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clwp
Love my girls!
Member since 10/06 2114 total posts
Name:
mommy
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Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
My DD starts Daycare next week, so we went down today to meet her teachers. I noticed the other babies there are on Enfamil and I use Simalac. I know this isn't normally a big deal, but my question is this... I usually use the RTF formula, but it needs to be refrigerated and then warmed up for feeding. They didn't seem to know what I meant, but when they opened the fridge there were baby bottles full of formula for each baby. Does Daycare ususally warm the bottles? I use the doctor Brown's bottles starting today, what can they warm the formula in (I don't think it can be warmed in the baby bottle -right?). Unless I supply them with powder, but then I have to give them the distilled water and that seemed to be odd too to the girls. A lot of the other baby's had cans of liquid enfamil in the cupboard. I just got 3 cases of Simila RTF from Costco. I was hoping to drop a case off at Daycare.
Also, I'd like to know how others get themselves ready for work and their DC's for daycare... could you run me through a typical morning and evening? I'm stressing that I'll have to wake up at 4am everyday. I'd like to force a short work out in once a day. I could use ideas on a routine.
Message edited 7/17/2008 1:24:47 PM.
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Posted 7/17/08 1:22 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
My daycare warms all of the bottles in a crock pot. (Actually they take water from the crock pot and warm it in a bowl.) This is, from what I hear, the safest way to warm the formula. Most daycares will not prepare formula for you, and will not use RTF bottles. You will most likely have to use pre-labelled bottles that you fill at home.
As for routine, I would pack everything the night before and put it in the fridge right after DSs bath & bedtime. In the morning I would wake first, shower & dress, then DH would wake DS & give him his morning bottle. Daycare is only 15 minutes from my house, so I would let them feed him his oatmeal and fruit when he got there. Once I was off with DC, DH would get ready for work. I also would lay out his clothes and pack his spare outfit the night before, and gather any supplies they might need for daycare like diapers, wipes, etc. 
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:27 PM |
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lulugrrl
My 3 Blessings
Member since 3/06 6551 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
I have used a large day care, and now DS is in a small one.
At both you had to bring the bottles already done in the morning and pop them in the fridge. The large day care warmed them in a piture of warm water, and the small one uses a bottle warmer, but I just told her to gove to DS cold, he likes it that way anyway.
I gave myself two hours to get ready in the morning, but I am a slow poke. Now that DS can hold his own bottle, and sit and drink, I am down to like an hour and 15 minutes.
You will get the hang of it
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:28 PM |
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Rycois
Blessed with 2blue/2pink
Member since 12/05 13341 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
I BF so I don't know about your formula questions but I assume they warm it for DC.
Right now DS is with my mom a couple of days a week but she is further from daycare and I have to pull all my pump stuff together for work (plus pump in the morning) so getting out the door requires a lot of organization!
I usually leave a sticky for myself to remind me what I need to pack in the a.m. (everything I can pack in advance gets done the night before). I shower at night and pick out my outfit for the day the night before.
Lately Ryan wakes about 3AM - I feed him and he's back down til morning. He usually fusses around 6AM when DH leaves for work, but a paci usually puts him back to sleep. So, I get up with DH around 6AM - I pump, clean my pump stuff, have a bowl of oatmeal, finish packing my bag, get dressed/make-up and put what I can in my car. I wake Ryan about 7:15/7:30 - change him, feed him and we're out the door. I aim to get to my mom's by 8:15AM the latest and take an 8:33 train from there.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:28 PM |
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clwp
Love my girls!
Member since 10/06 2114 total posts
Name:
mommy
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Okay, sounds like I have to put the formula in the bottles... that's fine, but they specifically asked me to bring a can of formula in case of an emergency. Most were enfamil cans... I take it Similac makes small - single serving cans too? Are they RTF or do they have to add water?
I take it then that powdered formula is out? Or can I mix that in the morning and put in bottles as well if I wanted to?
Fortunately DD sleeps through the night so she wakes around 7am. I'm thinking I should wake up and get ready at 6am then take care of her when I'm done, unless DH can help me. I don't have to be out of the house most days at any specific time, but I'd like to keep a routine going for DD for the days when I do have to be somewhere at 8:30am. On those days I've told DH he has to take her to daycare... for the most part that should be fine I guess, but want to be prepared.
Message edited 7/17/2008 1:36:29 PM.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:33 PM |
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cgdg61606
Little Brother Christopher
Member since 2/07 6815 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
You bring in the bottles already filled with the formula. I brought it over one of those insulated bottle bags. You put them in the refrigerator at daycare and then they warm each bottle before feeding in a container of water.
