One bag.
Everything they need.

01The everyday essentials (every age)

• A backpack your child can recognise and open themselves
• Two full changes of clothes — including socks and underwear
• A wide-brimmed or legionnaire hat (sun-safe hats are expected in Australian centres)
• A refillable water bottle with your child's name on it
• A comfort item for rest time, if your child has one
• Any medication, with the centre's medication form completed

Always check your centre's own list. Some provide nappies, sunscreen, bedding or meals; others ask families to bring them.

02Babies (6 weeks – 12 months)

• Bottles, pre-measured formula or expressed breast milk, clearly labelled with name and date
• Nappies and wipes (unless the centre supplies them)
• A sleeping bag suitable for safe sleep — no loose blankets or pillows
• Dummies in a labelled case, if used
• Spare bibs and a muslin wrap

Write down your baby's feed and sleep routine for the educators. A one-page note on the first day helps them match what works at home.

03Toddlers (1 – 3 years)

• Extra clothes — toddlers get busy with paint, sand and water
• Shoes they can put on and take off with a little help
• Toilet-training supplies if you've started: training pants and three spare outfits
• A cot sheet or rest-time bedding if requested

04Preschoolers (3 – 6 years)

• A bag they can carry and unpack on their own — independence is part of school readiness
• A spare set of clothes suited to the weather
• Any "show and share" item on the days the room invites them

Let your preschooler help pack the night before. Choosing their own hat or bottle gives them a small sense of control over a big change.

05Label everything

Ten identical hats, one room. Iron-on or stick-on labels with your child's first name and surname save a lot of lost property. Label lids of bottles and lunch containers separately — they wander.

06What to leave at home

• Toys from home (they're easily lost or cause tears) unless it's a rest-time comfort item
• Necklaces, jewellery and anything with small parts
• Food containing nuts, if the centre has a nut-aware policy

07Packing for Smart Steps

At Smart Steps, nutritious meals are included in the daily fee, prepared with care for every age. See our approach to meals. Before your first day we'll share a short packing list for your child's room — Nursery, Toddlers or Preschool — so nothing is a surprise.