Daily Infant Report Checklist

Why daily infant reporting matters

A daily infant report gives parents a complete picture of their child's day at nursery — feeding, diaper changes, sleep, meals, and overall behaviour. Because infants cannot describe their own day, the written record is how families stay informed about their child's activities, development, and well-being while they are apart. A well-documented report also gives staff a consistent routine: instead of relying on memory at pickup, you capture events as they happen, so nothing is missed and every child's day is recorded in the same way.

What a good daily infant report covers

A complete report follows the child's day from arrival to pickup. It should capture: - **Parent information and context**, including the date, who prepared the report, the location, the child's last feeding time, how the child slept the night before, and any parent instructions or general comments - **Diaper changes**, with the time, the diaper condition, and notes - **Bottle feeding**, with the time, the amount consumed, the type of feeding, and notes - **Solid meals**, with the time, a description of the meal, how much was consumed, and notes - **Sleep periods**, with the start time, end time, and an overall sleep quality rating - **Sign-off**, with a signature and the time the report was finished Each of these sections answers a question a parent is likely to ask, and together they form a record you can review if a pattern or concern emerges over time.

How to carry out the reporting routine

1. **Set up the report at the start of the day.** Complete the parent information section: the date, who is preparing the report, the location, the child's last feeding time, how they slept the night before, and any instructions from the family. Read the reporting guidelines first so you know what is expected. 2. **Log events as they happen.** Record each diaper change, bottle feed, solid meal, and sleep period at the time it occurs. For diaper changes, note the time, the condition, and any relevant detail. For bottles, note the time, the amount consumed, the type of feeding, and any notes. For solid meals, note the time, what was offered, how much was eaten, and any notes. For sleep, record the start and end times and rate the overall quality. 3. **Rate where the checklist asks you to.** Sleep quality uses a scale of very well, fairly well, not very well, or poorly. Diaper condition uses dry, wet, soiled, or potty. Feeding type uses breast milk, formula, or cow's milk. Amount of food consumed uses most of it, about half, a few bites, or none. 4. **Close out the report.** Finish with a signature and the time the report was completed, so the record is accountable and ready to share with the family.

Reference

> This page describes the daily infant reporting routine supported by the Daily Infant Report Checklist. The checklist contains 25 items across seven sections: Daily Infant Report, Parent Information, Daycare Daily Report, Diaper Changes, Bottle Feeding, Solid Meals, and Sleep Periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

The report records the child's last feeding time, how they slept the night before, and any parent instructions or general comments, alongside the staff member preparing it, the location, and the date. This context tells you what the child needs on arrival and what the family expects you to watch for during the day.

Log each change with the time, the diaper condition (dry, wet, soiled, or potty), and notes. Recording the condition and the time together gives a clear picture of the child's routine and helps you spot changes across the day.

For each bottle feed, record the time, the amount consumed in millilitres, the type of feeding (breast milk, formula, or cow's milk), and any notes. Tracking both volume and type keeps the record accurate and useful for parents and staff alike.

Note the time of the meal, describe what was offered, record how much the child ate (most of it, about half, a few bites, or none), and add any notes. This shows not just what was served but how well the child ate.

Record the sleep start time, the sleep end time, and an overall sleep quality rating (very well, fairly well, not very well, or poorly). Together these show the length and quality of each rest period, not just that a nap happened.

Begin by completing the parent information section, including the child's last feeding time, how they slept the night before, any parent instructions, and the details of who is preparing the report and where. Follow the reporting guidelines, then log each diaper change, bottle feed, solid meal, and sleep period as it happens through the day.

A complete record covers feeding, diaper changes, sleep, meals, and behaviour throughout the day, so parents can see their child's activities, development, and well-being while at the nursery. It answers the questions families ask at pickup without relying on memory, and gives the nursery a consistent, well-documented account of each child's day.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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