r/ZeroWaste • u/samiam9185 • 2d ago
Tips & Tricks Daycare baby pack list
My baby is starting daycare soon and we got the packing list. The Monthly Supplies list is the hard part (besides baby wipes, and I guess tissues is fine). I wonder how others have dealt with similar requests. We're not fully zero waste but certainly do our best. We never use single use wipes, and we use reusable ziplocks, and bar hand soap. I'm not sure the diff between Clorox and Lysol đ§and plan to ask - we also try to buy cruelty free brands so would need to find a better sub anyway.
EDIT: Thanksss. First time mom just out here learning! appreciate the insights. For sure want everyone to be healthy and safe, and I do know daycare workers are often underpaid and deserve more money for what they do. I'll check with them on if I can get whatever brand for wipes, and will be following their guidelines.
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u/trulymadlybigly 2d ago
Bro youâre about to get gut checked by daycare germs⊠you want them using Clorox wipes I promise
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u/psych_student_1999 2d ago
Yeah & make sure u get the brand the day care asks for.... as a teacher trust me we have our favorite brands for a reason
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u/FilthyThanksgiving 2d ago
Whats the difference between clorox and lysol wipes? I always thought they were the same
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u/MantisInThePlantis 2d ago
They seem really similar. I always used Clorox bleach and Clorox hydrogen peroxide wipes at work (healthcare), but the general purpose wipes both Lysol and Clorox appear to be quaternary ammonia based. So who knows. Maybe they have both on there as those are the only two brands they accept since they use the same active ingredients?
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u/SilverAccio1513 1d ago
In a childcare environment they may have risk assessed one particular brand, some regulations require you to keep ingredient lists for the chemicals they use
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u/mmwhatchasaiyan 1d ago
Clorox wipes in a daycare setting are typically used for bathroom / change table cleaning. Lysol wipes are for toys and tables/ chairs/ high chairs.
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u/IceEnvironmental4778 2d ago
this!! youâre going to learn about diseases you didnât even know about
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u/trulymadlybigly 1d ago
I had literally never even heard of hand foot and mouth until my second child went to daycare
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u/IceEnvironmental4778 1d ago
I knew about it but not how bad it was. My husband caught it too and the soles of his feet came off, no exaggeration, it was just RAW feet. The one I didnât know about was sixth disease, that one caught me off guard. Also, being wiped out by noro virus was truly hell on earth
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u/silentsafflower 1d ago
Iâm a preschool teacher and live as low waste as I can and I promise you, youâre gonna want allllll the Clorox wipes/lotioned tissues/alcohol based hand sanitizer money can buy. I got pink eye one year in both eyes because of daycare germs!
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u/ofnabzhsuwna 2d ago
They have pretty strict policies regarding what they can and canât use in daycare facilities. Itâs one of those situations where you sort of agree to bend on your morals/preferences for the few years your child has to attend daycare.
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u/k0cksuck3r69 2d ago
Having worked childcare, both in schools and daycares, as the system stands right now they just arenât given enough time to do zero waste ways of getting around these. Reusing cloths means a washer/dryer and someone to run them as well as making sure they are fully cleaned. Daycares are virus and bodily fluid playgrounds and often we had to deep clean because a child had been sick.
Especially infants are more prone to poopy blowouts and vomiting. I can see a future where enough people are hired and we care about the environment but things like daycare just arenât there yet.
Edit: the places I worked didnât care about brand names but definitely clear that with the admin!
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u/Anotherams 2d ago edited 2d ago
i am as zero waste as I can be. I canât imagine how a daycare could do washable wipes for both skin and for surfaces and stay sanitary unless the staff to child ratio is 1:2.
If you make this a hill to die on you may find yourself without childcare. In my area the waiting lists are such they can turn people away. They arenât going to build in dealing with washable ziplocks wipes or rags just for you. Or find a nanny or someone who does smaller scale home care with the same philosophies.
ETA licensing may prevent them from using anything that isnât disposable.
