Nursery care is available for children ages 0-2 during worship services on Saturday night and Sunday morning. It may also be available during other ministry services and events.

The nursery is located on the lower level of the main worship center.

Overview

Your baby is a special person to us and we consider it a joy to have your little one in our nursery. We understand nursery care is one of the first introductions children have to their church home. Our goal is to ensure that they feel safe, loved, and welcomed in this environment. All of our nursery staff are caring Christians who are trained and CPR certified.

Program

What to Bring

  • A minimum of 3 diapers. Your child will be checked/changed every hour (more, if needed of course)
  • A bottle or cup. Toddlers are provided a snack*.
  • Complete change of clothing
  • Extra plastic pants if using cloth diapers
  • A bib

PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS with your child’s name including bottle, diaper bag, pacifier, etc.

* ALLERGIES: We ask that you let us know about any allergies your child has on your registration form. That information will be entered into the computer system and printed on your child’s tag each time you check your child in. We also ask that you let your child’s teacher know about the allergy when you drop your child off. We make every effort to provide allergy-safe snacks. You are welcome to provide an alternate snack for your child to best meet your child’s needs.

Nursing Mothers

A private room with comfortable chairs is available in the nursery for nursing mothers to feed their infants.

Checking In Your Child

Village uses a computerized check in system with pagers to ensure that children are only released to the person that signed them in and so that you can be discreetly notified if your child needs you. If you have children in different programs, you can check them all in at one time on one computer and then drop them off individually at their designated rooms.

On your first visit, please fill out a registration form. Your information will be entered into the computer, making your next check in quicker.

Separation Anxiety and Crying

Some toddlers have trouble separating from their parents. If a child is crying, our caregivers will defer to you and will not intercede until you have indicated that you are ready to leave. Stay in the nursery for as long as you feel comfortable before departing. If you child is still crying when you need to leave, bring your child to a caregiver and tell her that you are leaving. A caregiver can almost always calm a crying child within a few minutes. Children who cannot be settled within a reasonable time will not be left to “cry it out.” If your child cannot be settled, we will page you to come back to the nursery. You are always free to stay with your child in the nursery for as long as you like.

Health and Wellness

In order to maintain the high standards of hygiene and care that is so important to your baby’s well-being and health, we ask you to keep your child at home when you observe any of the following:

  • Fever (no fever for 24 hours prior to bringing child)
  • Diarrhea and/or vomiting
  • Runny nose or eye drainage
  • Any questionable rash
  • Flu symptoms: listless, no appetite
  • Any contagious diseases

If your child becomes ill while in our care, you will be notified promptly.  If your child is being treated with an antibiotic, they should have received treatment for at least 24 full hours before coming into the nursery.

For your child’s protection, we ask our caregivers to follow these same guidelines.

Safety

All of our staff and volunteers complete a child protection and safety training class prior to working with children at Village. This includes completing a criminal background check and review of personal references. All volunteers must also have attended Village regularly for at least six months.

Time to Go Home

When you return to the nursery, present your numbered tag to a caregiver at the gate. The caregiver will bring your child to you, check that the tags match, and take the pager. Any belongings you left with your child will be on the shelf immediately outside the gate to the nursery for you to collect. Siblings under the age of 12 are not allowed to pick up younger children.

Resources

Leadership

Erin Holdren, Nursery Supervisor

Donna Thomas, Director of Children’s Ministries