A childminder bag doesn't need much: two changes of clothes, nappy-changing and sleep essentials, your child's comforter and the key documents. Everything else depends on what the contract says, particularly for nappies and meals. It's better to put it together with the childminder than from a generic list.
Every childminder has their own routines, storage and constraints. Here is the basic list, what gets agreed when you sign the contract, and what changes if your child goes to a nursery instead.
What should go in a childminder bag?
The list below covers the needs of a typical day for a child aged a few months to three years. Adjust the quantities to how often your child attends and to their age.
Spare clothes
- Two complete outfits: vests, trousers, tops, socks.
- A cardigan or jumper, even in summer, for cooler rooms and naps.
- Soft slippers, or non-slip socks for a child who is walking.
- Outdoor clothes suited to the season: woolly hat, rain jacket, sun hat.
A baby who brings up a lot of milk, or a child who is potty training, needs one or two extra outfits.
Nappy changing and hygiene
- Nappies, if the contract says the parents provide them.
- Nappy cream if your child uses one, with their name on it.
- A pack of wipes or cotton pads, depending on the childminder's routine.
- A waterproof bag for bringing dirty clothes home.
Meals
For a young baby, pack bottles, formula in a dispenser, or breast milk stored according to hygiene guidelines. For a child who is eating solids, the contract states who prepares the meals. A spare bib and a familiar cup or beaker make the first few days easier.
Sleep
A baby sleeping bag in the right size is usually all you need. The cot itself is provided by the childminder, who must follow safe sleep guidelines. A spare dummy, if your child uses one, saves many a nap from being cut short.
The comforter and familiar things
The comforter is a fully fledged part of the bag. Hand it over as it is, without washing it the night before, because its smell is reassuring. If your child can't be parted from it at night, an identical second comforter can stay at the childminder's. We explain its role in our article on comforters and transitional objects.
Health and documents
- The child's health record, or a copy of the vaccination pages, depending on what has been agreed.
- Contact details for the parents, the family doctor and an emergency contact.
- Written permissions: outings, transport, people authorised to collect your child.
- A thermometer and a fever reducer, only if the childminder asks for them.
Giving medicine normally requires a prescription and written permission from the parents. Sort this out before the first bout of fever, which often comes quickly. Our guidance on illnesses in group childcare also applies at a childminder's.
Nappies and meals: who provides what?
With a childminder, there is no single rule. The employment contract specifies who provides nappies, toiletries and meals. If the childminder prepares the meals, a meal allowance is usually included in the contract.
These choices affect both your budget and your morning logistics. A parent who provides the meals packs a cool bag every day. A parent who leaves the meals to the childminder accepts, in return, menus they don't entirely choose.
Ask these questions at the very first meeting. Our comparison of childcare options in France helps put them into the wider decision.
At nursery, a lighter bag
In nurseries funded by the Caf (French family allowance fund) through its single service benefit (PSU), the fee paid by the family includes hygiene care and meals. The Cnaf guide explicitly mentions nappies and toiletries. It also states that no supplement or deduction can apply depending on whether or not the family brings them.
A nursery bag is therefore often limited to clothes, slippers, the comforter and the dummy. Some nurseries also ask for a sleeping bag or a specific cream. The setting's own rules are what count.
The first week often calls for more things than the following ones. How the first days unfold is described in our article on settling in at nursery.
Adapting the bag to your child's age
From 0 to 6 months
The bag revolves around milk, nappy changing and sleep. Pack plenty of vests, as little leaks are common. A light blanket for the pushchair can come in handy on outings.
From 6 to 18 months
Meals become more varied and clothes get dirtier. Add bibs and an extra outfit. As soon as your child is walking, soft shoes for outdoors become useful.
From 18 months to 3 years
Potty training changes the list. Training pants, underwear and spare trousers are added in large numbers. If your child uses a potty at home, a similar one at the childminder's gives them consistent landmarks. A 3-in-1 convertible potty also works as a toilet reducer and then as a step stool.
What stays, what travels
A good childminder bag separates two categories. What stays at the childminder's: spare clothes, sleeping bag, slippers, nappies. What goes back and forth: the comforter if your child sleeps with it at night, the health record, dirty clothes.
This distinction lightens the morning bag. It follows the same logic as for a second home, which we cover in our article on baby gear at the grandparents'.
The most common mistakes
- Forgetting to label things: several children often wear the same vests and the same slippers.
- Not updating sizes: trousers that are too short stay in the bag and are no use to anyone.
- Forgetting the season: a cardigan in June, a woolly hat in October.
- Washing the comforter the night before the first day, which removes its familiar smell.
- Filling the bag with toys, when the childminder has their own.
A quick monthly catch-up with the childminder is enough to adjust the bag. They can see what's missing, what never gets used and what's becoming too small.
Key takeaways
A childminder bag is made up of spare clothes, nappy-changing and sleep essentials, the comforter and health documents. Nappies and meals depend on the contract. In a Caf-funded nursery, nappies, toiletries and meals are in principle provided by the setting.
Label everything, keep sizes up to date and leave anything that doesn't need to travel where it is. For any questions about our products, our FAQ is always available.
Sources
- Caisse nationale des allocations familiales, “Guide Prestation de service unique (PSU)”, September 2025: family contribution including hygiene care (nappies, toiletries) and meals.
