Infant Care in Maine

Ages 6 weeks – 12 months

Happy infant at Toddle Inn

Here at Toddle Inn, we understand that placing an infant in childcare can be an emotional experience.  Our caring team of infant teachers are here to help and offer support along your baby’s first step into group care.  In these classrooms, children are introduced to their first peer social relationships and our knowledgeable and skilled educators are trained to respond to the unique needs of infants and guide them as they grow and develop.  

The first year is full of exciting developmental milestones!  Toddle Inn educators provide high quality care and responsive curriculum which serves to support the individual needs of each child.  Experiences provided are designed to develop cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, sensory, and social/emotional skills. Early language and communication skills are developed through language modeling, imitation, and introduction of infant sign language.  Infants’ physical needs are met individually, and all classrooms and educators adhere to DHHS licensing regulations.

You will find each classroom designed for the specific developmental needs of the children.  

Toddle Inn Teacher with Infants

We place great importance on the formation of strong attachments to promote healthy social development.  Infants also follow their own specific schedule and teachers respect their needs by observing each child’s feeding and rest rhythms.  As young infants, children are developing over 700 neural connections every second! While their first few weeks are often full of naps, they soon become more wakeful and take in the sights and sounds of the world. 

Infant seeing butterfly at Toddle Inn

Educators provide exposure to a variety of songs, stories, and activities which allow infants to challenge their budding skills. As infants grow and become more curious about their world, they are eager to stretch out and explore.  Mobile infants are provided opportunities to stand, crawl, climb, and reach new milestones. Infants are exposed to the outdoors and go outside to play, swing, and take buggy rides with their peers.

Infant supplies to provide:

  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Diaper cream/ointment (if needed)
  • Two complete changes of clothes
  • Bottles (One for each feeding – clearly labeled w/child’s name) **formula bottles must be filled with pre-measured water**
  • Breastmilk and/or Formula
  • Food for snacks and meals
  • Adequate outdoor apparel
  • Sleep sack or secure swaddle (if needed)
  • Pacifiers (if needed)

Infant Policies:

  • A two-day minimum enrollment is required for infant programs.
  • All formula and breast milk must be labeled w/child’s name and dated.
  • Unused frozen breast milk will be returned after two weeks.  
  • One bottle must be provided for each feeding – used bottles will be rinsed and sent home at the end of the day.  Bottles should be washed and sanitized at home before the next school day. Parents must provide measured water in bottles for infants who receive formula.
  • We follow safe sleep practices as recommended by DHHS and The American Academy of Pediatrics.  When infants are placed in their crib or bassinet, they are placed lying flat on their backs in their sleeping space (crib/bassinet).  Infants are often snuggled, rocked, and walked to help them fall asleep. 
  • Our two infant programs typically begin and end their day together in the same classroom to allow infants to get to build attachment to infant teaching teams.
  • Blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals are not allowed in infant sleep spaces until they are 12 months old.  
  • All families are expected to adhere to our health care policy.  If a child becomes ill and needs to be picked up, we ask families to please arrive within one hour.  
  • In adherence to DHHS licensing regulations, we must respect the needs of the infants in our care.  We cannot withhold food, water, force a child to be wakeful or wake a child who is sleeping.
  • Children should be dropped off ready to enjoy their day.  Please make sure they arrive fed, dressed, & recently diaper changed.

Please label ALL of your child’s clothing and nap materials.

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