Labeling:
It is very important that you label all items that your child may bring to school with them, clothes, cups, lunch bags and all its contents. This is to ensure that nothing is lost or mixed up. Please label with full name to aviod initial or first name mix-ups.
Snacks and Lunch:
It is the families’ responsibility to include all snacks and lunch items. You may label all items in order to indicate which you would like your child to have. However be aware that we do not force children to eat food and will offer other choices from their lunch box if they are not eating something else. Please keep all food stored in their appropriate bin in their classroom. If you have food that needs to be stored in the refrigerator please ensure it is labeled. All heated items will be heated for no more than 20 seconds, unless otherwise indicated. PLEASE DO NOT PACK ANY INGREDIANTS CONTAINING NUTS. We ask that for the infants, all first exposure to foods be done at home and any reactions whether mild or severe be communicated to the teachers.
Rest time:
For rest time your child will have a crib. You are to provide all materials necessary for their rest time including a crib sheet and a light blanket. Children under the age of one are not permitted to sleep with stuffed animals, pillows or heavy blankets. Children under the age of 12 months will be placed on their backs to sleep, with blankets only covering up to their waist in order to prevent SIDs. If your child needs a pacifier you may bring one, however please do not attach it to a string as this poses as a strangulation hazard. Children over the age of 12 months may have a sleep buddy and extra blankets to rest with. Teachers will rock, or rub children’s backs if this helps to soothe them. As children become older we encourage self-soothing, in order to better prepare them for the toddler room. Older infants who are nearing transition to the toddler room will transition to sleep cots while in the infant room. Under no circumstance will an infant sleep with a bottle. Should they need to be fed to sleep, they will be fed in a rocking chair then set in the crib once they have fallen asleep. Rest time is a calm time for the infants, lights will be off and a noise machine and peaceful music will be on.
Diaper changes:
The infant room changes diapers every 2-3 hours. However, all infants are also changed on an as needed basis. Parents must provide diapers for their child. If diapers are borrowed from the school supply, due to failure to bring in an adequate supply, they will need to be replaced by the parents.
Cloth Diaper Policy:
We welcome the use of cloth diapers at Dayspring Daycare. We ask that families who are choosing to use cloth diapers, provide the center daily with a sufficient supply of cloth diapers. It is recommended that you leave some here for back up. Please bring an easy-to-use style of diaper, preferably in all the same brand or style. During intake, or during your child’s first day please show the teachers in the classroom how to put on the diapers and help them be familiarized with the process. The cloth diapers must be sent to school ready to be used on the child, with all inserts attached. You must bring in a wet bag or pail liner for the soiled diapers to be placed in. In addition to this, you must supply the daycare with an air tight container to place the pail liner/wet bag into. Teachers will place soiled diapers, in its entirety, into the wet bags. (i.e teachers will not dispose of BM’s. They will be left in the soiled diaper and placed into the wet bag.)
It is the parent’s responsibility to obtain the wet bag each day. If a wet bag with soiled diapers is left at school the teacher will attempt to call you. If there is no response within an hour or before the center closes at 6:00pm the wet bag and its contents will be discarded. We ask that as your child shows interest in potty training, that pull-ups be utilized instead of the cloth diapers in order to help prepare your child best. We look forward to working cooperatively with your family to ensure the best care for your child.
Daycare at Dayspring Breastfeeding Policy:
Mothers who are breastfeeding are welcome to come in the classroom any time and breast feed their child. A rocking chair in the corner is provided for privacy. They may opt for sending in breast milk in individual sterilized bottles for each day’s supply while the baby is in daycare. Any leftover breast milk must be taken home by families. If breast milk is left, the family will be contacted. The family will be asked to come get the breast milk; you will be asked if you would like it placed in the freezer, OR if it needs to be discarded. If no one answers, the breast milk must be discarded. Breast milk left out for over four hours MUST be discarded.
Daycare at Dayspring Pacifier Policy:
Pacifiers are allowed for infants and toddlers if the parent sends them in. Spare pacifiers that are new and sanitized will be kept on hand in case of loss of the original, although parents are encouraged to always leave an extra pacifier in the child’s bin.
In the toddler room, the teachers encourage the child to put their pacifier away whenever possible, and the child is allowed to have it at times of distress and nap/rest time, or if the child insists on it. At the toddler age, the goal is to help them wean themselves off the pacifier.
