With many different childcare options to choose from and big decisions to make (including the best time to return to work), it’s important for parents to understand their care and early education options.
If you’re researching care options for two children of different ages or considering the best age to send your child to daycare, read on to learn all about the differences between daycare for infants and toddlers.
Daycares for infants
Infant care helps provide a nurturing environment for babies so they can reach developmental milestones and explore the world around them. Infant programs usually feature:
- Primary caregivers who give babies one-to-one attention.
- Reading activities to promote listening and vocabulary building.
- Playtime that incorporates pretend play, music, dance, and art.
- Safe spaces that offer sensory stimulation as infants crawl and explore.
- Outdoor play to promote motor and sensory development.
Some daycares in New York may have a curriculum that guides their activity plan and daily routine. Others may take a less structured approach. On the whole, you can expect your child to spend time listening to reading, exploring natural and everyday objects, as well as practicing skills like crawling, sitting, and walking.
Daycares for toddlers
Toddler daycare gives children the opportunity to test and learn new skills, make friends, develop curiosity about the world, and grow more independent. These programs may include:
- A focus on making choices and developing individual interests.
- Learning activities that encourage language, reading, math, art, and science.
- Some activities may be oriented around outdoor exploration and building fine motor skills.
- Building self-help skills and cultivating greater independence.
- Better support for language and social skills.
Key differences between toddler and infant daycare
Daycare activities are designed to be age appropriate which is why parents may find some notable difference between their child’s experiences in each program.
- Toddler care programs may have a smaller ratio of adults to children per classroom compared to infant programs as toddlers are a little more independent and can do more for themselves.
- Toddler care may also support a transition from sleeping in a crib to a cot or mat.
- Toddler care programs may encourage less reliance on bottles with a greater focus on cups. They may also want to phase out pacifiers.
- Infant and toddler daycares in NYC may have significantly different activities and curricula.
- Toddlers are more likely to engage in active games sports so you may spot an occasional bruise or scrape. Babies are much less active and less likely to experience these scrapes.
Also Read: PPEC-Daycare Services: A Vital Lifeline for Medically Fragile Children