What equipment do you need for a child care?
As a childcare provider, this is the equipment for daycare I recommend you get if you are about to or just recently started a child care business.
Not only will these items help you setup an age appropriate childcare space, they will help your workday run smoothly.
✅ If you’re curious (or in a hurry)…Check out the Complete List of Must Have Equipment for Daycare (HERE). This list will help you take a quick look at what items you need to set up a quality child care program.
First-Aid & Safety
Child Proofing Products
Besides needing a fire extinguisher, fire alarms, and a carbon monoxide alarm in your home. You need to childproof your daycare space as best as you can.
How you childproof your home depends on the layout and furniture of your house.
In short, you need safety covers for knobs, locks, outlet plugs, furniture straps and corner protectors.
Luckily, Amazon sells tons of child proofing products and you’re likely to find everything you need.
Safety 1st Baby Proofing Kit
To get started try the complete Safety 1st Safety Essentials Kit, 46 piece set with 12 cabinet and drawer latches, 30 plug protectors, and 4 grip ‘n twist door knob covers.
Also, corner guards like these are a must too!
For ease of mind, put corner protectors on all your furniture with sharp edges.
Safety Gates
As a general rule, you need to block off all areas of your home you want to keep inaccessible to daycare children. You can use door knob covers, locks or safety gates.
For doors, look into door knob covers or safety locks.
But if you need to prevent children from going into rooms with no doors like the kitchen and other living areas, safety gates are the better choice.
Also, if you live in a two-story house you will need to install a stairway safety gate to prevent the kiddos from going up or down the stairs unsupervised.
This is the safety gate I use to block off my stairs. So far, it’s been holding up well.
First Aid Kit
Even after you do everything you can to create a safe environment for the children, accidents can still happen. Children are unpredictable and you need to be ready for anything.
You and all staff members need to have CPR and first-aid training.
It’s also necessary to have a well-stocked first aid kit on hand at all times.
I use two in my daycare.
I have a first-aid kit like this one in my main classroom. And I keep a portable size first-aid kit in my daycare bag.
Infrared Thermometer
Help keep your family and daycare group healthy by using a non-contact thermometer to screen for possible illnesses.
I recommend you check out this touchless thermometer! The price is right, it has good reviews, and it is similar to the one I use.
Related Article: Free Home Daycare Forms: Injury Reports for Childcare Business
Cleaners
Cleaners are a must! They will help maintain your daycare environment clean and in proper condition for the kids. You don’t need to spend a lot of money here. Start off with basics such as soap and an EPA approved disinfectant like bleach.
Supplies for Daycare Bathroom
Paper Towel Dispenser
I use this paper towel dispenser in my daycare bathroom. It’s similar to the ones you see in public bathrooms. My daycare kids have not had a problem using too many paper towels or had any issues operating it.
However, I recently saw this one here at a friend’s bathroom and kitchen wall, and I loved how it looked.
Disposable Towels
These are the paper towels I use in the dispenser. Each pack comes with 250 sheets, and are available in boxes of 16 to 48 packs.
We do a lot of hand washing and drying in daycare.
My state regulations require a separate hand towel for each child after every use and paper towels was the easiest solution for my business.
If you prefer not to use paper towels and it’s not against your states regulations use washable hand towels instead.
Just keep in mind that you’re going to have to use a clean hand towel after every use. So, if you can keep up with the process of washing an extra load, then hand towels like these might be a better choice for you.
Automatic Soap/Hand Sanitizer Dispenser
As a childcare provider, you will constantly wash your hands.
Having a few automatic soap dispensers like this one will be a great addition to your childcare business. You can put one in your daycare bathroom and fill it up with soap and place another one with hand sanitizer near the entrance of your daycare for parents to use.
Step Stools for Bathroom
Every daycare bathroom needs a step stool. They make it easier for the kids to go potty and reach the faucet to wash their hands without you needing to pick them up.
If you have the space I highly recommend you purchase a set of step stools like these.
You can keep one next to the toilet.
And instead of moving the step stool from the toilet area to the sink and back to the toilet, you can leave the second step stool at the sink.
Diaper Changing Station
As a childcare provider you will change many, MANY diapers. So, it’s important that you have a changing table so you don’t have to bend too much.
A diaper changing table like this one is a good option. It’s inexpensive and it has a lot of shelving space to store diapers, wipes, etc. It also happens to be “Amazon’s Choice.”
