The places babies and toddlers go, the people they meet, and the things they do before age 3—both inside and outside the home—are important for their healthy growth, development, and learning that can last a lifetime. (National Association of Early Childhood Education)

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) strongly recommends that babies and toddlers have continuity of care (COC). This means that the same group of caregivers will take care of these young children for at least two to three years. This makes them feel safe and helps them grow, which means they can learn to trust adults and other young children outside of their family and interact with them. This is a key step in becoming socialized.

Even though no two caregivers will do exactly the same things with your baby, good professionals will focus on activities that are good for his or her development. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that babies should spend a lot of time on their tummies when they are awake enough to play.

More specifically, putting the baby on his or her stomach for three to five minutes three times a day, or more if the activity seems fun, helps the baby’s upper body muscles, including the neck, get stronger. As the baby gets stronger, toys that are right for their age can be put in front of them to encourage them to reach them. This leads to crawling, which gives the baby access to a whole new world.

This article also talks about how important it is to help babies develop a sense of humor. Infants, like older children and adults, will have their own ideas about what is funny. People who care for infants will find out what silly things make an infant laugh, then do those things again and try out other activities that are similar. It can be as easy as putting on a silly hat or making funny faces.

Family Education has one more piece of information for you. Your baby can learn about different textures in a safe way at infant child care. This could be the end of a rug or how smooth a door feels. Your baby learns more about the world around them as they touch different things and feel ones that are both the same and different.

How to Choose an Infant Care Center

Here are some tips to help you find the right center for your baby:

  • When you ask about safety: How does the child care center make and keep a safe place for the kids to be?
  • Cleanliness is more important than ever, and you’ll want to choose a center that is neat and gives your baby room to play and explore safely.
  • Getting caregivers’ help: Spend time with them because they will be very important to your baby’s growth, development, and health. What do they do when they talk to you? How well do they play with another baby when you watch them?
  • Be sure to ask the center you choose about their licenses and accreditation.

Paramus Day Care: Care for Infants

At Paramus Day Care, we know how important it is to take care of babies and toddlers so that they have a good start in life. At our centers, each child is given a primary caregiver who will give them personalized care and unique experiences. This person will also be your main point of contact with the staff as a parent.

We have a creative curriculum and fun activities that are led by experienced teachers in a sensory-rich environment with toys that are good for their development.

We keep adding more and more places where we offer infant care services. You can register here.