Blue Door Room: Infants and Toddlers

The Infant and Toddler Program provides a program of child care, guidance and enrichment for children. Children are cared for and given opportunities to learn on an individual basis.

The Child Development Lab (CDL) Infant and Toddlers Program:

• Enrolls 15 children, ages six weeks to 30 months.
• Open 7:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Open 12 months a year.
• Closed approximately 15 days for holidays.

MU Student Involvement

Practicum students enrolled in Infant-Toddler Development and Programs are assigned to weekly lab hours during the semester. Students participate in activities and routines as they learn how to care for young children in a supervised setting. They are also responsible for observing the development of a child in their lab placement.

Students are encouraged to get acquainted with the parents of their target child. They may ask you questions or write notes to you about your child. Occasionally we have students from other classes observe and participate with the children. You will be informed of any research projects or other events needing your attention or awareness. Student pictures are displayed in the room.

Enrollment

The Blue Door Room program is for children from six weeks to two and a half years of age. Enrollment is open to children in the community with the goal to have a well-rounded, diverse group of children that is representative of the population of Columbia.

The Child Development Laboratory (CDL) reserves the right to enroll children based on sex, age, race, ethnicity, special needs, and low-income for the purposes of high-quality teacher training.

The program is designed as a full-day, 10-hour child care program (see nine-hour recommendation below) and serves the purpose of full-time employed parents best.

Fees

Fees are due on the 15th of each month prior to the child care services.

Hours of Operation

Blue Door Room is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Licensing regulations mandate that children should not be in child care for more than 10 hours. However, a nine-hour day or less is strongly recommended for infants and toddlers in group settings.

Ten hours in child care is a very long day, especially for infants and toddlers. In addition, a nine-hour day allows you, the parent, the opportunity to see the same teachers at arrival and departure. Our staff work between an eight- or nine-hour day maximum. Parent cooperation is requested in prompt arrival and departure.

Daily Information Sheets

Daily information sheets provide the parents and staff members with information as to what the child has done each day. Parents are asked to fill out a daily sheet when the child arrives, giving any specific instructions for the day, and to inform us about your child's previous evening and current morning.

Staff members will fill out the bottom half of the sheet during the day as they care for the child. Parents should take this sheet with them to see what their child has done during the day.

Medication Chart

Parents are asked to supply the requested information each day that your child is to receive any medication while at the Blue Door Room. Medicine will be given only with written permission of the parent on the medication chart. Long-term medications (ie breathing treatments) also require doctor authorization.

Medication not requiring refrigeration should be given to your child's teacher. Information on medication should be given verbally to the teacher as well as written on the daily information and medication charts.

All medications should be clearly labeled with child's name, dosage, etc. Please take the medication home when your child is no longer using the medication.

Permanent Information

Child care licensing requires that written permission be obtained for pre-toddlers and toddlers to sleep on a cot. Required also is a menu to be updated every three months for children 12 months and under. We request parents to provide a daily eating schedule for their infant. This information is kept permanently on the child's notebook pocket and is to be updated regularly or as changes occur.

Transitioning New Children

We prefer to have new children ease into the room and routine. We recommend a few short visits, gradually lengthening the visit time, prior to full-day enrollment. This helps your child become familiar with the environment and also helps us get acquainted.

Each child is unique in their pattern and ease of adjustment to new situations. Be sure to talk with the staff daily during the transition phase. A consistent daily schedule (arrival and departure routines) also help children adjust to a new routine and environment.

You are welcome to stay with your child in the room during the visits, keeping in mind that separation will eventually need to be made (see Separation). However, because your child is not officially enrolled and is not included in the teacher-child ratio parents should stay with their child or observe from the booth. Visits should last from 2 - 3 hours. If you would like your child to experience different times of the day - schedule your visits accordingly. For liability purposes, parents may not leave their child unsupervised during visits.

Separation

Children sometimes have difficulty letting go of their parent at arrival. This is typical behavior which, over time, should decrease as they become more secure in their new environment. Here are a few suggestions to help ease separation:

• Allow adequate time in the morning for arrival adjustment before needing to leave for work.
• While traveling, talk to your child about going to "Blue Door," who will be there, etc. This prepares your child for what will occur. When you are rushed, children feel hurried and anxious.
• When you arrive, help your child get "settled in" by becoming involved in play.
• Once your child is playing comfortably, tell your child it's time for you to go. (You might also try a two-minute warning ahead of time.) Please, do not "sneak out". Children are establishing their sense of trust and need to see you go and see you return at the end of the day.
• Give hugs and kisses and reassure your child you will be back (e.g. after snack).

If there is still protest and difficulty, the staff are close by to help your child when you leave. Usually, children calm down and begin to play soon after you leave. Remember, even those children who are comfortable in play and in their environment need your attention, affection, and reassurance. All parents should follow these separation guidelines.

Arrival

Between 7:00 a.m. - 8 a.m., infants and toddlers are together as staff arrive. Staff are quite busy caring for the children present. When you arrive, please check your child's diaper and if necessary, change it in the bathroom before your child enters play. (Diaper changing procedures are posted in the bathroom. Please follow these procedures for the health and safety of all the children.)

Be sure to sign-in, complete your child's daily chart, medication forms, and help your child become involved in play. This allows our program to maintain appropriate ratio in the classroom and to assist children with separation and play.

Personal Supplies Needed

You should supply the following items for your child:

Diapering supplies should be placed on your child's shelf in the bathroom. Infant bottles, supplies, etc. should be placed in your child's personal "cubby" or in the refrigerator. Please check these areas each day to see that your child has adequate supplies for the following day. We do not have extra diapers, bottles, or pacifiers, and we have limited supplies of spare clothes.