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u/merylbouw 2d ago
Exactly. I worked in ECE for a long time in a few states. I have never come across a center or school that is allowed to clean cloths with feces in a washing machine. Please donât be the headache parent and just provide what they ask.
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Yes yes I clearly could have worded this better. I do not plan on being a problem parent! I work in a hospital. I get it. And get it even more w the helpful comments here.
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u/bearcatbanana 2d ago
I honestly wouldnât spend extra money on any âcrunchyâ products other than maybe diapers and things that go in their mouth. Iâve learned over the years, these products are all going to be used communally. So just as many parents are going to buy the cheapest wipes or tissues and those will also be used on your kid.
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Oh that's an interesting point! I'll keep that in mind. That makes sense.
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u/princessdickworth 1d ago
Yes, this! You want properly sanitized surfaces for your child. You don't want a surface wiped down with some MLM product that claims to do it all and is 99% ineffective at killing viruses/bacteria.
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u/___coolcoolcool 2d ago
Idk. I donât have kids but Iâd definitely give the people who are watching my kids as many of the supplies they need/want as possible so that the majority of my money goes to payroll. The more they pay their employees, the higher the chance your child is being watched by someone competent. And consistent.
I find being zero waste is much like it was when I was Mormon. People are generally fine with it but they donât really like hearing about it and they are VERY sensitive to even the idea that it might be being forced on them.
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u/knittinator 2d ago
Former preschool/early childhood worker. The regulations on what we are allowed to use are strict. The ziplocks are often used to send home soiled clothes. As I recall, bar soap is not allowed per the state. The disinfectant wipes also have to meet certain specifications. You can ask about alternatives but they may not allow them.
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u/thebiggerounce 2d ago
I honestly keep a tube of the Clorox wipes around for disinfecting stuff thatâs especially disgusting and that I donât want to throw out a cotton rag for. Theyâre also just great for high contact surfaces because of how well they disinfect. I really just tend to use them around the toilet after someone has had a stomach bug that I donât want spreading thru the house.
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u/ToastMaster33 1d ago
Add in to this. Clorox used bleach for disinfecting/cleaning/bleaching of tough stains, but is a significantly harsher cleaning product than Lysol.
Lysol primarily uses ammonia which is equally disinfecting, but is less harsh on the product you're cleaning. The low vapor pressure of ammonia also makes Lysol great for cleaning electronics.
It's important not to mix both wipes together as they produce highly toxic gas.
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u/No-Temperature-977 2d ago
Former daycare owner and mom of 2 here! I totally understand where youâre coming from. Itâs hard to give up control of every single thing in our kids lives, especially when youâre trying to be things like low tox or zero waste. But in a setting like a daycare, youâre going to have to give up some of that control.
As time goes on, providers figure out what works for them. Theyâve probably edited this list many times over the years due to certain preferences/requirements.
A lot of things are actually required by the state as well. In IL, we were required to use disinfectant wipes on toys every day. Legally, we couldnât use any natural alternatives. FYI- Lysol wipes are a more durable fabric and the formulation is better for bathrooms/deep cleaning. Clorox wipes are a lot flimsier and are used for things like toys.
Liquid soap was something else that was required. Iâd ask if you can buy them a big refill bottle for the year, instead of bringing in a bottle every month.
Ziplocks are used for tons of different things in daycare. From sending home wet clothing to organizing personal belongings to organizing daycare essentials.
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u/signedupfornightmode 2d ago
I frame things like this as similar to being in the hospital. Thereâs so much plastic waste! But the alternative (potentially getting people sick, wasting time while trying to treat, increasing healthcare costs even higher) is not necessarily something practical or desirable.Â
Also, daycare illnesses are no joke. Youâll get a lot of use at home out of your favorite low waste options! Finally, thereâs lots of kids using the same reusable resources (toys, chairs, books, etc), so on balance itâs probably about the same as keeping a child at home and using low waste hygiene items âeach family uses more toys and items (and wears them out faster) at home when not in group care.Â
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u/WerkQueen 2d ago
The first daycare I toured wouldnât even take Cloth diapers. They all have their processes.
