The Simple Way to Label Bottles for Daycare

If you are getting ready to send your baby off for childcare, you may be wondering about effective labeling of their bottles for daycare. As moms, so much time is spent building our milk supply and pumping, so you definitely want to make sure your liquid gold gets to the right baby and is dated properly.

Daycares typically have rules and regulations for labeling baby bottles, so it is helpful to have durable labels that have space for all the required elements.

Properly labeling bottles for daycare not only helps to ensure that your baby gets her own milk, but also that it is still safe when she receives it. Developing a labeling system and having durable labels will help to simplify your nightly routine and take the stress off of making sure that your little one gets the correct milk.

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Should you use reusable bottle labels for daycare?

Yes! Reusable bottle labels are a great option for daycare. When I first had to think of a way to label my baby’s bottles for daycare I came across the suggestion of masking tape. Masking tape seems like a simple enough solution, however it is not dishwasher safe or reusable. Not to mention the sticky residue that is left behind after taking off the tape. I knew there had to be a better way!

When searching for a label you want to make sure that it falls in line with your specific daycare’s requirements. I also personally prefer to have a label that stands out. You don’t want to have anything plain or common that can be mixed up with another baby’s bottle.

What are the best labels for daycare?

There are so many different options when you start looking into reusable bottle labels for daycare. The first thing you should know is the daycare’s requirements. Some daycares may have pretty strict rules on labeling, so be sure to brush up on those before choosing a label.

Some reusable options include:

• Personalized labels
• Dry erase labels
• Bottle bands

Not all reusable labels are stickers (which is what I thought of when first researching bottle labels). The personalized labels are really nice, especially if you can find ones that can add your child’s name plus have room to write the date, notes, etc.

Something to consider when looking at different label types is durability, personalization ability, and if they are dishwasher safe or not. I am big on being able to throw things in the dishwasher and not give it a second thought. 

Here are a few of my top choices:

1. These personalized waterproof name labels

They are dishwasher safe and durable. These labels come in a variety of different prints and colors. The reusable labels also come in a variety of sizes which is nice when you transition to a different bottle size or have an oddly shaped bottle. You can get these on Amazon here.

2. These DIY personalized waterproof labels

These are really nice because you can write your child’s name and any other information requested by the daycare, like date, time. Etc. Like the ones listed above, you can choose your color/symbol which makes them easily stand out at the daycare. They also stay on your bottles through the dishwasher so you can simply re-write the information on it for the next day. Grab them on Amazon!

3. These non- sticker labels (Bottle Bands)

These labels give a place for name, date and contents. You are also able to choose your color which is nice. They are stretchy, durable, and make for a good grip when baby is ready to hold her own bottle. Get your own on Amazon!

How to make bottle labels for daycare with a date

In my opinion, dry erase labels are the easiest way to label bottles for daycare. Finding a label that is durable and allows you to write everything you need is key for simple bottle labeling.

1. Name: If your reusable label does not have your baby’s name on it make sure that you write his or her name. I like to include first name and last name initial just in case there is another baby with the same name in the class.
2. Date: Most daycares will require the date to ensure your baby is not getting expired milk, so make sure to include that too!
3. Amount: Some daycares may require the amount for tracking purposes. It is nice to have a label that includes a space for that.
4. Additional notes: As any breastfeeding mom knows, breast milk is liquid gold. I like to make sure and note what time to feed baby the milk. So for example, if I pumped the morning before, that would be the oldest milk. The oldest milk needs to be given to the baby first at daycare so it doesn’t go bad. Having an additional notes section so you can write ‘AM milk’  or any other important notes is really convenient.

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While labeling bottles for daycare and developing a system can seem daunting, having the proper tools can definitely make the process easier. Labeling baby bottles doesn’t have to be complicated and you certainly don’t have to break the bank finding durable and reusable bottle labels for daycare.

Making sure you have labels that not only withstand wear and tear, but also have space for everything you need is key to making labeling bottles for daycare simple and stress free. I hope that you are able to find a reusable bottle label for daycare that works for your needs!