Spotted returning, carrying daughter's essentials (5)
I believe the answer is:
needs
'essentials' is the definition.
(I know this)
'spotted returning carrying daughter's' is the wordplay.
'spotted' becomes 'seen' (I've seen this before).
'returning' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'carrying' is an insertion indicator.
'daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'seen' written backwards gives 'nees'.
'nees' enclosing 'd' is 'NEEDS'.
(Other definitions for needs that I've seen before include "Requirements" , "Essentials" , "necessity once" , "Things that are wanted" , "Wants, requires" .)