The Infant room is a specially designed environment for children 1month to 15 months that is safe and emotionally supportive; that invites play, active exploration, and movement through a broad array of stimulating experiences within a framework of routines and protection from excessive stress.

Infants learn through their own experience, trial and error, repetition, imitation and identification.  Professional, loving caretakers guide and encourage this learning through playful interactions with babies in ways that are sensitive to each child’s developmental stage and temperament.

The Family Tree recognizes that the relationship with the caretakers is an essential contribution to the quality of children’s’ experiences, therefore, we select staff that enjoy working with infants and are warmly responsive to their needs. Caretakers have training specifically related to all the areas of infant development - cognitive, social, emotional, and physical.  They know what skills and behaviors emerge during the first few months, and support children as they become increasingly competent and knowledgeable.  They listen and respond to the sounds that infants make, imitate them, and respect infants’ sounds as the beginning of communication.  Responses are soothing and tender, with frequent eye contact, simple language, and gentle touch.

The environment is designed to be cheerful, stimulating yet calming and relaxing. There are areas for quiet, individual play or small group activities.  Health and safety precautions are strictly adhered to.

Parents are viewed as the child’s primary source of affection, care and information. Staff support parents and work with them to help them feel confident as parents.  Parents and staff talk daily to share pertinent information about the child. The infant’s individual needs are met through daily routines of eating, sleeping, and diapering.  The staff  provide continuity of home care by following the parents’ advice of how to best meet their child’s needs.

Each infant has unique dietary and diapering needs.  Parents provide formula, foods and diapering supplies needed daily to care for each child.