From the founder of Sticky Monkey Labels
As a mom of three boys and the founder of Sticky Monkey Labels, I've spent 14 years helping parents get daycare-ready. Bottle labels are one of our most-asked-about products — so I've pulled together every question we hear regularly and answered them all in one place. If yours isn't here, call us at 1-888-780-7734 and we'll help you directly.
When it comes to bottle labels for daycare, parents have a lot of questions — and rightfully so. The wrong label peels off in the dishwasher, won't stick to your specific bottle brand, or fades after a week of daily use. The right label handles everything a daycare bottle goes through and keeps your baby's name visible and legible all day, every day.
Here are the questions we hear most often, answered clearly and completely. If you don't see yours, we're always happy to help — just get in touch or call us at 1-888-780-7734.
Questions Answered in This Post
- Why is it important to label bottles for daycare?
- What is the best way to label bottles for daycare?
- Will labels stick to silicone bottles?
- Which bottle brands do your labels fit?
- Are the labels rewritable?
- How do I clean writing off so I can rewrite?
- Are the labels waterproof and dishwasher-safe?
- Can I put labeled bottles in the fridge or freezer?
- What surfaces and materials do labels adhere to?
- Do I need to prep the surface before applying?
- How do I make labels last as long as possible?
- Will labels come off on their own?
Why Is It Important to Label Bottles for Daycare?
The most obvious reason is identification — in a room full of babies with similar bottles, a label tells staff immediately which bottle belongs to which child. But there are several other practical reasons labeling matters:
- Tracking preparation dates. Whether you're using formula or breast milk, it's critical to know when the bottle was filled or when the milk was expressed or thawed. A label with the date keeps that information visible at all times.
- Contents identification. If a baby has specific dietary needs or a particular formula, the label ensures the right bottle goes to the right child every time — not just most of the time.
- Daycare compliance. Most daycare centers have specific labeling policies that parents are required to follow. Properly labeled bottles keep you compliant and make the staff's job significantly easier.
- Inventory management. A labeled bottle that comes home is easy to track. An unlabeled one that gets mixed in with another family's bottles is a headache for everyone.
What Is the Best Way to Label Bottles for Daycare?
We offer several label types to cover the different bottle shapes on the market, so the best option depends on your specific bottle. Here's how to think about it:
Curved & Slim Rim Labels — For the Plastic Nipple Ring
Our curved and slim rim labels are designed to go on the plastic nipple ring of the bottle — not the body. There are two reasons for this. First, many baby bottles are made from silicone, and nothing adheres to silicone — the plastic nipple ring is the only surface on those bottles where a label will actually bond and stay. Second, most baby bottles have curved or concave shapes on the body specifically to make them easier to grip and hold. Placing a label on a concave surface makes it difficult to write on daily and hard to read at a glance — which defeats the whole purpose. The nipple ring gives you a flat, stable, label-friendly surface that stays readable and writable every single day.
Standard Labels — For Straight-Bodied Bottles
Our standard labels are designed for bottles with a straight body shape — where the surface directly below the nipple ring is flat enough for a label to lie flush and remain easy to write on and read. These go on the bottle body itself, placed directly under the nipple ring. If your bottle has a straight cylindrical shape rather than a curved or concave grip profile, standard labels are the right choice.
Will Labels Stick to Silicone Bottles?
This is one of the most important things to know before you order — labels do not adhere to silicone surfaces. This applies to our bottle labels and to labels in general. Silicone's non-porous, flexible surface prevents adhesives from bonding properly, which means any label applied directly to the silicone body of a bottle will peel off quickly.
But silicone isn't the only reason we recommend placing labels on the nipple ring rather than the bottle body. Most baby bottles — silicone or not — are designed with curved or concave shapes to make them easier to grip and hold. A label placed on a concave surface is difficult to write on daily and hard to read at a glance. Neither of those things is acceptable when you need staff to see your baby's name and preparation date quickly and clearly.
The plastic nipple ring solves both problems. It's not silicone, so labels bond properly. And it provides a flat, stable surface that stays easy to write on and easy to read — every single day.
Which Baby Bottle Brands Do Your Labels Fit?
Our bottle labels are specifically designed to fit the most popular brand-name baby bottles on the market. Here's the breakdown by label type:
Designed for bottles with a slant-back nipple rim — including Avent® and Tommee Tippee® bottles. The curved profile of these labels matches the angle of the rim so they lie flat and bond properly without lifting at the edges.
Designed for bottles with a straight vertical nipple rim — including Comotomo® bottles. If your baby uses Comotomo® or another bottle with the same rim profile, this is the label that will fit and stay secure.
