Our Infant environments, offered at Irvine Spectrum and Huntington Harbor, embody Maria Montessori’s vision of a “Nido” or nest; they are peaceful, loving places where babies can explore and feel secure. Teachers speak in gentle tones, the daily pace is unhurried, and décor is understated and homelike. Each child in our care is an individual to be nurtured with affection and respect. As is customary for Montessori environments, every detail is selected with the child’s whole development in mind.

Our Irvine Spectrum location has two Montessori Infant environments: one for children 12 weeks through 12 months, and another for children 12 months through 18 months. The purpose behind these divisions is to separate children who are beginning to walk from those who are not yet fully mobile. Because we “follow the child”, an infant transitions to the 12 – 18 month environment based upon his/her mobility, not just his/her age.

A child’s early years are a time of great sensitivity to bonding in order to establish trust in the world, as well as language, order, sensorial impressions, and development of coordinated movement, both fine- and gross-motor. Each of our Infant rooms reflects the child’s development of movement, independence, and capacity for active exploration. Because an infant’s brain is wired for language acquisition, our environments offer rich opportunities for babies to learn through plenty of reading, singing, sign language and a running dialogue as your child’s caregivers explain the events of your child’s day. Our respect for each child shows in how we engage him or her in each care-giving opportunity, rather than merely doing things to the child.

In our 12 week to 12 month Infant environment there are special mobiles and images to stimulate brain development, as well as a variety of tactile objects for children to explore. Because this is the period when infants learn to roll over, slither, sit, crawl and walk, the room has many opportunities for movement. There are striking differences between a Montessori Infant environment and other, more traditional care settings: our babies do not spend their active time in playpens, jumpers, walkers or other containers. Instead, in our Infant rooms you will see...

• many soft floor mats and bolsters on which babies can move freely.
• mirrors positioned close to the floor to stimulate tummy time and self-discovery.
• low bars mounted to the wall and soft furniture for children to pull themselves up onto.
• an abundance of Boppy-style pillows for infants to climb over and prop themselves onto.

In our 12 to 18 month Infant environment, where newly walking babies have their hands free for exploration, you will see...

• low shelving with materials for fine-motor development and cause/effect, such as puzzles, rings on a post, and containers to open and close.
• opportunities for purposeful water play.
• a stair with low steps and a railing to practice climbing up and down.
• pull and push toys to promote gross motor movement.

Both environments have several features in common that also set them apart from typical care settings:

• We support breastfeeding! Our Infant rooms welcome mothers who would like to nurse their baby during midday visits.
• We use low tables and chairs, instead of high chairs, for snacks and solid meals. We believe this provides young children with a valuable first experience at gaining independence with self-feeding.
• Ours are tranquil environments where a designated nap space ensures quality rest when babies need it.
• A newly constructed outdoor space designed especially for infants, with soft surfaces and a variety of spaces to explore, plus equipment to climb over and through. We also have multi-child strollers for taking infants on regular walks outside.

Most infants follow a routine, though not necessarily a strict schedule, that allows for feeding, active time, and nap. This routine repeats itself throughout the day and provides important predictability for young children. In our Infant environments, our Montessori guides maintain a consistent rhythm that responds to each child’s needs and complements what parents do at home.

Each Infant environment has a maximum of 12 infants and 4 adults (a 3:1 ratio), one of whom is the Room Leader. Though the California Community Care Licensing allows a 4:1 ratio for infants, we realize that a 3:1 ratio is better for your child because it allows for more individual attention. Though your child will interact with all teachers in the classroom on a daily basis, each child will be associated with a consistent primary caregiver who is the main point of contact for parent communication.

We are your partners in guiding and supporting you during the many changes in feeding routines that you will experience as your child grows.

All bottles and food for infants are supplied from home. With fridges, freezers, warmers, and microwaves in each Infant environment, we are set up to safely and hygienically accommodate both breastfed and formula-fed babies, finger foods, jarred or homemade purees, etc.

We provide comfortable chairs for breastfeeding mothers who would like to nurse their child on site. Parents are also welcome to drop off expressed milk anytime during the day. In our effort to encourage independence, we offer your child the opportunity and guidance to self-feed as soon as he or she is ready.

Our nap rooms provide a dedicated crib for your child in a peaceful place where noise is minimized and tranquility is heightened. We work with parents to replicate techniques that work best at home for your child’s sleep patterns, while sharing tips from our experts for optimizing your child’s sleep. While pacifiers are permitted in the younger Infant environment, we will assist the 12-18 month old child to wean from these in an effort to promote independence and oral health. We also help prevent tooth decay by refraining from placing bottles in cribs, or having children fall asleep while drinking a bottle. We will rock or hold a young infant who needs such comforting to fall asleep, while working with the child and parents to encourage self-regulation in sleep habits. Our goal is for your child to recognize sleep as a peaceful opportunity to self-soothe and rest because he or she is tired, just as a child will eat when hungry. If your child arrives asleep in a car seat, he or she will be gently placed in a crib. Children will have the opportunity to awaken from sleep naturally, rather than being awakened by an adult.

Who We Are

Each Infant environment has a maximum of 12 infants and 4 adults (a 3:1 ratio), one of whom is the Room Leader. Though the California Community Care Licensing allows a 4:1 ratio for infants, we believe that a 3:1 ratio is better for your child because it allows for more individual attention. Though your child will interact with all teachers in the classroom on a daily basis, each child will be associated with a consistent primary caregiver who is the main point of contact for parent communication.

Communication

It is our priority to have close parent communication because we are all partners in caring for your child.

When your child begins in our Infant program, we will ask parents for detailed information on your baby’s sleep preferences (e.g. pacifier use), routine, feeding needs, temperament, etc. We strive to complement the home environment, to ensure a sense of security and a smooth transition for your child.

On a daily basis, it is important for us to check in with parents to learn how your child slept the night before, the time of his/her last feeding, etc., so that we can best respond to his or her cues. Parents will receive the same information from us when they pick up their child at the end of each day.

We welcome parents to call and check on their children at any time, to talk informally with teachers at pick-up and drop-off time, to attend regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences, and to book additional teacher meetings as needed.

Throughout the year, we also encourage you to attend our parent education events to learn more about child development and the Montessori approach to responding to your child’s needs. Our goal is to aid your child’s development by providing you with clear and helpful information as you journey through the infant years.

We look forward to meeting you and your infant!