A Safe Beginning Built on Relationships
The first years of life are filled with incredible growth, discovery, and change.
At Explore More Early Learning Center, our infant program is built around safe, responsive relationships with the people caring for them.
We provide a nurturing environment where babies can develop at their own pace, explore their surroundings, build secure relationships, and receive individualized care throughout their day.
Individualized Care
Babies don’t all eat, sleep, play, or develop on the same schedule, and we don’t expect them to.
Our infant teachers work with families to understand each baby’s routines, preferences, feeding needs, sleep patterns, and developmental stage.
As babies grow and their needs change, we adjust alongside them.
Rather than expecting infants to fit into a rigid classroom schedule, we provide responsive care that recognizes each baby as an individual.
Learning Begins From Day One
Infants are constantly learning.
Every sound, texture, movement, face, object, and interaction provides information about their world.
Throughout the day, babies have opportunities to explore developmentally appropriate materials, listen to books and songs, interact with caregivers and other babies, experience sensory play, spend time outdoors when appropriate, and practice emerging physical skills.
There is no rush to reach the next milestone. Development isn't a race.
Our role is to provide a safe environment, meaningful opportunities, encouragement, and plenty of time to practice
Movement Matters
Babies need opportunities to move freely in order to learn about their bodies and develop new skills.
Our infant environment provides plenty of supervised opportunities for floor play, tummy time, reaching, grasping, rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling up, cruising, and eventually taking those exciting first steps.
We meet babies where they are developmentally and give them opportunities to practice new skills as their bodies are ready.
Feeding & Bottles
Feeding is an important part of an infant's day and another opportunity for connection between babies and their caregivers.
Our teachers work with families to understand each baby's feeding routine and needs.
Bottles, breast milk, formula, and infant foods are handled, labeled, stored, prepared, and served according to applicable health and safety requirements and our program policies.
As babies begin transitioning to new foods and feeding routines, communication between families and teachers helps us provide as much consistency as possible between home and childcare
Sleep & Rest
Infants have different sleep needs, especially during the first year of life.
Unlike our older classrooms, infants are provided opportunities to sleep according to their individual needs rather than being expected to follow a group nap schedule.
We follow applicable infant safe-sleep requirements and program policies to provide an appropriate sleep environment for every baby in our care.
Comfort is Care
Before babies have words, they communicate through cries, facial expressions, movements, sounds, and behaviors.
We pay attention to those cues.
Our teachers respond to infants' needs, provide comfort, and work to understand what each baby may be communicating.
Holding, rocking, talking, singing, smiling, and simply being present aren't extras in infant care.
They're part of how babies develop relationships and learn that the adults around them can be trusted to meet their needs.
Staying Connected With Families
You know your baby better than anyone.
We value communication between families and our infant teachers and want important information to travel both ways.
Explore More uses Brightwheel to help families stay connected to their child's day.
Families receive information about their baby's care and experiences based on our classroom communication practices, and we encourage families to share changes in routines, feeding, sleep, development, or anything else that may affect their baby's day.
What Should My Baby Bring?
Individual needs vary, but families should expect to provide personal supplies such as:
Diapers and wipes
Bottles and feeding supplies as needed
Multiple changes of clothing
Weather-appropriate clothing
Other individualized items requested by the program
All personal belongings should be clearly labeled.
Families receive more detailed information about what their baby will need before their first day.
Growing Together
One of the most exciting parts of infant care is watching how quickly babies grow and change.
The baby who arrives needing help with nearly everything eventually begins reaching, rolling, crawling, communicating, exploring, feeding themselves, taking first steps, and developing a personality that becomes more visible every day.
We're honored to be part of those little moments that eventually become very big milestones.
Through all of that growth, our priority remains the same:
Your baby should feel safe, cared for, and known while they're here.
Interested in Infant Care?
Infant availability varies throughout the year. Families interested in current or future care can visit our Enrollment section to learn more about availability, tuition, and the application process.