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Infant Room
Handbook Welcome to our Teddy Bear Room! Please see our Center Parent Handbook for all general information, policies & procedures.
Specific to our Infant room, the following information outlines policies and procedures related to:
A) Parent & Teacher Communication B) Our Infant Program C) Nutrition Policies D) Health & Safety Practices E) Sanitation Practices F) What to Bring! G) Where to Find More Info
A) PARENT & TEACHER COMMUNICATION
1. Communication Hub: Information about our Infant Room and all written communications are located in one area. Our schedule, reminders, upcoming events, parent news & resources, menu, program planning, room and center handbooks, policies & procedures, daily records, portfolios and all other pertinent communications are located in one convenient location : at the hub. 2. Primary Caregiver: Each infant is assigned a primary caregiver upon enrollment. Both the Head Teacher and her assistant will know and care for all children, but the primary caregiver will be responsible for the majority of the parent communication, and will establish a significant relationship with your family. As we forge this bond, we hope to become an extension of the family unit, working cooperatively to support both family and child.
Our Infant Room teachers are:
Head Teacher: ____________________________
Assistant Teacher: ____________________________
3. Daily Written Report: Connections between home and center practices are established to maintain consistency in care and to provide parent support. A Daily Report and Health Check Log is carefully maintained throughout the day, recording your infant’s eating/drinking, sleeping, diapering and activities. Please take time to share and read about your infant’s day. 4. Attendance Record: At the bottom of each Daily Report is your Sign-In – Sign-Out record. Upon arrival and departure each day you are required to record the time and leave your initials. A space is also provided for you to give us any information or instructions that you feel the Infant Room teachers should know. 5. Portfolio Record: Each infant in our care has a Developmental Portfolio that documents his or her growth and development and keeps you informed of the curriculum goals we set for your baby. Observational anecdotes, photos, and artwork are documented and collected in individual binders for your review. Our portfolio record offers a unique opportunity for us to share your child’s growth and explorations over the time that he or she spends with us, and we invite your contributions as well. Your portfolio record will be given to you once your child moves up to our toddler room or should you leave.
6. Parent-Teacher Conferences: Upon enrollment and at least twice a year, teachers and parents will have the opportunity to formally discuss your infant’s development, share concerns, and set new goals that will ensure your baby remains happy, healthy and well cared for.
B) OUR INFANT PROGRAM
Infant Room Daily Schedule: Your infant will learn about his/her environment through exploration and planned activities. We encourage babies to learn at their own pace by touching, tasting and vocalizing. While we have no formal group activities, and follow the individual schedules of each child, our generalized DAILY SCHEDULE will give you an idea of our anticipated activities throughout the day. While one child may prefer lunch at 11:00 a.m., another may wait until noon. We value the need for children’s schedules to remain consistent with their schedule at home and try our best to accommodate this need. The Daily Schedule is posted on our Parent Board at the Communication Hub. INFANT DAILY SCHEDULE Morning - Afternoon - 7:30 Center opens 12:30 Diapering 7:30 - 9:00 Breakfast 12:30 - 3:30 Activity time, outdoor time, p.m. naps 8:30 Diapering 2:30 Diapering 8:00 - 11:30 Activity time, 2:30 - 4:00 Snack outdoor time, a.m. naps 4:30 Clean-up, activity time, diapering 10:30 Diapering 5:30 Center closes 11:00 - 1:00 Lunch
The above schedule is a very basic description of the daily events. Children are held, fed, diapered and involved in play throughout the entire day. Striving to create a nurturing and trusting environment, we foster self-esteem, competence and confidence. It is our hope that the experiences we provide will have a lasting and positive effect on the children and families we serve.
