Parenting & Childcare Blog | Children's Land

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Toddler

How to Dress a Toddler for Daycare in a Chicago Winter

Most daycares take children outside whenever the weather is safe, even in a Chicago winter. Here is how to layer a toddler, the snow gear to label and leave at school, what to do about coats in the car seat, and how centers decide when it is too cold.

Baby feeding bottles lined up on a table

Infants

Breast Milk at Daycare: How to Pack, Store and Label It

Sending breast milk to daycare gets easier with a simple system. Here is how much milk most babies need while you are away, how to label and pack bottles, the CDC storage rules teachers follow, and what to ask your center before the first day.

Smiling mother hugging her two young children

Toddler

CCAP Illinois 2026: Income Limits and How to Apply

The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps working families pay for daycare. For 2026, a family of three can apply with gross income up to $5,123 a month. Here are the limits for every family size, how copays work, and how to apply.

Pregnant woman researching daycare options on a laptop

Infants

When to Start Looking for Daycare When You Are Pregnant

Infant daycare spots are limited, so most parents in the Chicago area should start looking in the second trimester. Here is a month-by-month timeline from pregnancy to your baby's first day, plus what to ask about waitlists, start dates and deposits.

Digital thermometer held in an open hand

Toddler

Daycare Fever Rules: When Your Child Has to Stay Home

Most daycare fever rules come from American Academy of Pediatrics guidance: a temperature above 101°F with other symptoms means a day at home, and children return after 24 hours fever-free without medicine. Here is how the rules work and when to call a doctor.