I get up at 5:45 a.m. and shower. At 6:30, I wake DS and get him ready and give him sippy of milk. At 6:55 a.m., we leave for daycare.
Good luck!
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:39 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Posted by clwp
Okay, sounds like I have to put the formula in the bottles... that's fine, but they specifically asked me to bring a can of formula in case of an emergency. Most were enfamil cans... I take it Similac makes small - single serving cans too? Are they RTF or do they have to add water?
I would think that they want RTF, since I am pretty sure they do not want to have to mix.
I take it then that powdered formula is out? Or can I mix that in the morning and put in bottles as well if I wanted to?
I mixed the powder myself and then prepared all 4 bottles every morning. Many daycares also will not wash bottles for you, they only rinse them.
Fortunately DD sleeps through the night so she wakes around 7am. I'm thinking I should wake up and get ready at 6am then take care of her when I'm done, unless DH can help me. I don't have to be out of the house most days at any specific time, but I'd like to keep a routine going for DD for the days when I do have to be somewhere at 8:30am. On those days I've told DH he has to take her to daycare... for the most part that should be fine I guess, but want to be prepared.
I think that is a good plan. I found that the routine was essential to keeping things running smoothly, even on his days off.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:40 PM |
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EmmaNick
*
Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
It doesn't matter what you use to make the bottles (powder or RTF) as long as they are made and in the bottles when you drop them off
I always got everything ready the night before and I was able to get DS, myself and DD ready and out the door in about an hour.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:41 PM |
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cgdg61606
Little Brother Christopher
Member since 2/07 6815 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Posted by clwp
Okay, sounds like I have to put the formula in the bottles... that's fine, but they specifically asked me to bring a can of formula in case of an emergency. Most were enfamil cans... I take it Similac makes small - single serving cans too? Are they RTF or do they have to add water?
I take it then that powdered formula is out? Or can I mix that in the morning and put in bottles as well if I wanted to?
Fortunately DD sleeps through the night so she wakes around 7am. I'm thinking I should wake up and get ready at 6am then take care of her when I'm done, unless DH can help me. I don't have to be out of the house most days at any specific time, but I'd like to keep a routine going for DD for the days when I do have to be somewhere at 8:30am. On those days I've told DH he has to take her to daycare... for the most part that should be fine I guess, but want to be prepared.
I used Enfamil, but I'm sure Similac makes the small, RTF cans too. They don't want powder left there for emergency because then they are liable if a mistake is made mixing it. Too much or too little powder. That's what my daycare told me anyway. You can definitely mix powder for the bottles you bring there though. That's what I did. I bought one of those formula pitchers at BRU and would mix a batch the night before for bottles the next day.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:42 PM |
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clwp
Love my girls!
Member since 10/06 2114 total posts
Name:
mommy
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Posted by MsMBV
Posted by clwp
Okay, sounds like I have to put the formula in the bottles... that's fine, but they specifically asked me to bring a can of formula in case of an emergency. Most were enfamil cans... I take it Similac makes small - single serving cans too? Are they RTF or do they have to add water?
I would think that they want RTF, since I am pretty sure they do not want to have to mix.
I take it then that powdered formula is out? Or can I mix that in the morning and put in bottles as well if I wanted to?
I mixed the powder myself and then prepared all 4 bottles every morning. Many daycares also will not wash bottles for you, they only rinse them.
Fortunately DD sleeps through the night so she wakes around 7am. I'm thinking I should wake up and get ready at 6am then take care of her when I'm done, unless DH can help me. I don't have to be out of the house most days at any specific time, but I'd like to keep a routine going for DD for the days when I do have to be somewhere at 8:30am. On those days I've told DH he has to take her to daycare... for the most part that should be fine I guess, but want to be prepared.
I think that is a good plan. I found that the routine was essential to keeping things running smoothly, even on his days off.
If they won't wash the bottles, should I plan on boiling them regularly? I only boil the nipples on first use at this point, but can't bacteria be a problem if the bottles aren't washed? Also, should I plan on putting the disks in under the nipple? I'm not sure Dr. Brown's (the no BPA one) bottles can be warmed with the nipple on.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:44 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Posted by clwp
Posted by MsMBV
Posted by clwp
Okay, sounds like I have to put the formula in the bottles... that's fine, but they specifically asked me to bring a can of formula in case of an emergency. Most were enfamil cans... I take it Similac makes small - single serving cans too? Are they RTF or do they have to add water?
I would think that they want RTF, since I am pretty sure they do not want to have to mix.
I take it then that powdered formula is out? Or can I mix that in the morning and put in bottles as well if I wanted to?
I mixed the powder myself and then prepared all 4 bottles every morning. Many daycares also will not wash bottles for you, they only rinse them.