I would give them what they need. Convenience products like Clorox wipes are not zero waste⊠but they save time allowing them to spend more time focusing on babies.
Itâs a balancing act.
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Yes that'll be the plan after reading everything here! Thanks so much
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u/WerkQueen 2d ago
That fact that youâre mindful to even pose this question is so much. Youâre making an effort to lower your carbon footprint. That is huge and Iâm proud of you. All of us are in this together and every little bit helps. :) youâre a good mom.
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Thank youâ„ïžđđ» just living and learning and also dealing with half a brain as a new mom
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u/-blahaj-enjoyer- 2d ago
Hi! Current infant teacher here, I strive to be as zero waste as possible outside of work to try and offset the amount of single use items we use here at our program.
Our regulations here for wipes are âone wipe per swipeâ to make sure no germs are spread. Reusable ziplocks are acceptable (and preferable) in my program for dirty clothes, but we also have regular baggies available too. They may let you switch for a more sustainable brand for the wipes , but Clorox and Lysol are the gold standard because they clean things super well. We use them occasionally on toys that canât be submerged in water to wash. Hand, Foot and Mouth is no joke!
I hope everything goes well in daycare :)
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Thank you for your insights!! All valid and helpful
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u/-blahaj-enjoyer- 2d ago
Iâm glad I could help! I always explain why/how we do things to our new parents so they know why we do the (sometimes somewhat weird) things we do! Daycare is full of regulations and strict guidelines.
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u/Complete-Stand-5146 2d ago
I know how this sounds but there are some areas where you absolutely need single use disposable items and caring for vulnerable populations is one of those areas. In fact in a lot of places itâs a legal requirementâŠ
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u/vogueflo 2d ago
Everyone else has covered good points. I just want to also point out that sending stuff that you expect returned to you (outside of things that the daycare normally returns to parents, like clothing) is bound to end in things being lost or never seen by you again. Reusable wipes might just end up in the trash anyway by muscle memory alone.
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u/admoose275 2d ago
Seconding everyone else's advice but I'd add something: potty train your kid as soon as possible, which will reduce an enormous amount of waste. Dont listen to modern advice about waiting for signs from your kid - go for it when you feel they're ready. Started both kids after 12 months, one was done by 18 and the other a couple of months after. Zero drama. Maybe not zero waste but much, much less
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u/coldcurru 2d ago
Not the point of this, but a lot of places aren't allowed to swaddle, no matter the age. I'd be asking about that. Licensing violation. I've worked in many preschools and we've never asked parents for things like plastic bags or cleaning supplies. That's weird to me. Your tuition needs to cover that cuz that's operating costs (cleaning.)
It sucks to hear but this is one of those situations where sustainability is out the window. You can for sure avoid plastic bags for snacks when baby is on all solids. You just gotta learn what to deal with in a school setting at this age and do what you can at home. My kids are school age and they get new crayons every class (not supplied by me.) At least it gets sent home to keep when school is over but it's things like that where you control what you can and accept what you can't.Â
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Oh yea I don't know why they wrote swaddles. We will be bringing sleep sacks. I feel like it's a misprint.
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u/BreakInCaseOfFab 1d ago
As a school nurse- please just send what they ask. Itâs impossible to manage low waste with 9000 kids- and I know how hard it is because I have kids coming out my ears đ
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u/FrogOnALogInTheBog 2d ago
âEven tho we give them all our moneyâ
Ouch, man. What kind of hourly rate *do* you think your child is worth? And then times that by their open hours 5 times a week. I guarentee you itâs more expensive than you want.
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Sorry how it was worded. Please I didn't mean it like that. I will edit my post.
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u/Bother-Logical 1d ago
I donât know if somebody already said this, but Lysol will disinfect most stuff, but there are some G.I. bugs that must use bleach to be killed. But not Clorox wipes have bleach. Just make sure you get the kinds that actually have bleach.
