Infants

Welcome to Miss. Kathy’s Infant program. As your child’s provider I will provide your infant with a warm, safe, loving and clean environment. Communication between me as your child’s provider and you the parent is very important for your child’s growth and development. I will inform you every day in regards to how your child has done through the day with their activities, eating, behavior, sleep patterns and diaper changes. I want all my little ones to feel like this is "home away from home” where your child can learn, play, grow and have lots of fun. Infants are unique and have their own patterns for play, feeding and sleeping. I use these patterns as a guild to introduce daily activities that will prepare your infant for life.

Infants in my care are exposed to music and movement, socializing with others, simple naming and hiding games, and developmentally appropriate materials such as nesting cups, rattles, squeaking toys, teethes, action reaching toys, and containers for dumping and pouring. Small activities tables to encourage pulling up and standing to help with balance. We have a lot of tummy time to help develop small and large motor skills. My program is "structured” in a sense that there is a daily schedule for feeding, diapering, napping and outdoor time if the weather permits. Variations do occur in the schedule in order to meet the individual needs of each child. My lesson plans are designed to address a child’s physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language development. Please know if any parent has any kind of concern what so ever my door is always open. I encourage and appreciate parents who give me their input and idea's this is how I can continue to grow and be the best for my children that are entrusted into my care. I have an open door policy that parents are welcome to come see their child during the day to watch them play and engage in their activities.

The goals of my infant curriculum are to encourage your child’s physical and emotional development in the following ways:

Hold, love, touch, and communicate with my infants during care giving.
Sing to the infants.
Movement and Balance: I encourage infants to begin rolling, crawling, sitting, pulling up self, walking, and climbing as their motor development advances.
Listen and respond to emerging language sounds.
Adequate Rest- Allowing sleep as needed and directed by parents.
Security: Responding to expressed needs.
Provide time and space for movement and exploration through play.
Baby Can Read Program and sign language.
Display interesting things at which to look at to encourage eye and hand coordination.
Provide developmentally appropriate toys for discovery.
Begin developing an appreciation for literature and music.
Setting boundaries and limits to ensures the child’s safety.

Things to bring from home:

Diapers ( large pack if possible)
Diaper wipes ( large pack of 4 if possible)
Two changes of clothing.
Three bottles and nipples.
Diaper creams or powders with their names labeled them.
Medications if needed with consent form.
Formula or Breast Milk labeled and dated with child's name on them.
It is the sole responsibility of each parent to keep all supplies such as diaper's, wipes, clothing and infant bottles and nipples up to date.

All the children’s items must have the child’s name on them please.

Feeding

I am currently enrolled in a USDA Child Care Food Program in which I am inspected by four times a year. All parents must complete an infant enrollment form if your child is under the age of 18 months. Nutrition is very important in a child’s growth and development. As your child’s provider I will only serve hot nutritious meals and snacks which meet the USDA requirements in meeting necessary nutritional goals for your child. I serve organic fruits, vegetables and whole milk for my infants. I ask that all parents please bring all formula canisters and bottles labeled with your child's name on them. At the end of the day, I will clean the bottles and send them home. I will also offer all infant foods such as Gerber meat, fruit, vegetable and cereals and some home made organic foods. If you breast feed all breast milk must be brought in bottles not plastic zip bags due to the fact that sometimes the bags leak. As a parent you may decline this offer and bring your own food for your infant. The food you bring for your infant must be labeled with your child’s name on them and any food left over will be refrigerated and returned to you at the end of the day in a disposable plastic container. All infants will always be held and fed their bottles; bottle propping is totally unacceptable at Miss. Kathy’s.

In the event that your child has food allergies please obtain a statement from your child’s doctor listing the foods to be avoided and furnished in this statement A typical example is "milk "The federal guidelines require that milk be served to the children at each meal service unless there is a doctor’s statement on file indicating that the child should not be served milk.

Breast Fed Infants

Any and all breast fed infants must be able to

1. Take breast milk from a bottle.

Safe Sleeping Police

Child care providers can maintain safe sleeping environments for babies that lower the chances of SIDS. In Texas the law also requires that childcare providers caring for children 12 months of age or younger, implement a safe sleep policy, share this information with parents and participate in training every year.

It is my belief that practice steps can be taken to lower the risk of SIDS in childcare and that the parents and childcare providers can work together to keep all infants safe while they sleep. These are my practices for safe sleep for my infants in care through 12 months of age.

Safe Sleep and Sleep Environment for Babies

I always stay up to date on all the required training by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on SIDS and the "Back to Sleep” program.
Infants ‘will always be placed on their backs to sleep, unless there is a signed sleep position medical waiver on file.
Sleeping infants will be checked often and a monitor will be on at all times in their sleep room.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies are placed on their backs to sleep, but when babies can easily turn over from their back to their stomach, they can be allowed to adopt whatever position they prefer to sleep in.
No smoking is permitted in my home or on these premises.
All infants will assigned their own new crib and with their names on them.
No loose bedding, pillows, bumper pads, toys or blankets will be placed in the crib with an infant at any time.
I will always keep the rooms at a comfortable temperature for the babies to sleep and play in as the seasons change.
All my Pack ‘n Play beds are safety - approved with a firm mattress and tight fitting sheet that will be used only by the child assigned to that bed. All bedding will be washed with Drift Laundry Detergent. If a parent chooses they may bring their own Bedding and sheets for their infants.
All parents/guardians of my infants in care will receive a copy of my infant policies at the time of enrollment.

ILLNESSES

If any child or infant becomes ill at any time during the day the parent/gardening will be notified at once and asked to pick up the child/infant as soon as possible to prevent the other children from being exposed. Any child/infant who becomes ill will be separated and a placed in a room that I have designated for ill children and made as comfortable as possible until their parent/guardian picks them up from childcare. Any child who needs to be giving any type of medication will have to fill out a despising medication form. For example for: gas, teething or ear infections. All medications will have to be labeled with the child’s name on it and with the instructions on the use and dosage of the medication for the child. I will not allow any ill child/infant with any type of contagious condition to attend my home childcare. I am a firm believer that a child belongs at home with their parents/guardian when they are ill. I am responsible for the health of all my children in my care and must do what I feel is best for them. A child’s safety and health is a top priority in my childcare home. Please see Miss Kathy’s Policies under "If your child is ill or becomes ill "for more information in regards to these matters. I will not except any children with out their vaccination even with an exemption form.

Car Seats

All care seats must be left in the parents/guardians vehicles. I do not have the adequate space to store them in my home. I do have an extra infant car seat that may be used for emergencies.

Infant Curriculum

My infant curriculum cover's

Daily Schedules, Enhancing Infant's Senses, Principles of Active Learning, Social and Emotional Development,Language and Development and Communication, Cognitive Development, Physical and Motor Development, and Daily Activities to Stimulate a Child's Development.