Curriculum Philosophy: (See our Infant Room Curriculum and Program Statement posted at the Communication Hub)
Canton Day Care Center bases its educational practices on the curriculum philosophy of Developing the “Whole Child”. In keeping with guidelines developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, our curriculum philosophy is designed to meet the needs of the child in age-appropriate and individually appropriate ways. It also strives to provide an anti-bias peer culture in which children learn to accept others different from themselves. Curriculum is defined as both routines and activities. All parts of a child's day, including daily transitions, are created as opportunities to meet the developmental needs of children. Routines: Activities: Diapering/Toileting Creative Process Feeding/Mealtime Dramatic Play Naptime Language Arts Self-Help Manipulative Play Staff & Parent Interactions Music Transitions Science Sensory Activities The curriculum is based on four major building blocks to which all activities and routines relate. They are: 1. Understanding themselves 2. Communicating with others 3. Respect for themselves, others, and the environment 4. Problem solving Children develop understanding of concepts about themselves, others, and the world around them through observation, interacting with people and real objects, and seeking solutions to concrete problems. Learning is integrated through meaningful activities. Routines help children learn to keep themselves healthy and safe. The curriculum is developed around the four significant areas of all children's development - social, emotional, physical, and cognitive. These are the four concepts that guide all adult interactions with children, whether formal or informal. Social: Children learn through interaction with adults and other children. At CCDC children are provided with opportunities to develop social skills such as cooperating, sharing, helping, negotiating, and communicating with others. Emotional: Children learn best when their physical needs are met and they feel psychologically safe and secure. Adults facilitate the development of self-control in children by using positive guidance techniques such as modeling, redirecting children to acceptable behavior, and providing positive reinforcement. Physical: Children are provided daily opportunities to develop large muscle and small muscle skills through a variety of indoor and outdoor play activities. Children gain physical knowledge through having their needs met and through learning to meet their own needs. Cognitive: As Jean Piaget has noted, "From infancy, children are mentally and physically active, struggling to make sense of the world.... children construct their own knowledge through repeated experiences involving interaction with people and materials." CDCC’s curriculum encourages using this inherent curiosity to motivate children to become involved in learning activities.
Behavior Management: In the infant room children receive positive reinforcement as a behavior management technique. We model appropriate behaviors such as “gentle touches”. We do not expect children of this age to share, so we provide an adequate supply of popular, age-appropriate toys to minimize conflict. We use redirections as a problem-solving tool throughout the day, and always model appropriate behavior for children through our use of language and daily interactions with one another and with the children. At no time do we use shaming, withholding of food, verbal abuse or corporal punishment as a means of managing behavior (see Center Handbook for more details on CDCC’s behavior management philosophy).
C) NUTRITION POLICIES
Eating & Drinking: Your baby’s health is of primary importance to us and our goal is to provide your infant with nutritious and fresh foods that will promote healthy minds and bodies. All of our menu choices are reviewed by the DOH, and approved through our participation in the CACFP program that provides our center with funding to assist us in being able to serve healthy choices. Our weekly menu is posted at the Infant Communication Hub. Our goal is to work with you to ensure that your baby remains healthy and content. Upon enrollment you will be asked to provide the infant room staff with written information and instructions about feeding and bottling habits (BABY’S FEEDINGS form). This information will be used to design a feeding schedule that will be modified as your baby’s nutritional needs change. Ongoing parent-teacher communications and your written instructions will be posted at our feeding center and on “Feeding Schedule Cards” posted on the fridge. Formula Feed: Parents of bottle-fed babies will need to provide 2 to 3 labeled bottles, nipples, and lids. We provide infant drinking water to make the formula for the infants. Upon enrollment you will be able to select from two choices of formula brand. Parents who opt to bring in another preferred formula brand may do so, however there is no reduction in fees when a parent provides their own formula or breast milk. Breast-Feed: If you are breast feeding your infant, all breast milk must be dated and have your infant’s name on it. Fresh breast milk will be stored for 24 hours in the refrigerator or up to two weeks in the freezer. Milk that exceeds this time frame will be discarded. Contents remaining in any bottle must be discarded within two hours. * Mothers who are nursing need to provide us with an adequate amount of breast milk. * Mothers who wish to continue nursing are welcome to do so in our infant room or in relative privacy in our larger front room. * If you forget to bring in breast milk or the frozen supply is depleted, your infant will be fed our formula. We will try and get in touch with your first to see if breast milk can be supplied by you soon, however, if we are unable to locate you and your baby is hungry, we will feed him or her the formula served at the center.