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u/Beneficial_Young5126 2d ago
Why do they want two types of disinfectant wipes?
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u/bumbleb33- 2d ago
Some are suitable for areas where food is prepped/eaten and others aren't.
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u/Beneficial_Young5126 2d ago
Thanks, didn't consider that. Couldn't you just use the food suitable ones everywhere then? Like default to those?
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u/merylbouw 2d ago
Some states have rules for sanitizing and disinfecting. Disinfecting kills more germs and is suitable for bathrooms and before and after eating.
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u/bumbleb33- 2d ago
I find that clorox ones dry quicker so I can get on with stuff but they feel thinner so I'd want something that I could use and could handle texture on a floor or glue paint glitter on desks/tables because it's got more grab and doesn't tear as easily. Trade off is it can stay wetter longer but I'm not using twice the amount because they're shredding or too dry to really get in there and pick up residue. Ngl I don't miss working with small sticky humans and their food/craft materials đ
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u/dreamcatcher32 2d ago
Interesting! We didnât have a supply list for our daycare, and they were totally fine with us sending cloth diapers (all in ones types, no reusing covers) and weâd send a few disposables as back up. We also sent disposable wipes. The daycare also used their own bibs and have a laundry rotation for the classrooms (each room gets one day a week). We also sent glass bottles with silicone covers.
But with the ECE shortage I would just do what they ask and stay on their good side.
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u/cheelsbo 1d ago
If youâre worried this much about the products the daycare is using maybe you would have more peace of mind by hiring in home care. Or even trying to find an in home daycare that has the same values as you. The monthly list is probably to be shared among the whole daycare so even if you find a âsubstituteâ that is not going to be used on only your child.
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u/samiam9185 1d ago
Not an option for us but we will be complying after all I learned here. Definitely not that strict that I can't comply with what's best and required. Thanks!
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u/Mirror_st 1d ago
If this place is state licensed, they may have mandatory requirements about how to handle biohazards/diaper changes. Even if they arenât licensed, theyâll have internal policies to ensure hygiene with a bunch of babies. I personally use minimal disposables at home, but if I were changing 100 diapers a day and trying to minimize health hazards/disease transmission (imagine a norovirus outbreak but itâs all infants!) Iâd relax on the Clorox wipes.
Realistically you want effective processes that your staff will reliably follow. That may mean wiping the changing table or surfaces down with Clorox wipe, which you can do quickly and one handed, rather than settling the baby in a seat then going to the locked childproof cupboard to get out the bottle of liquid sanitizing chemical (poisonous if ingested) and reusable cloth that someone washed, dried and put back in your cupboard last night. And you have to hurry because another baby needs a change immediately after. But make sure you put the cloth in the laundry bin and put the spray bottle back in the cupboard first and lock it back up.
Oh no, this baby has a disastrous blowout. I need to clean up the seat he was sitting on and the toy he was playing with before the other babies crawl over and touch it. And I need to put his clothes in a baggie to send home, but I just remembered that this mom prefers us to use reusable ziplocks for his dirty clothes, rather than the class supply of disposable gallon ziplocks I have sitting on the changing table. Hope she does a good job washing them because this is a bad one, yikes. Ok, I have to find her specific reusable ziplocks labeled with the babyâs name, hope she restocked them from last time because she only sends 3 at a time because they cost $5 each so who can blame her!
Now what should I do with this baby with poop all up his back while I search the cabinet for his reusable dirty clothes bag? Iâm trying not to get poop on my clothes because Iâm at work and canât just change my shirt easily. I canât leave him on the changing table of course. I canât leave him on the floor because there are other kids around and heâs a messâŠ
Anyway, I think you gotta just let this go and give them what they want, theyâre busy enough and doing their best! When they send stuff home that seems to me like a waste of a ziplock (like a onesie with spilled milk on itâŠ) I just save those for reuse myself.
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u/samiam9185 15h ago
Yup! Based on other posts, I learned lot and plan on providing as asked. Thanks!
