What to Pack in Your Baby's Nursery Bag: A Simple Checklist
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Your baby is starting nursery. And you find yourself standing in their room, wondering what to pack in their bag.
Are there enough nappies?
The right number of spare outfits?
Are you supposed to bring bottles?
Don’t worry, you're in very good company!
Once you know what goes in the bag, it becomes second nature.
Here's a straightforward guide to what to pack in a nursery bag for a baby so you can feel confident and calm at drop-off.
Label Everything (Seriously, Everything)
Before we get into the list, one golden rule: put your child's name on everything!
Clothes, bottles, dummies, comforters, creams, etc.
Nurseries are busy, wonderful places, and labelled items make life easier for everyone. Iron-on labels, sticker labels, or a permanent marker all work brilliantly.
Your Quick Nursery Bag Checklist
Copy & paste this to your phone or pop it on the fridge:
Nappies (plus extras)
Wipes
Nappy bags (can also be used for any wet clothes)
Nappy cream
Muslins or bibs
Dummy (if used)
2 full changes of clothes + socks
Warm coat, hat, scarf, gloves (for cold weather)
Sun cream, sun hat (for warm weather)
Bottles or a sippy cup
Comforter or sleep item (if agreed)
Medication and care plans (if applicable)
There may be some things that are needed/not needed; always speak to your nursery/childcare provider for any updates.
What to actually pack for nursery
If you would like more support with preparing for nursery, you can check out our blog on what to expect.
Let’s take a deeper look at the baby essentials to pack for a nursery bag.
Hygiene
Guaranteed that babies require more nappies when they are at childcare than at home. It always seems to happen.
Making sure there are plenty of nappies and wipes makes it much easier to manage.
Some nurseries will ask you to buy a big bag of nappies and leave them at the setting. They will let you know when they are running low and to bring another pack in.
Other settings would prefer the daily amount of nappies. Always check with your chosen childcare provider
The same applies to any nappy creams that need to be used. It’s highly important to label the creams with your child’s name, for hygiene reasons, these cannot be shared and may need to be discarded if staff do not know who they belong to.
Feeding
What you pack for feeding will depend on your baby's age and stage.
Also, check with your nursery about solid food. At Lucky Beans Childcare, we have an in-house chef who prepares fresh, homemade food daily.
As a starting point, look at packing:
Sterilised bottles (enough for the day's feeds),
Formula or expressed breast milk, prepared and stored following your nursery's guidance,
A sippy cup or water bottle for older babies,
Bibs for feeds and mealtimes.
Clear communication around feeding (amounts, timings, allergies) makes a real difference in helping your baby feel settled and comfortable during the day.
We have an open communication at Lucky Beans Childcare.
If your baby hasn't been feeding as much as usual, please let us know so we can keep a more detailed record of how they have been feeding and how they are feeling in general.
Clothing
Babies get messy at childcare!
They explore, they play, they have nappy leaks. It's all completely normal and a sign of a great day.
Pack at least two full changes of clothing, including:
Vest, top, leggings or trousers, and socks,
A sleepsuit (especially handy for younger babies),
An extra layer, a cardigan or light jacket, depending on the season,
A sunhat in warmer months, or a warm hat and cosy layers in winter.
Keep outfits practical and easy to get on and off quickly. A fiddly outfit is nobody's friend when a nappy change needs to happen fast.
Please, don’t send your babies in their best outfits. Remember, they are there to explore and have fun.
Pack a small waterproof bag for anything wet or soiled that needs to come home.
Comfort
If your baby has a comforter (soft toy, blanket, or dummy) that they associate with sleep, bring it along.
That familiar smell and texture can be genuinely reassuring in a new environment.
Just check your nursery's policy on comfort items first, and make sure everything is age-appropriate and clearly labelled.
If your baby uses a sleep bag, confirm with your key worker whether to bring one and which tog is appropriate.
What NOT to pack in a nursery bag for a baby
Your baby is coming home to you at the end of the day. Please don’t pack enough things for a week’s holiday.
Here are some things that are NOT needed:
Toys, teddies/dolls, books - we have plenty at our settings, all of which are age-appropriate for your baby. If there is a specific small item that will help your baby settle, please speak to our staff about bringing that item in.
Lots of outfit choices - 2 outfits are plenty. Mix and match items that are practical.
Unlabelled items - as mentioned, it’s important for hygiene reasons to have everything labelled with your child’s name. This also makes it much easier to return items that have been misplaced.
Anything not agreed with the setting - if you are unsure about a specific item, always speak to your child care setting. We always welcome questions from parents.
Getting the bag right is one small but satisfying way to feel prepared for your baby's first days at nursery.
At Lucky Beans Childcare settings in Balham, Tooting, Streatham and Norbury, we make sure families know exactly what to bring before day one. There are no last-minute surprises, and mornings feel as smooth as possible.
Thinking about starting nursery in South West London?
Book a tour at your nearest Lucky Beans Childcare setting and have a chat with our team about what to expect, what to pack, and how we help babies settle in happily.
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