But if your daycare space isn’t big enough (or if you prefer), you can get a wall-mounted baby changing station like the ones in public restrooms.
BOTH options are great. It’s a matter of preference, budget and of course, space.
Diaper Changing Pad
If you’re going to use a changing table you will need to get a waterproof pad to go along with it.
My first choice would be the Ultra-Soft Daycare Baby and Infant Contoured Changing Pad. It’s perfect for daycare settings. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative, then I’d suggest this Summer changing pad.
Create Age-Appropriate Environment for Kids
Toys
As a childcare provider you will take part in the development of all the young children in your care.
Create an enriched environment by investing in a good sized selection of toys, books, felt board characters, rhythm instruments, art supplies and outdoor play equipment. Save money by using toys that your children outgrew or purchase them from thrift stores, garage sales, discount stores, etc.
Hey – have you checked out my toy guides for 1 year old children? I also have a toy guide for toddlers in this post. So many toy ideas!
Floor Play Mat
I use this floor mat in my infant play area. It’s soft but firm and perfect for infants just learning to crawl.
Or get a few and use them to create learning centers in your daycare. These play mat will provide a comfortable surface for the kids to play on.
Play Yard
This is the play yard that I use to create my infant space.
I love that it’s sturdy enough to keep infants safe as they crawl around. I have not had any issues with the play yard tipping over or caving in.
Also, most kiddos learning how to walk, love to wander around while holding onto the fence.
I love that I can put my little ones inside and keep them safe while I attend to another child or do a quick run to the restroom.
Products to help organize daycare supplies:
Cube Storage Organizer
When you start a home business, you quickly learn that organization is important to your sanity and success.
Especially when you run a home daycare, because you are literally living in a daycare. And it can get overwhelming if you have toys, and supplies all over your house.
Storage cube organizers like these are the perfect solution.
You can use them to display toys, store daycare supplies or even use them as cubbies for the kids.
However, if you have the budget for daycare quality furniture, wooden shelves like this one is a great alternative.
Storage Cube Bins
In the entrance of my daycare, I have a storage cube organizer that doubles up in its function. The top part I use it as my sign-in table. And the bottom part, I use it as the kids cubbies.
I use this kind of cube bins inside the storage organizer. I assign one section with one bin to each of the kids so they can keep their stuff in.
So far this has been working great!
Here’s a peek at how I set up my parent sign-in table/ cubbies:
Clear Storage Boxes with Lids
I use clear storage containers for everything!
I like that you can store your crayons in one bin. Your stickers in another, cars in another, and blocks yet in another bin.
Well you get the idea.
Products to use during meals:
High Chair for Infants
You’re going to need one or a few high chairs to feed the infants in your care.
The high chairs I use are similar to this one. They’re easy to wipe clean, fold and store.
A Table for Meal Time (and Arts & Crafts)
You’re going to need a table for the children to eat their meals at and do arts and crafts. You can use your family’s kitchen table or buy a child size table with chairs.
If you decide to buy a table this is the one a lot of childcare providers use in their home daycare.
Need a cheaper alternative? This Lifetime Kids Picnic Table is a good one to get. When I first started my daycare it was the one I purchased.
Kids Dinner Set
Get a few plates, bowls, cups, and eating utensils to serve children their meals.
You can use things out of your own kitchen or buy an inexpensive kids dinner set like this one from Amazon or at Walmart, Ikea, etc.
Products to use for nap time:
Pack ‘n Play or Cribs
You will also want a place for infants to rest. Choose between mini baby cribs, or pack ‘n plays.
In my daycare, I chose to use pack ‘n plays.
And if you’re looking for a great pack ‘n play, I recommend The Baby Trend Nursery Center, Tanzania.
Naptime Cots
You’ll need to have a quiet area for the infants and children to rest.
These stack-able daycare cots are great for children’s nap/rest time. They are washable, and easy to put away in your home daycare.
Bedding
To cut down on germs, each child needs to have their own bedding. The bedding you use depends on the age of the children in your care.
Also, you have the choice to ask parents to send their child with their own bedding or you can supply it for them. But in general, you’ll need sleep sacks for infants, sheets, blankets, and pillows for older children.
What is your favorite equipment for daycare?
I hope that helps you find the right tools to start your home daycare!
I’ll be updating this post as I find new tools or change the ones I use above.
Let me know what questions you have by leaving a comment below!
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