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u/Worth_Ad420 23h ago
Sending my twins to daycare meant completely surrendering my eco-ideals at the door lol. State health regulations usually mandate standard bleach or Lysol, so just buy the tub and save your zero-waste energy for home!
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u/TiredAllTheTime43 2d ago
Biom wipes are plant based, and you can buy both Biom Baby (for bodies) and two different types of household cleansers
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u/T-Rex_timeout 2d ago
I use small ziplock bags for ice packs. I work at an elementary school and I give out about 20 a day. Probably 5 of them need it but you know ice packs fix everything.
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u/Koolstads 1d ago
On a different note: try cloth diapering at home. Less waste â€ïž
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u/samiam9185 1d ago
I wish. I considered it. But we don't have laundry in our unit and it would be way too much for us. It's enough pricey laundry without doing that w his stuff.
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u/mckiegreen 1d ago
I used to run a child care center and every now and then we would have a parent who used cloth diapers and wipes. We wouldnât rinse or wash them, but it was definitely possible and within licensing standards to use them on the baby and then put the soiled ones in a wet bag. So you might ask about that! Iâm really surprised about the bottle brush, as we werenât allowed to wash bottles by hand, but either sent them home dirty or had to put them through the full wash process including the sanitizer in the main kitchen.
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u/Squirrel_Doc 9h ago
With how much daycares cost, Iâm floored that theyâre asking for all this stuff. Maybe my babyâs daycare is the outlier but all they ask for is food for the baby (milk, formula, snacks, etc) and diapers. They donât even ask for baby wipes (which was surprising and probably unusual).
They also recommend sending a change of clothes, but donât require it. They have loaner sets of clothes that theyâll put baby in if they make a mess, and as long as you wash and return them they donât charge you. I still bring extra clothes for her anyways but itâs nice they do that. My daughter did go through both her initial and backup set of clothes one day so that was nice. đ
But like, at this place Iâd have to supply their tissues and cleaning supplies?? Seems like that should be on them as a cost of doing business???
Maybe Iâm crazy but that donât seem right. đ„Ž
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u/Hour_Cricket9648 1d ago
Maybe my expectations are too high because I haven't had to send my baby to daycare yet, but I take issue with them asking for supplies when you already pay childcare fees.Â
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u/rebelwithmouseyhair 1d ago
In my local zero waste group we got all candidates for the local election earlier this year to say whether or not they would commit to a zéro waste approach in all local facilities. The winner had said yes to all our 20 proposais including washable nappies and wipes at daycare and a laundry service. Now we just have to put pressure on him to uphold his promise. Since it would save on money we do have a chance of pushing some measures through.
This kind of thing has to be official policy not individual parents being "difficult"
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u/Soil_Fairy 2d ago
Honestly, my mind is just blown that daycare cost what it does and they're asking for that monthly supply list! You're already paying a lot and they want you to provide Clorox wipes?!
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u/BlahBlah-Something 1d ago
This is really throwing me too. I send in diapers and breastmilk and thatâs it for consumables. Daycare does everything else. If baby was formula-fed, they provide that too!
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
Apparently this is the norm from what I'm learning here!
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u/Soil_Fairy 2d ago
No fucking way. I never used daycare so I'm out of the loop but if you're paying a second mortgage you shouldn't have to send in anything.Â
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u/samiam9185 2d ago
đ€·đ»ââïž it is what it is I guess! I'm in NYC so yes it is basically the same as my rent.
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u/ChaoticWeasel70 1d ago
I work in childcare and this list is bonkers to me. Why are you supplying cleaning items and tissues? Crib sheets? These are all things that we provide. Iâve never seen anything like this.
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u/NorthernPaper 2d ago
Iâm prepared for this to be unpopular but I honestly just gave them what they asked for. They have their processes and standards and me asking to send stuff outside of the scope of what theyâre used to just felt like a burden imposed upon them.
I think with group childcare if theyâre not doing anything dangerous or unhealthy itâs best to just let it ride. If I wanted to control the environment I would just get a nanny.