Does Daycare Provide Formula, Diapers and Food?

Updated November 2026. Illinois rules cited are from 23 Ill. Adm. Code Part 2008, the licensing standards for day care centers.

It depends on the item. In Illinois, licensed day care centers must provide the meals and snacks children eat once they are on table food. For babies, centers either provide formula and baby food or ask parents to bring them, based on the center's written policy. Diapers and wipes are most often supplied by parents, though a few centers include them. Always ask for a written list of what is included in tuition.

Here is what is typical and what to ask.

Formula

• Provided: some centers offer one or two brands of iron-fortified formula. Centers that take part in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) must offer at least one iron-fortified infant formula, though families can choose to bring their own.
• Brought from home: many families send their own formula, especially for specialty or prescription formulas.
• Breast milk: always brought from home, labeled with your baby's name and the date. See our guide to breast milk at daycare.

Baby food

Illinois rules let centers decide, in a written policy, whether they or parents provide food for babies who are not yet eating table food. Some centers provide pureed and soft foods for each stage. Others ask you to send jars or pouches. Many introduce a new food only after you have tried it at home, so tell teachers which foods your baby already eats.

Once your child moves to table food, the center takes over meals and snacks.

Meals and snacks for older children

At a licensed Illinois center, all food children eat during the day must come from the center. Parents can bring food only in a few cases: for babies not yet on table food, for a special diet the center cannot reasonably make, and for occasional store-bought treats on birthdays or holidays if staff agree. That means packed lunches are not part of daily life at licensed centers, though license-exempt programs and some home daycares work differently.

How much food your child gets depends on how long they stay. A child there 5 to 10 hours gets one meal and two snacks, or two meals and one snack. Centers either cook in an inspected kitchen on site or use a licensed caterer. Ask:

• Which meals are served at what times?
• Can I see this month's menu?
• How do you handle allergies and special diets?
• What do children drink with meals?

Our guide to daycare meals in Illinois covers the state's menu rules, and our post on peanut-free daycare and allergy plans covers allergies.

Diapers and wipes

Most centers ask parents to supply diapers and wipes, and sometimes diaper cream with a signed permission form. Some centers include diapers in tuition or charge a supply fee. If you use cloth diapers, ask whether the center accepts them and how soiled diapers are sent home.

A simple system helps: drop off a full pack of diapers and wipes on Monday, and ask teachers to tell you when the supply runs low. Many centers note it on the daily report.

Other things parents usually bring

• Bottles, labeled with your baby's name
• Pacifiers, if your baby uses them
• A wearable blanket or sleep sack for infants, if the center allows
• A crib sheet or a small blanket for older children's nap time
• 2 or 3 changes of clothes
• Weather gear for outdoor play
• Sunscreen and medication, with signed forms

Read our checklist on how to dress a toddler for daycare in winter for cold-weather gear, and how many spare clothes to send.

Why it matters for cost

Formula, baby food and diapers can add up to a real monthly cost, especially in the first year. When you compare tuition, add what you would spend on supplies. A center that costs a little more but includes formula and baby food may cost less overall. See our Illinois daycare cost guide and our post on fees beyond tuition.

Questions to ask on a tour

1. What does tuition include for my child's age?
2. Do you provide formula? Which brands?
3. Do you provide baby food, and how do you introduce new foods?
4. Which meals and snacks are served, and who prepares them?
5. Who supplies diapers, wipes and cream?
6. What do I need to bring on the first day?

Frequently asked questions

Do daycares provide diapers?

Most ask parents to bring diapers and wipes. Some include them or charge a supply fee.

Do daycares provide formula?

Some do, and centers in the federal CACFP food program must offer at least one iron-fortified formula. Others ask parents to bring their own, based on their written policy.

Can I send my own food to daycare in Illinois?

For babies not yet on table food, often yes, depending on the center's policy. For older children at a licensed center, generally no. The center provides meals and snacks, except for special diets it cannot reasonably make and occasional store-bought treats.

Does daycare provide bottles?

Usually not. Parents send labeled bottles each day.

What Children's Land provides

Children's Land provides formula and baby food for infants, and parents can bring their own if they prefer. Every location serves a hot breakfast and lunch made with fresh, organic foods and catered daily. Our schools are peanut and tree nut-free. Parents provide diapers, wipes and any creams. Learn about our infant program or find a location.

Related reading: Infant Daycare Schedule: What a Baby's Day Looks Like.