Dear Infant Parents,
Welcome to the Infant Wing here at the UWM Children’s Learning Center! We are happy to have your family starting with us! We would like to give you some information, so we can try to make your child’s transition from home to group care as smooth as possible.
- Your child will be spending time in either a group size of 8 children (six weeks to approximately 11-12 months) with 4 teachers, or a group size of 8 (approximately 11-12 months to 18 months) and 3 teachers. For children who are not used to people outside their immediate family, it can take some time to adjust. Nothing here at the Center is quite like home. There are different levels of light and sound, different furniture and different people. Children will be successful making this transition, but often need a few weeks to become comfortable in group care surroundings.
- We believe that infants and young toddlers learn best when allowed to freely move and explore in an environment which is physically safe, cognitively challenging and emotionally nurturing. We also believe that infants do not need direct teaching or physical assistance to move through the natural stages of gross motor and sensory motor development. In our classrooms, babies have many opportunities to be on the floor, on their backs and tummies. They have time to move freely and strengthen muscles in every part of their body. While they are at the Center, teachers spend time lying next to them, being at their level and interacting with them (talking, reading & playing with toys). Children may not enjoy the floor time or tummy time experience at first, but with time, they will become stronger, hold their head up longer and move their bodies with increasing balance. If your child doesn’t yet have floor time or tummy time as part of their daily routine, we recommend that you begin doing this with your baby.
- Children under the age of one nap in cribs without the use of blankets or other items (such as a stuffed animal). This is a licensing rule and is done to reduce the risk of SIDS. Some children may nap using different methods at home, such as a swing, a bouncy seat, or with the parent. If your child will need to nap here at the Center, we suggest that they have experience sleeping in a crib before they start. Infants get used to routines, so doing this at home can help your baby’s transition to sleeping in a crib while in group care.
- For those children who are 1 year or older, sleeping on a cot will be introduced. While lying on a cot, children will have a blanket to cover them, and their backs are lightly patted or gently rubbed until they fall asleep.
- Bottle feeding. If you are nursing but your child will need to be bottle fed while at the Center, it would be beneficial for your baby to begin getting a bottle regularly for several weeks before starting child care. Offering a bottle only once, or using a bottle and then stopping for some time, makes it difficult for the child to want to drink from a bottle, especially from a brand-new person. Giving your baby a bottle is often more successful if given by someone other than mom, since babies associate mom with breastfeeding.
- If you are a parent who is on campus and can come nurse/feed your baby, we have lactation rooms for parents to use. You can also feed your child in the classroom. Please talk to your child’s Lead Teacher about any breast- or bottle-feeding arrangements that you would like to make.
Your child’s Lead Teacher will be contacting you soon, via phone call or email, to set up an Intake Meeting with you and your child to learn more about your child’s routines, as well as to familiarize you with your child’s room. Working in partnership will help your baby transition into group care and have a great experience. We look forward to meeting your family!
The UWM Children’s Learning Center Infant Wing