you provide.

When I open next year (officially though the community center) each parent will need to provide:
diapers
wipes
pacifier (if used)
bottle (if used)
sippy cup
tylonol (and signed form, if they want it used)
thermometer

I think that's it.

[Abigail]

I don't live in the states so things here are different.

Here, if you officially watch infants you are need to provide all food (not fomula or bm). That includes mushed food, baby cereal, etc. If you work privately you can choose what you provide.

I would rethink providing bottles. Certain babies like certain types, and I think it's easier to have the parents provide and label rather than you provide.

When I open next year (officially though the community center) each parent will need to provide:
diapers
wipes
pacifier (if used)
bottle (if used)
sippy cup
tylonol (and signed form, if they want it used)
thermometer

I think that's it.

Why do you require each child has their own thermometer? How would you recommend labeling bottles? I guess I could create a bin in the cupboard for each baby for their own bottles and accessories. How many should I require be left at at daycare? Thanks

[marniewon]

I supply everything except diapers, bottles and bm/formula. According to the food program, to get reimbursed for it, I have to offer formula, but I offer the cheap generic kind and no one has taken me up on it yet. I let families bring bottles, as most of them use different types.

I have 2 bottles for each child. If I needed more than that, I could always wash them before the next feeding. I have parents bring a container of (powdered) formula, and as long as I mix each bottle as needed, I don't need to label the bottles. Parents will usually put last name on the bottles so I know who's is whose.

[Abigail]

I supply everything except diapers, bottles and bm/formula. According to the food program, to get reimbursed for it, I have to offer formula, but I offer the cheap generic kind and no one has taken me up on it yet. I let families bring bottles, as most of them use different types.

I have 2 bottles for each child. If I needed more than that, I could always wash them before the next feeding. I have parents bring a container of (powdered) formula, and as long as I mix each bottle as needed, I don't need to label the bottles. Parents will usually put last name on the bottles so I know who's is whose.

Do they just use a permanent marker on the bottle? Is that safe on a bottle?

[marniewon]

Do they just use a permanent marker on the bottle? Is that safe on a bottle?

Yes, they use a permanent marker on the bottom or the side of the bottle. And actually, that's not required by licensing, I just did it so I knew which bottle belonged to who. And only one family labeled their bottles - the bottles for each family were so different that I know which belongs to who, even if they aren't labeled. I do, however, have them mark their can of formula - as far as I know, even though I know who each belong to, that is part of licensing rules.

The only difference is, if the parents are making bottles and bringing them to your house, they have to label each and every one, with name AND date. That's why I have them bring a container of formula and a few bottles - if I make them myself then the bottles don't need to be labeled.

[Former Teacher]

Here in TX (licensed daycare center, not sure about home centers thought)-the bottles must be labeled and brought daily. We can not wash bottles.

While a sharpie is great, a parent years ago brought bottles in labeled in red nail polish. Worked like a charm! It didn't come off right away if it got wet and it was bright

[RichardHarper]

i find this quite cool diapers outside as you suggesting here. I'm curious want to know some more on this.Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks once again to all the members of this community and specially admin.

[legomom922]

Infants require enough care. time and are expensive anyway, so I supply NOTHING for them. The parents supply everything, diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, binkies, diaper rash cream, baby cereal, baby food, bibs, blankets etc. All I supply is the space for them to be here, and a loving arms.

All the bottles, cereal bowls etc, are sent home for the parent to wash, along with any soild clothing & bibs. I put themin a plastic bag to go home and be laundred.

I also have a 2.5 yr old, and I don't supply anything for her either. However the parents spoke to me about hard & difficult they thoiught it was for them to provide food (why I have no clue, I think they are just LAZY) so I now charge t hem an extra $5/day and I supply the food. I actually make out better this way with the toddler anyway.
Their idea of providing breakfast, was to stick a banana in the bag..

[SilverSabre25]

I supply wipes 'cause I don't want to haul out different wipes for each baby. I also supply bibs because I don't want to have to send home dirty bibs each day, keep track of whose was whose, etc. I actually made my own (nice big dish towels from Target with velcro sewed to the corners, or fastened with a diaper pin if you don't want to sew the velcro) and I love them because they cover the entire front of the kid.

Everything else is supplied by the parents, but I am considered starting to offer baby food--for those who do this, do the parents tell you what foods they want you to offer to their child, or do you basically make up a schedule of starting the foods and go with that?

[legomom922]

I supply wipes 'cause I don't want to haul out different wipes for each baby.

You wouldnt have to use different wipes on different babies. I just have each parent bring in wipes on the first of the month, and they become community wipes.

[marniewon]

Everything else is supplied by the parents, but I am considered starting to offer baby food--for those who do this, do the parents tell you what foods they want you to offer to their child, or do you basically make up a schedule of starting the foods and go with that?

I let the parents lead on all things food for the first year. When they start cereal, they tell me. When they start with baby food, I have them give me a list of what they've tried. When they turn 1, I get another list of all the foods baby has tried. Up to age 1, I will only feed foods that parents have tried first. After that, I'll feed them anything (except PB or anything else that that age shouldn't have).

[marniewon]

You wouldnt have to use different wipes on different babies. I just have each parent bring in wipes on the first of the month, and they become community wipes.

What a great idea! Are you partial to any brand/type? If so, do you have the parents bring that brand? I will only use Huggies. I've tried others - generic and other brand names - and I only like the Huggies (which is funny, since when my own kids were babies I just used whatever was on sale). I would hate for someone to bring dollar store wipes, because I would never use them.

[Unregistered]

For infants parents provide:
Formula or Breastmilk
Baby cereal
Jar baby food
baby snacks
wipes
diapers
1 baby bowl
2 babyspoons
1 paci to keep at my houe
3 bottles to keep at my house
1 blanket to keep at my house
1 playpen to keep at my house
2 bibs to keep at my house
2 change of clothes to keep at my house
2 burp clothe to keep at my house
carseat when needed

I provided-
Toys
Bouncey seat
walker
stroller

For Toddlers parent provide
Diapers
Wipes
playpen till 3
carseat when needed

I provided
Food
sleeping bag 3 or older
Cups
toys
stroller
booster seat/ high chair

[legomom922]

I dont care what kind they are because who am I to tell a parent what to buy, kwim? However, the dollar store wipes are horrible, and I dont honestly think any parent would bring them, but if by some weird chance they ever did, I would just tell them to bring something else. Most of my clients bring pampers wipes, and they are fine.

I do the same with suntan lotion, diapers, etc. Everything becomes community, and then it makes it so more easier!