EDUCATION IN KOREA
DAYCARE IN KOREA
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Daycare in Korea
What to Pack for Korean Daycare: A Real Supply List
Labeled indoor shoes, a toothbrush you’ll replace more than you expect, and a few things nobody warns you about — what actually goes in a Korean daycare bag.
✓ Quick Answer
Most Korean daycares ask for a basic set of personal items: labeled indoor shoes, a full change of clothes, a toothbrush (often more than one), a nap mat or bedding set, a water bottle, and your child’s vaccination record on file. Exact lists vary by center — always ask for the specific supply list your daycare hands out before the first week.
- Labeled indoor shoes (실내화) — name marked clearly
- A full change of clothes, also labeled
- A toothbrush, often more than one, replaced regularly
- A nap mat or bedding set — many centers expect your own
- A water bottle, sometimes with a carrying bag for field trips
- Your child’s vaccination record, on file before day one
Our Real Experience
Two real items from our daughter’s actual daycare bag — not stock photos, not a generic packing list pulled from somewhere else.
What’s Usually on the List
Indoor shoes. Most centers have kids change out of outdoor shoes on arrival. Labeling matters more than it sounds — with a room full of near-identical small shoes, an unlabeled pair gets lost fast.
A nap mat or bedding set. Whether you need to buy your own or the center provides one varies — this is worth confirming directly, since it’s one of the pricier items on the list. We’re covering this in its own dedicated guide.
Vaccination records. Korean schools and daycares generally require proof that a child is up to date on vaccinations before or shortly after enrollment — bring your child’s vaccination record along with your enrollment paperwork.
Korean Mum’s NoteWe ended up using both a name stamp and printed name stickers — bought both through Coupang. Between the two, almost everything got covered.
— Korean Mum
Andrew’s NoteI didn’t know what “nap bedding” meant at first, and indoor shoes weren’t a concept I’d had to think about before either. Then Nicky’s name-label order showed up — something like a hundred labels, different sizes, all with our daughter’s name on them. That’s when it hit me how much labeling this was actually going to involve. Wet wipes threw me too, since the center had us supply our own rather than just providing them — I remember genuinely wondering what would happen if I forgot to send them. First-time-parent panic, not an actual daycare rule, but it felt real at the time.
— Andrew
What Foreign Parents Should Know
- Ask for the center’s own printed supply list — don’t assume a generic list online matches exactly what your daycare wants.
- A name stamp and printed name stickers cover most of what needs labeling — both are easy to order online.
- Confirm whether nap bedding is provided or something you need to buy — it’s one of the bigger-ticket items.
- Bring your child’s vaccination record to enrollment, not just on request.
- Expect to restock toothbrushes and a few consumables more often than you would at home.
FAQ
Do I need to buy a nap mat or bedding myself?
It depends on the center — some provide it, many expect parents to supply their own. Always confirm directly rather than assuming either way.
How often do daycare toothbrushes need replacing?
Since brushing happens daily after lunch, most families replace toothbrushes noticeably more often than they would at home — every few weeks is common.
Is a vaccination record really required?
Generally yes — Korean daycares and schools typically ask for proof that a child’s vaccinations are up to date as part of enrollment.
Where can I buy Korean daycare supplies?
Large marts, baby-specialty stores, and online marketplaces all carry daycare-specific items like nap mats and indoor shoes — many centers can also point you toward what other parents use.
Over to You
What’s the one daycare supply nobody warned you about before your child’s first week?