Food Policy

Proper nutrition and feeding are important aspects of a child's growth and development. CDL maintains a safe, happy and stimulating environment. Nutritious meals and afternoon snacks are provided for toddlers and the infants who are ready for solid food, in accordance with the childcare food program guidelines.

If you choose to breast-feed your child, your decision will be supported and you will be provided a comfortable place in Blue Door to nurse your baby. Private accommodations can also be arranged. Provision will be made for storing frozen breast milk. When breast-feeding is not done, the alternative way for an infant to receive proper nutrition is through formula. Experts suggested that an iron-fortified formula be used to ensure that infants receive the appropriate amount of iron. The CDL will provide Parent's Choice with Iron Formula.

Adding cereal to formula in bottles is not a practice we will accommodate except for medical reasons and with doctor authorization. In addition, we will not serve cow's milk to infants until they are 12 months of age (recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics). Whole milk, soy milk, are provided by the CDL. 1% milk may be served for medical reasons. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends waiting until the infant is six months of age before introducing solid baby food. Digestive tract maturity and enzymes, ability to chew and sit with support, and drinking more than 32 ounces of formula or nursing more than eight times a day are signs that your baby is ready for baby food. Iron fortified infant cereal and stage 1 and 2 baby food will be provided by the CDL. Be sure to talk to your child' s pediatrician and teacher regarding the introduction of solid foods.

Your child will gradually be introduced to soft table foods, with your written permission. The menus are posted in the room, kitchen and CDL website. If your child can not eat what is being served (due to food allergies, vegetarian diet, etc.) parents must provide an alternative (please label and place in small refrigerator on infant side). Due to a high incidence of peanut allergies, peanut butter will not be served at the CDL.

All food allergies should be reported to the teachers.

Meal Schedule

Our menu meals in Blue Door Room are at the following times: (Bottle and baby food feedings are scheduled according to each infants needs.)

If you plan for your child to eat with us, it is important for you to arrive promptly since we eat in groups. Meals on the toddler side are family style: children help serve themselves and clean up. Parents are welcome to eat with us. Be sure to inform the teachers and cook so we have food and table service for you.

Please do not allow your child to bring food from home, or come to the room eating leftovers, as other children invariably want some too.

Departure

When you arrive for departure, after you greet your child be sure to sign out and pick up your child's daily information sheet. This provides details of how your child ate, slept, etc. throughout the day.

While you gather up belongings, give your child enough time to wrap up his or her play. Also, make time to chat with your child's teacher about what your child did that day.

While it is possible to provide this information on the daily information sheet, we would rather talk to you about your child's play activities and development in person. As always, be sure and follow all safety guidelines when exiting from the building.

Authorized Pick-Up

Parents should inform the staff of persons other than themselves who will be bringing or coming to get their child. Inform these persons of the responsibilities involved, such as checking the child in and out, checking supplies, etc.

If another person frequently has this responsibility, they should be listed on the emergency information as authorized to pick up the child. This individual should also read the handbook so they understand all aspects of the program.

Late Pick-Up and Associated Fees

The CDL closes at 6 p.m. (Red Door Preschool at 3:30) CDL staff members work very hard each and every day and want to feel confident that they can leave at or before 6 p.m. and 3:30 for Red Door Preschool. Many staff members have evening commitments; parents who arrive late often interfere with these plans.

What frequently happens in the evening is that parents arrive shortly before 6 p.m. and by the time they find a place to park, gather up all of the child's belongings, and chat with the teachers and other parents, it is well past 6 p.m. In these situations, the late policy is difficult to enforce. Therefore, we are proposing that parents who have lengthy departure routines arrive early so that they can manage to get everything accomplished and still leave before 6 p.m.

The late pick-up charge policy will also be enforced during bad weather when the CDL closes early. During bad weather you may have to leave even earlier to pick up your child(ren) on time.

The CDL late pick-up charge policy is as follows:

• $5 late pick-up charge and $1 for each minute late. That is, if a parent arrives at 6:01 p.m. a $6.00 late fee will be applied (10 minutes late = $15).

In addition to the monetary stipulations:

• The late pick-up charge policy will be thoroughly explained at enrollment and parents will sign a late policy agreement included with enrollment paperwork indicating that they understand the late policy.
• The CDL clock (which will reflect time and temperature time) will serve as the "official clock." Please synchronize your watch with the classroom clock.
• Please arrive early (5:45 p.m.) so that you and your child have enough time to depart and don't feel rushed or pressured to leave. Arriving early will also give you ample time to chat with your child's teacher.
• If you do arrive later, please make sure that you depart by 6 p.m. Arriving before the closing time, but lingering after the closing time still interferes with teachers' plans.
• There will be no exceptions or warnings. If you are late for whatever reason (flat tire, miscommunication regarding who was picking up the child, etc.) a late charge will be issued. A "no exceptions" policy makes it easier for us to apply the late policy to everyone consistently and fairly. We do not want any parent to receive special treatment or favors whereas other parents may not.
• A late form, indicating the child's name and at what time the parent arrived has been developed with the late policy clearly stated. The late parent and teacher will sign this form. The teacher turns the signed form into the administration. Administrators will send a note to the parent, indicating that payment must be received within two days.

Changing Programs

Blue Door Room children may pass from the infant program to the toddler program as space is available. No guarantee can be given that these children will then be placed in the preschool program once they've reached the age limit of the toddler program. Priority will be given to these children for preschool enrollment, however, and placement will be made as space is available.

Dropping Enrollment

Once a child is enrolled in the program, parents are required to notify the CDL director three weeks in advance if a child is to be dropped from the program.

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