FULL-TIME
INFANT CARE
The littlest ones....
I love to care for babies!
I support mothers' decisions when choosing how to feed, diaper, and wean their children. My experience includes babywearing, swaddling, bottle feeding a breastfed baby, cloth diapering, baby led weaning, and making homemade baby food.
I gently encourage little ones to adopt a schedule, but for young infants, their routine is baby-led.
I provide time for snuggling, bonding, and meeting the needs of each baby. Crying happens, of course, but I do my best to keep each baby happy and thriving during their time with me.
Day in the life....
Each day here follows the same predictable rhythm. This is intentional! While following a similar routine may sound "boooor-ing" to the average school-ager... babies thrive in an environment where their needs are consistently met and they have a sense of what is coming next.
For very young babies in my care, days are spent in that cyclical pattern of eat, poop, sleep that newborns are so good at. I do nothing to interrupt their natural timing except to bond and be a nurturing presence. I find swaddling and baby wearing to be especially soothing to babies in the "4th trimester" aka the first 3 months of life.
As babies get bigger, they are able to stay awake and they add another "need" to their list. The need to play! It is so fun to see little ones start to observe, interact, and absorb all the goings on in their environment. And there is a lot going on...
Our typical schedule looks like this:
Arrival and Greetings
Free Play
Breakfast (8:45a)
(Infants: morning nap after feeding)
Structured Choice Time
Opportunities for art, dramatic play, tray activities
Outside Time
Lunch (11a)
Music and Movement
Nap Time (noon-2)
Snack Time (3:30p)
Free Play and Outdoor Time
Infant Activities
There are a variety of rotated toys geared towards the littlest ones. Babies do not spend a lot of time in swings or exersaucers so that they can move freely. While older children are playing, I often read or sing to the babies and they love that.
Outdoor Time for Babies
Infants are included in our daily outdoor time. I might wear them in a carrier or lay out a blanket while they explore and get some fresh air.
Meals and Snacks
I provide all meals and snacks except infant milk. I model my menu pattern from the federal Food Program standards. I typically provide organic food that is minimally processed and nourishing. If the food is not organic, I choose brands that are GMO free, grass-fed, antibiotic free, and low in sugar.
I follow the parent's lead when it comes to introducing solids to infants. We can discuss a variety of methods that families choose.
Regardless of the method (puree vs table food), I am always there to help babies eat and I am trained in the event that they would choke or have difficulty eating. Even with older toddlers, children are not allowed to walk around munching on food. We have a routine of eating food at a table, as a group and we work on table manners and social skills during meal times. Meal time is also a time for building vocabulary and working on sign language to communicate needs like "more" and "all done".