Fortunately DD sleeps through the night so she wakes around 7am. I'm thinking I should wake up and get ready at 6am then take care of her when I'm done, unless DH can help me. I don't have to be out of the house most days at any specific time, but I'd like to keep a routine going for DD for the days when I do have to be somewhere at 8:30am. On those days I've told DH he has to take her to daycare... for the most part that should be fine I guess, but want to be prepared.
I think that is a good plan. I found that the routine was essential to keeping things running smoothly, even on his days off.
If they won't wash the bottles, should I plan on boiling them regularly? I only boil the nipples on first use at this point, but can't bacteria be a problem if the bottles aren't washed? Also, should I plan on putting the disks in under the nipple? I'm not sure Dr. Brown's (the no BPA one) bottles can be warmed with the nipple on.
Any bottle can be warmed with the nipple on if they are warming it in hot water or a crock pot.
I'm sure they rinse the bottles, they just don't wash them. I think running them in the dishwasher or handwashing them every night is fine.
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| Posted 7/17/08 1:56 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Posted by clwp
If they won't wash the bottles, should I plan on boiling them regularly? I only boil the nipples on first use at this point, but can't bacteria be a problem if the bottles aren't washed? Also, should I plan on putting the disks in under the nipple? I'm not sure Dr. Brown's (the no BPA one) bottles can be warmed with the nipple on.
I steam sterilized DS bottles weekly, but I am pretty neurotic. I think you have to see for yourself exactly what they are doing before you can judge on that.
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| Posted 7/17/08 2:04 PM |
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Ang-Rich
Beyond Compare
Member since 5/05 17988 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
We had to provide the daycare with ready to use bottles - meaning all they had to do was warm and serve - no mixing or measuring.
We also had to bring an emergency bottle which I never did because it was a complete waste of a bottle each day. I used to leave those 4oz similac packs for an emergency. I like the idea of bringing a small RTF can for them to use if there is an emergency. Just make sure that it gets used before the expiration date so it doesn't get wasted...then replace with a new one.
I used the powdered formula and would make the bottles at night before bed when I was preparing for the next day. They can last 24 hours in the fridge so it worked perfect. But you could also do it in the morning.
ETA: They used to warm it in a crock pot but once he moved to the next room I asked them to serve it to him cold in prep for moving to whole milk...plus we never warmed his formula at home - it was room temp.
Message edited 7/17/2008 2:14:55 PM.
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| Posted 7/17/08 2:13 PM |
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Ang-Rich
Beyond Compare
Member since 5/05 17988 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
Posted by clwp
If they won't wash the bottles, should I plan on boiling them regularly? I only boil the nipples on first use at this point, but can't bacteria be a problem if the bottles aren't washed? Also, should I plan on putting the disks in under the nipple? I'm not sure Dr. Brown's (the no BPA one) bottles can be warmed with the nipple on.
My daycare would rinse the bottles (not always though) and leave them for me each night. I would take them home and wash them (all pieces). I would refill the ones I had washed the night before and put them in the fridge while the ones I just washed dried. Hopefully that makes sense. I basically had enough to rotate.
Don't put the disks in - they won't realize it and when they do...they will tell you that you have to leave them out...they have these policies to ensure that the bottles are sterile and they don't want to break the seal the parent made by having to remove the disk.
The Dr Browns can be warmed with the nipple on. It just goes in the crock pot standing up.
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| Posted 7/17/08 2:18 PM |
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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Re: Sorry - but a bunch of Daycare questions
The first daycare we wre at asked that you bring already filled bottles and they kept them in the fridge and warmed them in the crockpot.
THe second daycare we were at was flexible with whatever you wanted to do. You could leave a jar of powder and they'd make a bottle using their water, or you could provide your own water in the bottles for the day. Youc ould leave them with RTF bottles they'd keep in the cabinet or the fridge. Or you could bring already made bottles. If something was int he frdge, it gets put in a pitcher of warm water from the sink to warm up.
I do everything the night before for him so DH just has to grab the bag and run. DH would just have to grab the bottles out of the fridge, or nowadays, grab a carton of milk to bring cause I send DS with organic instead of using the center's regular milk. When DS was little, I would put him in the boppy while I got ready. As he got older, I put him in front of a show to keep him occupied. When he outgrew the boppy, we set up the PNP in the living room and he plays and watches his morning shows while we get ready. When DS was smaller, between both of us, it took almost an hour to get out of the house. Nowadays, I'm out in about 30min. I shower in the evenings so I don't have to dry my hair and I can take a relaxing shower without rushing and worrying about DS.
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| Posted 7/17/08 2:24 PM |
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