Each infant has a primary caregiver who spends the most time with him or her, records activities on the daily log, and does most of the communicating with parents. Teachers in a room share care of all the children, however, so that all caregivers are a familiar, comforting presence to both children and adults.

Every infant has particular preferences, rituals, and routines, but there’s one thing they all have in common: a need for consistent, responsive caregivers. At For Kid’s Sake Early Learning Center, we don’t try to make infants comply with a daily schedule that is convenient for teachers. Rather, we follow infant’s cues and allow them to eat and sleep on demand. Somewhere between three months and six months of age, most infants begin to develop a more predictable daily rhythm. We provide older infants with a smooth routine that balances active and quiet play, thereby reducing stressful and abrupt transitions.

Infants have their own crib in an attended room. We practice Safe Sleep as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cribs do not have bumper pads and infants are put on their backs to sleep in Sleep Sacs. The bedding is washed weekly or more frequently, as needed.

Infant activities include tummy time, supported sitting, and free movement all with access to colorful, safe toys. We also do art and music activities such as finger painting, dancing, and musical instruments. Infants go outside every day, as do children in all our programs.

The teacher-to-child ratio in our infant rooms is 1:4. For younger infants, we strive for 1:2 for much of the day.