Our Infant Program
Based on years of experience, education, and best practices, we have created ideal learning environments designed for the best interest and well-being of children as they grow. Our Infant Room is for babies who are 2-15 months.
We know that infancy is the time of life’s greatest physical and cognitive growth and we have designed our care to support this stage of incredible growth.
We believe that above all else, an infant needs to feel assured that his or her needs will be met with love and approval.
We talk to, hold, cuddle, and engage babies continually throughout the day. We believe that this is the single most important foundation for human development and that everything follows: once infants feels cherished and safe, they then are able to grow with appropriate rest, nutrition, and cognitive stimulation.
An Infant's Typical Day
Instead of imposing a strict schedule, we follow the infant’s individual rhythm. Emphasis is placed on the three major pillars of healthy development for infants:
1. Nutrition
2. Cognition stimulation
3. Proper rest
We are trained in the proper handling of both formula and breast milk, and we invite nursing mothers to visit during the day to nurse their babies.
We read and sing to our young babies in English and Spanish every day to encourage language and social skills. Both tummy time and back time is practiced every day to strengthen neck, arm, and leg muscles.
Our Infant Room is fitted with age-appropriate toys that stimulate the natural curiosity of young babies, including:
Rattles and hand-held toys to promote the development of eye-hand coordination
Stacking blocks to teach size, relationship, fitting, and dexterity
Padded climbing areas to encourage crawling and large motor skills,
Age-appropriate musical instruments and soft books to encourage participation in group play
Casa Esme follows the State Department of Early Education and Care Safe Sleep practices. These practices are mandated by law in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Here are the practices we follow:
Place baby on back to sleep
Use a firm mattress
Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of crib
No stuffed animals or toys in crib
Avoid overheating
Supervise infants during sleep (teachers remain in the room at all times)
Place one infant at a time in each crib for sleep.
Consider a pacifier at nap and bedtime during 1st year (with parental approval)
We think the EEC policy statement on safe sleep practices is very useful for parents too.
You can check out their information here: http://www.mass.gov/edu/docs/eec/2014/20140124-safe-sleep4infants.pdf