Individual Feeding Schedule: We will arrange feeding times around each child’s individual schedule and work with you to ensure your infant’s needs are met on a daily basis. We do try to avoid feeding solids after 4:30 p.m. because at this time of day we are cleaning and sanitizing the room in preparation for the next day. * We wash and sanitize all
used bottles. Please label all parts to your bottles. * We provide morning breakfast, snacks, lunch, milk, juice, water, and formula.
New Foods: As your infant adds new foods, particularly table foods, let us know. We do not serve foods unless your child has eaten it successfully, without allergic reaction, at home. Once your infant is able to manage a new food we will add it to your “BABY’S FEEDINGS” form.
Allergic Reactions: If your infant (eating table food) should develop a food allergy or intolerance, please notify the staff immediately. A doctor’s note must be given to the center stating exactly what foods cannot be given to your baby. We will post all allergies (food, medication, environmental) in a very visible location at our feeding center. In order to protect all of the children enrolled at our center parents are asked NOT to bring in foods from home. Should any child enrolled at our center have or develop a nut or peanut oil allergy CDCC will become designated as a “Nut and Peanut Oil Free Environment”.
D) HEALTH & SAFETY PRACTICES
Illness Policies: CDCC is a well-child center. While we understand the needs of parents, we must protect all of the infants from contagion. We try to be guided by common sense as well as detailed policies and procedures outlined in our center’s Health Care Plan Manual, which is available for review at the Communication Hub. We strictly adhere to all policies related to the health & safety of children and trust that you will do the same. 1. Your infant must be well enough to participate in Infant Room activities as we are unable to provide additional teacher coverage of convalescing children. If the staff believes that your infant cannot fully participate in the program, you will be notified that he or she needs to go home. 2. For the protection of all children and staff, your child should be kept at home, and will be sent home, if she/he displays any of the following symptoms: an elevated temperature
(101 degrees); 3. Parents should exercise every caution and keep their infant at home if other unusual symptoms occur. If your child has been exposed to a highly contagious disease details should be reported to us. Strep throat, pinworm, viral infections, measles, mumps, chicken pox, fifth disease, scarlet fever, conjunctivitis, diarrhea and impetigo are among those conditions categorized as “highly contagious.” Should your child contract chicken pox, we require that all sores must be scabbed over and dry prior to his/her return. 4. Any relevant illnesses that you should be aware of will be posted at the Communication Hub on an “Exposure to Illness Notice” card. 5. Medications: We administer doctor prescribed medication ONLY. A special Medication Permission Form must be completed by both the physician and parent/guardian. The completed form gives our designed MAT trained staff permission to administer the prescription medication, which includes dosages, start/end dates, and possible side effects. This form also serves as a record of dosages given at the Center. All medication must be in its original container labeled with the child’s complete name, address, physician’s and pharmacy’s name and phone number, recommended dosage, times and method of administration. Upon completion of a prescription drug, the remaining medication will be turned over to the parent/guardian. Staff will not administer medications by needle, or over-the-counter medications. Exceptions: Sunscreens (children over 6 months) and topical lotions may be applied as needed under written parental instructions.
Immunizations All children entering group care should be immunized against disease at appropriate ages as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We require a completed Medical Form prior to enrollment. Immunizations happen on a regular basis during the first year of life. It is understandable that there are sometimes side-effects resulting from these, such as pain and/or a mild fever. If accompanied by a doctor’s note, we can administer a prescription medication for pain if it complies with our Medication Administration Policies and is accompanied by a Medication Permission Form that is signed by your physician. We cannot administer medication as a fever-reducer, as children with a fever of 101 degrees or higher must not be in attendance. Typically, immunizations do not create high fevers; however, if your infant does have a fever of 101 or higher, regardless of it being the result of immunizations or an illness, you will be notified to come and pick up your child.
