Infant Daycare Transitions: A Celebree Guide

By Jennifer Neumaier, Co-Owner, Celebree School of Tulsa, with advice from our Infant Team Teachers

The best way to help your baby adjust to daycare is to communicate with their teacher about the routines you have at home. Be honest. At Celebree School of Tulsa, we are a judgment-free center. For example, if you are co-sleeping at home or your baby only falls asleep to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, it is important to share that information. Our teachers strive to keep as much of their day the same as possible: the same feeding rhythm, the same nap cues, the same comforting words, and a caring teacher who knows them before their first day.

Parents often ask what they can do to help their child adjust. Ms. Cat, one of our infant teachers with almost 10 years of experience, turns that around: “What matters most is that we know what we can do to help your child.” Most babies settle in within the first few weeks. The adjustment is often harder on parents than on the baby, and that is completely normal.

Our teachers have welcomed a lot of babies, and a lot of nervous parents, into our infant rooms. We welcome babies starting at 6 weeks old, and our infant rooms keep a ratio of one teacher for every four babies. Here is how we make the transition easier.

It Starts Before the First Day: Our New Family Meeting

Before your baby’s first day, your child’s teacher will sit down with you for a new family meeting. This is where she will learn your baby’s routine: when they usually eat and how much, how they show they are tired, how they like to be held or soothed, how much floor time they are used to having, and the little things only a parent knows, like the song that always works.

If your baby has not yet been introduced to a bottle, it is important to start at home before the first day of school. Ms. Gabi, with more than 6 years of experience with infants, suggests that parents experiment with different brands of bottles and different nipple sizes to learn which type their baby prefers. Many of these can be received free of charge by creating a free baby registry at major retailers, signing up for brand rewards programs or from your hospital or pediatrician.

We use the information from the family meeting to help your baby’s days here feel familiar. When teachers follow the routine you have already built at home, your baby gets a sense of comfort and safety while they get used to new faces and a new room.

What to Pack for Infants at Daycare

Here is what to bring for your baby’s first day.

• Bottles, labeled. At the new family meeting, we give you colored tape so you can write your baby’s name on each bottle. Label the bottles and lids with the baby’s first and last name.
• Breast milk or formula. Whether you send breast milk or formula, the bottle must have the date it was expressed or prepared, and the number of ounces contained clearly labeled each day.
• Diapers, wipes, and diaper cream. Each child is provided with a bin with your baby’s name on it to store these items. The diaper cream must have the child’s first and last name as well as the required documentation for administration of that or any other medications.
• Two or three changes of clothes. Babies go through outfits quickly. Send more if your child is prone to frequent “blowouts” or spitting up.
• A pacifier, if your baby uses one. For safety, pacifiers cannot have clips or attachments in the crib.
• A family photo for the classroom. This is displayed on your baby’s crib for added comfort during nap time.
• A sleep sack, if your baby uses one. For many babies this can serve as a nap-time cue.

What to leave at home: blankets and stuffed animals for the crib.

Getting the Right Bottle, Every Time

Parents often ask how we make sure their baby gets the right bottle. The colored tape is part of the answer. The tape, with the baby’s name written on it, makes bottles easy to tell apart. Each baby has a bin for bottles in the refrigerator with your baby’s name and picture attached. We combine that with our verification process. Before giving a bottle to a child, the teacher will state the name of the child they are holding and read the name on the bottle out loud to the other teacher in the classroom and the other teacher will confirm that the information is correct. If there is not another teacher present to confirm, the teacher will call the office to have an administrator come to the classroom for a bottle check.

Safe Sleep

Babies sleep on their backs in their own crib, on a firm mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else in the crib. Some babies sleep better when cozied up in a sleep sack. Every teacher who cares for infants is trained in safe sleep before working in the infant room.

Additionally, we visually check all sleeping babies every 15 minutes. Teachers confirm they see the baby moving or breathing. There is an alarm set as a reminder for when things get busy.

Will My Baby Bond With Their Teacher?

Yes, and that is a good thing. Babies can form warm, secure relationships with consistent caregivers in their lives. That does not replace the bond with you. You will always be the most important person in your baby’s world. A teacher your baby trusts simply means one more safe person who knows them well. Ms. Patricia also reminds us that new parents are still bonding with their baby, so it is important for parent and child to have time together in a way that fits each family’s needs.

Ms. Patricia’s technique involves spending time with each baby building trust. She teaches them to recognize her voice through conversation, songs, stories, and animal sounds. She will get on the floor with them, make eye contact, and introduce them to toys and musical instruments. Ms. Carla, with more than 24 years of experience says, “Bonding with babies is a joy.” While getting to know them she introduces them to new sounds, voices, people, surroundings and teaches them they can depend on her to meet their needs. Her goal is to make the parents’ lives easier and she wants them to know their child is in safe hands and hands that love them. Off the record, Ms. Carla says, “I’d work for the smiles!”

A Quiet Place to Be Together: Our Wellness Room

Some parents find the hardest part of going back to work is being apart from their baby all day. That is why we have a wellness room, a quiet space outside the classroom where moms or dads can spend time with their baby during the workday. Come by to breastfeed, give a bottle, or just hold your baby close for a few minutes. It is available all day and there is no need to schedule or call ahead. Parents can stop by anytime. In fact, our teachers encourage it to help give them peace of mind that their child is well cared for.

For many families, knowing they can stop in makes the first weeks feel a lot less like a separation. Your baby’s teachers will adapt feedings and nap schedules around your visit, so the rest of the day stays on track.

Staying Connected During the Day

Ms. Opal, with over 36 years of experience, and Ms. Patricia, with over 13 years of experience, want parents to know they are welcome to check on their baby anytime. At Celebree School of Tulsa, we have an open-door policy.

It is normal to check in, especially in the first weeks, and that is okay. You can call, message, or drop by the center. We would rather you check in with us than worry.

We also use the Teaching Strategies Family app, which lets you and your baby’s teachers text back and forth during the day. If seeing your baby happy helps you get through the first weeks, just tell us. It is not unusual for a teacher to snap a photo of a happy moment or a milestone moment and send it your way. Teachers also log your baby’s feedings, diaper changes, and naps in the app, so you can see how the day is going and pick up right where we left off at home.

What Is Normal In the First Few Weeks?

• • Some crying at drop-off and pickup. Usually short-lived, and often over by the time you reach your car.

  • Changes in eating or sleeping. For a few days while your baby gets used to a new place. We will keep you updated.

  • More colds than usual. Many babies catch more colds in their first year of group care. It is normal, though not fun, and your pediatrician can tell you what to expect.

  • Big feelings for you, too. Going back to work after a baby is hard. Give yourself time.

Come Meet Our Infant Teachers

The easiest way to feel ready is to see the room and meet the people who will care for your baby. Schedule a visit to see our infant classroom, and read what our families say about us.