Starting daycare, kindy, Pre-Prep or Prep is a BIG milestone. For them and for us parents!

There's the excitement of picking out their first lunch box, drink bottle, lunch bag and backpack. And then there's that moment when you pack everything together and think ...

How on earth is my little one supposed to carry all of this?!

Seriously, some of these school bags look almost as big as the kids wearing them!

And while we can't do much about everything they need to take each day, there are a few simple ways to lighten the load.

Starting with something you might not have thought about. Their ice pack!

Does your little one really need a large ice pack?

When you're shopping for daycare, kindy or Prep lunch essentials, it's easy to assume bigger is better.

A big lunch box, a big insulated lunch bag and a big ice pack to keep everything cool.

But here's the thing.

Little kids don't always need big lunch boxes or big ice packs.

If your child is only taking a small lunch and a few snacks, a large ice pack might be taking up unnecessary space and adding extra weight to their bag.

And when you're only three, four or five years old, every little bit of weight counts!

Meet the MontiiCo Medium Ice Pack

If you love the quality of MontiiCo ice packs but are worried the large size might be too bulky or heavy for your little one, there's another option.

The MontiiCo Medium Ice Pack!

It's everything we love about MontiiCo, just in a smaller, lighter and more affordable size.

And for families getting ready for daycare, kindy, Pre-Prep or Prep, it could be a much better fit.

Why we love the medium ice pack for little kids

• Lighter to carry: Less weight in their lunch bag and backpack.

• Smaller size: Takes up less room, leaving more space for their lunch and snacks.

• Same great quality: The MontiiCo quality you know and love, just smaller.

• More affordable: Save money by choosing the size that actually suits your child.

• Great for smaller lunches: A practical option for little ones who don't need a huge lunch box.

Their first school bag is heavy enough!

Think about everything a child starting Prep might need to carry.

There's their lunch box, morning tea, water bottle, spare clothes, school hat, jumper and whatever else the school asks you to pack.

Before you know it, that little backpack is FULL.

And while we all want our kids to become independent and carry their own belongings, we also want to make it manageable for them.

That's why we love looking for smaller, lighter alternatives wherever possible.

A medium ice pack instead of a large one might seem like a tiny change, but all those little changes add up.

What size ice pack is best for daycare, kindy or Prep?

It really comes down to how much food your child needs, the size of their lunch bag and how long their food needs to stay cool.

Medium ice pack	Large ice pack
Smaller and lighter	Larger and heavier
More affordable	Costs more
Great for smaller lunch bags	Better suited to larger lunch bags
Handy for little appetites	Handy for bigger lunches

If your child is starting daycare or kindy and only needs a smaller lunch, the medium may be all you need.

For children taking more food or needing longer cooling, a larger ice pack may be more suitable.

Whichever you choose, make sure the ice pack is fully frozen, fits properly inside an insulated lunch bag and keeps perishable food safely chilled until it's eaten.

Another tip? Don't automatically buy the biggest lunch box!

Here's something else we've learnt over the years.

Just because a lunch box has lots of compartments doesn't mean you need to fill every single one!

If your little one is starting daycare, kindy or Prep, think about how much they actually eat.

Some children have huge appetites. Others are far too busy playing to eat much at all!

We love the b.box Mini Lunch Box for younger children and smaller appetites.

Pair it with an appropriately sized insulated lunch bag and the MontiiCo Medium Ice Pack, and you've got a practical little lunch setup without all the unnecessary bulk.

Less weight, less wasted space and hopefully less food coming home untouched!

Our advice for parents starting daycare, kindy or Prep

Before you rush out and buy everything on the back-to-school list, think about what your child actually needs.

A few things worth considering:

• Can they comfortably carry their backpack?

• Can they open and close their lunch box independently?

• Is their lunch bag the right size for the food they're taking?

• Is their ice pack bigger and heavier than it needs to be?

• Are you packing an amount of food that suits their appetite?

Remember, bigger isn't always better, especially when it comes to little kids carrying their own bags.

Same quality. Smaller size. Lighter to carry. Lower price.

If you're getting ready for your child's first year of daycare, kindy, Pre-Prep or Prep and you're already worried about how heavy their bag will be, the MontiiCo Medium Ice Pack is worth considering.

It's a simple swap that could make their daily load a little lighter, without compromising on quality.

Because starting kindy or Prep is a big enough adventure without carrying half the house on their back!

Shop the MontiiCo Medium Ice Pack at Sinchies and make back-to-school lunches a little easier.