From the founder of Sticky Monkey Labels
I'm Dodie — mom of three boys, two with food allergies and one with special needs, and founder of Sticky Monkey Labels. I'm now in my 15th year of business, which started in 2011. I started this company because parenting isn't just cute moments — it's logistics and safety. This is my parent-to-parent guide to what to label at every stage, where labels go, and which ones actually hold up.
Our year as parents is basically a series of transitions: daycare drop-offs, preschool independence, school routines, and then suddenly — camp. And every transition comes with the same question: how do I make sure my kid's stuff comes home?
I got tired of labels that peeled off after one wash. I wanted waterproof name labels and personalized name labels for kids that stay readable and stay stuck — so caregivers get it right and kids learn to identify what's theirs as they grow. Here's the complete guide to baby bottle labels, daycare labels, school labels, and camp labels — by stage, from the beginning.
What's Covered
- The master checklist — what to label by stage
- Label placement rules so they actually stay on
- Daycare — labels that survive bottles, washing, and real life
- Toddler milestone — shoe labels that teach left vs. right
- School years — clothing and the lost-and-found black hole
- Camp — labeling gear so you're not replacing it all in August
- Frequently asked questions
The Master Checklist: What to Label by Stage
Daycare (Babies + Toddlers)
- Baby bottles — bottle and lid
- Sippy cups and straw cups — cup and lid
- Pacifier case
- Formula container
- Lunchbox and containers
- Blanket and sheet
- Jacket and hoodie
- Shoes
- Diaper cream
Preschool / Toddler Independence
- Shoes — this is the big one
- Water bottle
- Lunch and snack containers
- Backpack and lunchbox
- Nap mat and blanket
- Sweater and jacket
- Hat and gloves (seasonal)
Elementary School
- Hoodies, fleece, and jackets
- Lunchbox and every container inside
- Water bottle and thermos
- Pencil pouch and supplies
- Gym clothes
- Musical instruments and sports gear
Camp (Day + Sleepaway)
- Trunk and duffel bag
- Water bottle and lid
- Flashlight
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Swim goggles
- Shoes and sandals
- Towels
- All clothing
Label Placement Rules — So They Actually Stay On
Even the best waterproof labels won't perform their best if applied to a wet bottle or a textured surface. Here are the quick rules I use at home that make the real difference in how long labels last:
- Clean first. Wash the item to remove oils, lotion, and sunscreen residue. Alcohol cuts grease and surface films extremely well. Dry completely before applying — even a small amount of moisture traps air bubbles that become peeling points.
- Avoid texture. Textured plastic, rubbery coatings, and soft-touch finishes are where labels lift first. Choose the smoothest available spot on the item.
- Label lids and caps separately. If it has a lid — bottles, snack containers, thermoses — label the lid too. Lids are the number one item that gets swapped, separated, and lost.
- Let it set. Apply labels at room temperature and give them time to bond before the first wash. Overnight is ideal when you can manage it.
- Clothing labels go on tags or tagless imprints — not directly on fabric. Stick-on clothing labels belong on the garment care tag or the largest part of the tagless imprint — fabric stretches and flexes during wear and washing, which prevents adhesion. Iron-on clothing labels bond directly into iron-safe fabric and are the right choice when there's no usable tag or you want a permanent bond.
1. Daycare: Labels That Survive Bottles, Washing, and Real Life
Most daycare centers require everything labeled — and they mean it. Bottles, lids, pacifier cases, blankets — if it can be set down, it can be swapped. The volume of items moving through a daycare room in a single day is genuinely staggering.
For dishwasher safe baby bottle labels that don't peel after sterilizing, the key is using waterproof name labels specifically rated for daily washing — not general-purpose stickers that claim to be waterproof at room temperature.
Where to label bottles
- One label on the bottle body — on the smoothest available surface, visible without turning the bottle
- A second label on the lid — because lids wander. A labeled bottle with an unlabeled lid means the lid stays at daycare while the bottle comes home, or vice versa
Silicone bottle note — Comotomo and Boon Nursh
Silicone is a non-stick surface — labels will not stick to the silicone body reliably. If you try to label the silicone itself, it will peel off with washing, sterilizing, and daily handling regardless of label brand or adhesive quality. Instead, place your label on the smooth hard plastic collar or nipple ring — the only part of a silicone bottle with a surface that labels will bond to permanently.