Sleeping Infants nap according to their own schedules. If an infant should fall asleep while being rocked, lightly bounced, or taken for walk in a stroller, he or she will be put in their cribs to continue their sleep. All the bedding for infants must be provided by the parent, taken home weekly or as needed, and returned once washed. A blanket and sheet are available should you forget to bring your own. Safe Sleeping Practices Infants will be placed on their backs to sleep in a crib. The infants at CDCC are provided with their own Pack N’ Play crib that meets current safety standards. There will be no pillows, quilts, bumpers, comforters, sheepskins, toys, fluffy products, or bottles in the crib. Two infants never share a crib at the same time. These practices are supported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. We understand that sleeping practices may be different at home however we strictly follow safety guidelines and adhere to the above stated policies. It may or may not be difficult for some children to adjust if they are used to sleeping in a different position or with a parent/sibling.
Diapering Each parent must provide an ample supply of disposable diapers and wipes for their infant. Your child will be changed at regular intervals throughout the day and as needed. Should your baby develop a diaper rash we will apply a topical cream ointment that you provide. You will be required to complete a “Sunscreen and Topical Ointment Permission Form upon enrollment. We will not apply diaper rash cream without this form, nor do we apply baby powder on the infants, as the use of powder has been linked to childhood asthma and other respiratory difficulties. We do not apply sunscreen to babies under 6 months without specific, written instructions provided by your infant’s physician on our Medication Permission Form. If your child has an allergic reaction to the disposable diapers, you can bring in disposable diapers that will not cause this reaction, or you may ask your infant’s physician to complete our specific Medical Form requesting that we use cloth diapers that you provide. Staff will rinse your infant’s cloth diapers as well as possible and you will be required to bring soiled diapers home at the end of each day. Cloth diapers that are not brought home each evening will be discarded.
"Shoe-Free" Environment With infants commonly on the floor, CDCC wants to provide a clean, safe, and healthy environment. We practice a "shoe-free" policy in our infant room. We ask that adults remove their shoes before entering the room. We take this action to prevent outside contaminants from being brought in and spread. Teachers will wear indoor slippers and parents are welcome to leave slippers for their own use in their child’s cubby.
Fresh Air/Outdoor Play Classrooms are aired frequently; particularly during the colder months with warm, stale heated air warming the center. The infants enjoy the outdoors daily when weather permit. Fresh air in the colder months facilitates good health. If a child is in attendance during the outdoor time, he or she is considered healthy enough to go outside. Your infants will be going outside unless it is raining, the heat index is over 80, and on winter days when the wind chill is below 10 degrees.
E) SANITATION PRACTICES
Hand-washing: At CDCC we are strict about healthy practices. Hand-washing is one of the best ways to cut down on the transmission of germs. Teachers in the infant room follow proper hand-washing techniques through out the day – including, and not limited to: before and after eating or handling food; before and after feeding a child; before and after diapering; after handling or cleaning body fluids (wiping noses, mouths, bottoms, sores); after outdoor activities; and upon entering the room. Infants also engage in many hand-washings throughout the day. ALL ADULTS who enter the room are required to wash their hands immediately. Our “Hand-washing Procedure” is located above each sink.
General Disinfecting: Detailed sanitation procedures are outlined in our Center Health Care Plan Manual. Toys that have been mouthed in the Infant room are disinfected throughout the day. Teachers will place a toy to be cleaned into a container after a child has mouthed it. At the end of the day, other equipment and materials are cleaned, disinfected and rinsed. Cribs are disinfected twice weekly or as necessary. The diaper changing area is disinfected after each use. A bleach solution is used for general disinfecting and sanitizing.
F) WHAT TO BRING! Label everything! Keep your cubby supplied!
Clothing/Seasonal Items: Active and sometimes messy play is going to be a part of your child’s day. It is recommended that children wear comfortable, washable play clothes that are easy to change and move around in. Warm weather: Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (if over 6 months or with doctor permission). Cold weather: Every child goes outside. Children who are enrolled in the colder, winter months must be properly dressed to go outside. Infants must have boots, snow suits, hats, scarf, water-proof mittens.
In order to properly and effectively care for your infant each day we should not have to go searching for your infant’s labeled:
3 or 4 complete changes of clothes (for inside) 2 complete changes of outside wear Diapers Wipes Ointments/Creams Breast milk or your own formula, if applicable All parts of your bottles (including disposable liners if used) Sheets & Blankets Pacifiers Family/infant photographs Special toy or comfort item 3 labeled bottles to be kept at the center
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