How do you send baby formula to your daycare?

Question

My 4 month old son is starting daycare tomorrow. The daycare said I could send his formula any way I wish, but I was wondering if there was an easier choice to be made. I was thinking about mixing some up and putting it in a tupperware mixer container and sending it with clean, empty bottles. That way if he spits up and is still hungry later, they can only fix a couple of ounces. What do you think? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

If they have a refrigerator at the daycare (which I assume thy would), then I would send pre-mixed bottles ready-to-go.  

Answer 2

i've sent formula both ways - premixed and just a can of powder - and i've sent my kids to several different daycares over time (i have 4 kids and the oldest is 13 now).  my opinion on the subject would be to send the premixed everyday.  that way you know exactly (pretty close anyway) how much your kid ate over the course of the day and you are pretty safe in that it was your child who ate it.  no one takes care of your kid like you would, that's just fact, and since i've also worked in daycares i know what can go on.  i've seen workers just use whatever can was closest, i've seen them use someone else's powder when another kid runs out, and i've seen them be ridiculously wasteful in how much is made when an entire can of powder is at their disposal.  there's no guarantee that none of this would happen if you take the premixed, but it is less likely and if you notice your child doesn't seem to be eating much at daycare but eats alot at home you have a good indicator of how good the daycare is.  it's a relatively easy way to measure the quality of your daycare (and how happy your child is there) without them knowing that's what you're doing.  my kids have gone to really great daycares and really crappy ones, and it's not easy to tell the difference until after your kid has been there awhile, especially if the child is very young.  i'm not trying to scare you or anything, i was a working mom too once (too many kids now, daycare would cost more than i'd make) and i know daycare is necessary for many women.  i also know the requirements in this country for being a worker at a daycare (i was a child care major for a while in school) and you have to do all you can to take even the smallest cues from your child about their welfare in the center (and i just don't trust home daycares - no other employees to be "accountable" to should they be having an off day, no offense to anyone, but i've been burned).  i say this not to freak you out but to help keep you from making mistakes i made.  i had a really quiet kid who took alotta c**p i just didn't know about at the time because i didn't know what to look for.  in an infant, how much they eat in a day while in someone else's care is a decent indicator of their well-being and probably about the best you have at that age.  sorry this answer was so long.  it's really late here, i rambled a bit.

Answer 3

Premixed is definitely easier, if you send an extra one, will you use it at home that night if she doesn't have it at daycare?  If it would go to waste, I would do like you said and send some extra powder.  We always use a little cooler (like an insulated lunchbag) and those blue ice blocks since it's a little bit of a drive to the daycare.  I think I'm extra paranoid about spoiling, but it's a good idea if you have a long drive or in the summer.

As far as the person telling you it's a shame you have to go to work - s***w them.  Welcome to the world of working mothers.  We do what we have to do and our children are smart and well socialized.  DO NOT beat yourself up about it, it's great that you got to stay home for 4 months!  Your baby will be fine at daycare, and it will be great when he's a little older, he will have other babies to play with every day.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I always just sent a couple of cans to the daycare.  I used the powder formula.

Answer 5

While you are ensuring that everything goes well for your baby's first day at day care.  Here is some information that may be useful for you to refer to.

Although, you did not specifiy if your son is going to an inhome day care, or a childcare center.  However, ideally, all childcare facilities should provide you with specific details as to how you are to send formula.  Depending if your son is attending an NAEYC acredited center there are also strict guidelines that must be adhered to.

You may want to take a look at the link provided, as it may be helpful to know if your center is compling with these guidelines...sort of helps to know information like this, it helps you to know if your baby is in good hands.

Best wishes on your first day...I hope that your son does well tomorrow.

Answer 6

i'd just premix the bottles, easier for them, and if you have a lid for it, they can just wipe of the nipple, and put the lid on, they dont have to feed a whole bottle all the time, its posible to stop before empty ;), just leave instructions on a note for them on how to feed

Answer 7

Well at my day care you had to send the bottles premixed and they put them in the fridge and used a bottle warmer. If i had my choice I would just send a can there and they would send the used bottles home everyday to be cleaned

Answer 8

I would premix bottles.  Even when I but ready to feed, I pour it at home,  I do that for my MIL, even though her house is cleaner than mine, I know how I wash MY hands before I handle bottles.  I always send 1 extra bottle.  At pick up, I gather all the bottles and usually that one extra to take home.

Answer 9

I just sent a whole can to daycare.

Answer 10

My kids all had liquid formula and I'd send six cans at the beginning of the week and they would let me know when the child was getting low.

Answer 11

Hello.Good idea.A shame you have to go to work.