For bottles with a straight cylindrical body shape. These labels go directly on the bottle body, placed just below the nipple ring where the surface is flat and easy to write on and read. If your bottle doesn't have a curved or concave grip profile, standard labels placed on the body are the ideal choice.
Not sure which label fits your bottle? Contact us or call 1-888-780-7734 and we'll find the right fit for you.
Are the Labels Rewritable?
Yes — you can write directly on our labels, which makes it easy to update preparation dates, add notes, or change information as needed. This is especially useful for tracking when breast milk was expressed or thawed, or when formula was prepared.
Select labels come with a semi-permanent marker and a wax-based pencil included, though these are optional add-ons. Both tools are designed specifically to work on our label surface for clean, legible writing.
How Do I Remove Writing So I Can Rewrite on the Label?
It depends on which writing tool you used:
- Semi-permanent marker — the ink washes off with water. Rinse or wipe with a damp cloth and the writing clears cleanly.
- Wax-based pencil — wipe the label with a clean dry cloth to remove the wax writing.
In both cases, make sure the label surface is fully dry before rewriting. Writing on a damp surface affects legibility and how well the ink or wax adheres.
Are the Labels Waterproof and Dishwasher-Safe?
Yes. Once applied, our bottle labels are built to handle every method you use to clean and sanitize baby bottles:
- Waterproof
- Baby bottle warmer-safe
- Baby bottle sterilizer-safe
- Dishwasher-safe — top rack placement recommended
- Microwave-safe
- Tear-resistant
The one surface exception is metal — if you've applied a label to a metal item, handwashing is recommended rather than putting it through the dishwasher.
Can I Put Labeled Bottles in the Fridge or Freezer?
Yes — our labels are both refrigerator-safe and freezer-safe once applied. You can fill and label bottles ahead of time, store them in the fridge or freezer, and the labels will stay put and remain legible. This makes it easy to prep a week's worth of bottles in advance without worrying about labels peeling off in cold storage.
What Surfaces and Materials Do the Labels Adhere To?
Our bottle labels adhere reliably to a wide range of surfaces including:
- Plastic (the most common baby bottle material)
- Glass
- Metal (handwashing recommended for metal surfaces — see care tips below)
- Paper and cardboard
Important exception: silicone. Labels will not adhere to silicone surfaces. See the silicone section above for the solution — our rim labels are designed specifically to handle this.
Do I Need to Prep the Surface Before Applying a Label?
Yes — and this step makes a significant difference in how well and how long the label adheres. Here's what to do:
- Wipe the surface with isopropyl alcohol before applying the label. Baby bottles often have residual oils, formula residue, or skin oils on the surface that prevent proper adhesion — the alcohol removes these.
- Make sure the surface is completely dry before you apply the label. Both water and dust interfere with adhesion and can cause the label to lift at the edges or peel off prematurely.
Skipping this step is the most common reason labels don't last as long as they should. It takes thirty seconds and makes a real difference.
How Do I Make My Bottle Labels Last as Long as Possible?
Beyond the surface prep step above, a few care habits will significantly extend the life of your labels:
- Always use the top rack of the dishwasher — lower rack placement exposes labels to more direct heat, which degrades the adhesive faster.
- Avoid sanitary dishwasher cycles — the extreme heat is too much for the label adhesive and print over time. Standard cycles are fine.
- Handwash any metal items with labels — metal items with labels applied should be washed by hand rather than put through the dishwasher.
- Avoid bleach and bleach-based products — bleach, bleach additives, and detergents containing essential oils degrade both the print and the adhesive. Standard detergents are perfectly fine.
Will Labels Come Off on Their Own?
No — our labels are designed to stay put through everything a daycare bottle goes through: dishwashers, microwaves, bottle warmers, sterilizers, refrigerators, and freezers. They won't fall off from normal daily use.
They can, however, be removed intentionally if needed. This is worth keeping in mind if you have older toddlers who might pick at labels — supervision is recommended. But for standard daycare use with infants and young babies, the labels will hold without issue.
Need More Than Just Bottle Labels for Daycare?
Bottles are just the start of what needs labeling before daycare. We carry a full range of labels to cover everything in your child's bag:
- Clothing labels — stick-on clothing labels for care tags and tagless imprints, and iron-on labels for iron-safe fabrics
- Write-on labels — for quick updates, temporary labeling, or any item that needs flexibility
- Waterproof name labels — for lunchboxes, containers, shoes, bags, and hard surfaces
- Label packs — everything you need for daycare in one convenient order, including our baby label pack (84 labels) and daycare label pack (106 labels)
Browse our full daycare label collection or check out our Label FAQs for more. And if you still have questions, we're always happy to help — get in touch or call us at 1-888-780-7734.