Infants are cared for in a multi-sensory setting that is separate from the older children. A well-designed infant care program provides babies with a safe, comfortable area that encourages movement and play and excites curiosity. There are soft spaces to sit on and crawl; a water source and distinct areas for diapering, playing, sleeping and eating. Space is allocated for essential items, such as cribs, playpens, furniture, toys and storage.
Caregivers are also responsible for using the available space, materials and equipment to nurture infants in their care. When caregivers take the time to establish relationships they create a positive environment that fosters learning, play and exploration. Infants are provided with primary consistent care by an individual or individuals, supported by a team, to feel secure, attached and develop trust. Careful thought is given to the needs and activities of both caregivers and visiting parents. The environment reflects the different families’ cultures.
Consider The Organization of the Infant Care Space:
- Prepare a scale model of the space on graph paper to help you organize locations for toys, furniture, equipment and storage.
- Think about the areas for activity, sleeping, feeding and diapering as well as room size, group size and the caregiver to infant ratio.
- Consider how the location of specific room features will impact your program’s overall setup. Note the position of doorways, windows, washrooms and sinks. The amount of wall space will also determine the placement of message boards. Be sure to post the daily program plan; required information and the infants’ activities, including quiet and active play, eating, diapering and feeding.
- Notice the floor covering. Keep in mind that infants spend a lot of time on the floor and they need to feel hard as well as soft areas as they crawl or walk.
- Ensure that the space is well-planned, so that caregivers can keep their eyes on infants at all times and there are clear sightlines in activity areas and privacy spaces. Shelving should not be any higher than 24 inches (60.96 cm.).
- Avoid frustration and organize the space in a way that makes it convenient to move around in and to locate items.
- If you are buying new furniture or equipment, buy infant-sized furnishings and other items even if the room is large. It’s much easier to move two small cribs together, fold playpens or take them out altogether to create more space.
- Check that furniture has round or soft flexible corners. Ensure that cribs, playpens and other furniture meet safety standards.
- Plan well-defined activity areas for infants to choose where and how they want to play as they crawl, push, pull and handle objects or seek a soft or relaxing, private space.
- Public health departments recommend separate sinks for food preparation and diapering.
- Confirm that electrical outlets are covered and cords are placed out of reach.
- Provide space for food storage and preparation and a refrigerator for bottles and perishable food items.
- Make a combination of natural and artificial lighting available, preferably with warmer and incandescent lighting, which is both softer and warmer.
Make Health And Safety a Priority In Your Infant Care Space:
- Provide a safe, protective environment that minimizes and prevents accidents while allowing infants to explore their surroundings according to their abilities.
- Place secure and stable barriers in the entrances and exits to the infant area.
- Ensure that first aid supplies are easily accessible.
- Caregivers must possess up-to-date Infant/Child CPR.
- Reduce the risk of choking and suffocation and remove unnecessary items from cribs that could present a danger to infants.
- Make certain caregivers place babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Ensure that cribs, playpens and any other furniture and equipment are used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- For quick, easy cleanup, provide washable flooring with soft surfaces that minimize noise.
- For sanitary reasons, the entrance, diapering, eating, bathroom and play areas require soft, easily cleaned surfaces.
Train Caregivers To Do The Following When Creating A Warm, Inviting And Secure Infant Care Environment:
- Create welcoming and inclusive entrances and exits with visuals that reflect the diversity of the children’s families.
- Incorporate multicultural materials when programming infant activities.
- Ask newcomer parents questions and listen. Approach parents with an open mind and demonstrate respect for their parenting practices.
- Promote and maintain high sanitary standards and ensure that surfaces, toys and objects are clean and sanitized on a daily basis especially after infants engage in “mouthing” and explore them.
- Post a list of emergency service phone numbers in accessible and relevant areas.
- Understand the emergency plan and be capable of following procedures.
- Ensure equipment is in good condition, furniture does not have chipped paint and toys are complete and invite play.
- Ensure that toy shelves are inviting and neat with toys displayed in a way that encourages exploration.
- Check Health Canada’s website on a regular basis for information on toy and product recalls.
RESOURCES:
From Selection to Setup: How To Start A LINC Childminding Program, p. 10.
J. Ronald Lally and Jay Stewart (1990) A Guide to Setting Up Environments: Infant/Toddler Caregiving. Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services, Early Childhood Research Institute. http://clas.uiuc.edu/fulltext/cl03267/cl03267.html)
Louis Torelli, M.S.Ed., and Charles Durrett, Architect. Spaces for Children Resources, Landscape for Learning: The Impact of Classroom Design On Infant and Toddlers www.spacesforchildren.com/impact.html
Lim, Teresa and Rachel Schumacher (December 2009) Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care Project: State CCDBG Plans to Promote Opportunities for Babies and Toddlers in Child Care. Washington, DC: CLASP