2. Toddler Milestone: Shoe Labels That Teach Left vs. Right
There's a very specific pride in a toddler's eyes when they say "I did it myself!" — usually involving shoes, often on the wrong feet. A tiny name inside the tongue isn't enough when five kids in the same room have the same navy sneakers. This is where left and right shoe labels make a real difference — they don't just identify the shoe, they help your child learn.
What works best for preschool shoes
- A split image across both shoes — the picture only completes correctly when shoes are on the right feet, giving children a self-correcting visual cue without adult intervention
- A label material that handles sweat and friction — shoe interiors are a demanding environment; not all labels survive it
- Placement in the inside heel area — the most stable spot that stays readable through regular wear
3. School Years: Clothing Is the Real Lost-and-Found Black Hole
If I had a dollar for every hoodie that disappeared at school, I could fund a whole classroom. Sharpie on the tag works — until it bleeds, fades, or the garment is tagless. The system that actually works long-term is using the right label type for each item.
Stick-on vs. iron-on — quick guide
- Stick-on clothing labels — apply to the garment care tag or the largest part of the tagless imprint. No iron required, fast application, laundry safe. Also works on containers, water bottles, lunch boxes, and school supplies. The right choice when you need quick application or the item has a usable tag.
- Iron-on clothing labels — bond directly into iron-safe fabric permanently. The right choice when an item doesn't have a usable care tag or tagless imprint, or when you want the most permanent bond that survives the life of the garment. Great for socks, blankets, loveys, and tagless items. Completely flat when applied — the right choice for sensory-sensitive children.
Both have their place in a school-year labeling system — iron-on for items that go through frequent hot washing and need permanent identification, stick-on for everything else including hard surfaces.
4. Camp: Labeling Gear So You're Not Replacing It All in August
Camp is peak independence — and peak chaos. Gear gets tossed, borrowed, traded, and left behind in ways that are honestly impressive. If you're packing for camp, think well beyond clothing. The biggest money-savers are labeling the gear that's expensive to replace.
Camp labeling essentials
- Water bottles — and yes, label the lid separately too
- Sunscreen and bug spray — they all look identical in a communal pile
- Flashlight
- Trunk and duffel bag — big, obvious label on the outside
- Shoes and sandals
- Towels
- All clothing — iron-on for everything going through communal laundry, stick-on for gear and equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
Do daycare labels have to be waterproof?
They don't have to be, but if bottles and cups go through the dishwasher daily, waterproof is the difference between labeling once and relabeling every week. For anything going through a commercial dishwasher or sterilizer, waterproof and specifically rated for those conditions is the practical standard — not just "water resistant."
Will labels stick to silicone bottles?
No — silicone is a non-stick surface and nothing adheres to it reliably regardless of label brand or adhesive type. For silicone bottles like Comotomo and Boon Nursh, place the label on the hard plastic nipple collar or ring — the only part of the bottle with a surface labels will bond to permanently. Measure the collar height before ordering to get the right label size.
Do stick-on clothing labels really last in the wash?
Yes — when applied correctly. Stick-on clothing labels hold through laundry when placed on the garment care tag or the largest part of the tagless imprint, not directly on fabric. Fabric stretches and flexes during wear and washing, which prevents proper adhesion. If an item doesn't have a usable care tag or tagless imprint, or you want the most permanent option, use iron-on clothing labels instead.
When should I use iron-on vs. stick-on clothing labels?
Use iron-on labels when the item has no usable care tag, when you want permanent identification that lasts the life of the garment, or for items that go through frequent hot washing — school uniforms, gym clothes, socks, blankets, and camp clothing going through communal laundry. Use stick-on labels when the item has a care tag, when you need quick application without an iron, or when the item also needs labeling on hard surfaces like containers and water bottles — stick-on labels work on both fabric tags and hard surfaces.
What should I label for camp besides clothes?
Water bottles and lids, sunscreen, bug spray, flashlights, trunks and duffels, towels, shoes, and sandals are the biggest items that don't come home unlabeled. At overnight camp, any item that enters communal storage, laundry, or activity areas is at risk of being lost, borrowed, or mixed up. Label everything in the trunk before drop-off — including items that seem unlikely to go missing.
How early should I start labeling before daycare or school begins?
At least two weeks before the first day — ideally more for camp, which requires labeling a much higher volume of items. Apply labels early so adhesives have time to fully set before the first wash. The highest-loss period at any new setting is the first few weeks, before children and caregivers have settled into routines. Having labels in place from day one means the highest-risk period is already covered.