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When you start to see lots of little droppings (frass), transfer the caterpillar to a stem of milkweed leaves. I usually tear off the leaf around the caterpillar and put this on a stem of leaves.
Raising Monarchs Caterpillar Care
The only time I have trouble with a caterpillar wondering away from its “food” is when it is searching for a place to shed its final skin. If it does escape, I find it and return it to the milkweed.
In my opinion, it is worth the effort to keep the caterpillar out in the open so you have a clear view of all of the butterfly stages.
Other option When the caterpillar is ready, in about 10-14 days, it will find a place to attach itself. I put some bare branches in with the milkweed as another option for the caterpillar to attach. 
What happens next, is the beginning of what makes raising Monarchs so interesting!!
Two by two its feet detach from stem or twig until finally it “swings” into the “J” position. Next is the captivating third stage of raising Monarchs – pupa. This Greek word means “doll”, which denotes a sleeping baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. We will use the other more commonly used word for this stage, which is
chrysalis. Return to Home from Raising Monarchs
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You can leave the caterpillar in the plastic container for a few days.
