The Nest & Nook

The NEST is our “infant” room, where little ones start out from age 6 weeks until 18 months when they transition over to the Nook side of the room.  Developmentally these little ones change very rapidly.  They go from almost zero mobility to walking during this stage.  Each little one develops at a different rate, but be assured they are all learning constantly.  They are learning through seeing, smelling, touching, tasting, and moving.  What they want know most is “Am I safe?”  Children learn to trust in themselves, others and God through learning they can trust the adults in their lives that care for them.  Even though conversations with these little ones may seem one-sided, they can understand many words before speaking them.  Using basic faith vocabulary words, such as God, Jesus, pray, church will help introduce them to their first connection with God’s Family outside the home and helps form the foundation for spiritual conversations in the phases to come. 

The Nook is our “toddler” room, where little ones will transition between the Nest and the Hideout.  Developmentally this is an interesting stage.  The toddlers can get around on their own, but need constant supervision.  They understand most of what they hear but are limited in communicating their wants and needs effectively.  They have a very short attention span and move from activity to activity quickly.  One of the most challenging characteristics of this age is the acute separation anxiety that some of our little ones experience when they are left by their parents.

The goal of our ministry in the Nest/Nook is to:

• Provide a safe, loving environment for babies while their parents worship

• Provide for basic needs such as changing and feeding

• Pray over and speak “faith” words to little ones

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Following are some guidelines for serving:

Check-in:  Parents will come to the window with their child’s check-in tag either in-hand or already on the child.  Please mark the child’s name and tag # on the grid sheet located at the window.  Also, there are tags available for the diaper bag – write their name on it and place on the bag before hanging on the hooks next to the window.  We also offer an optional “Check-in Sheet” which parents can leave any special instructions.  These are most often filled out by the parent, but sometimes the volunteer can fill it out as well.

Room ratios for the Nest are 1 volunteer to 3 babies; for the Nook it is 1 volunteer to 5 toddlers.

Criers:  Our general policy with crying little ones is to try to soothe them as best possible.  If crying persists after 10-15 minutes, notify the Kid’s Desk.  We will “text” the parent and ask them what their tolerance level is for allowing their baby to cry.  Some parents prefer to let them cry it out, others want to take their little one out of the room.

Supplies:  Supplies should be in the cabinets of the room.  If you cannot find something, check with the “Service Manager” or the Kid’s Desk.

Diapering:  The changing table is stocked with gloves and wipes for diaper changing.  You may use the baby’s diapers supplied or if there is none, we have extra in the overhead cabinets.  Only adults are to change diapers, Student Impact are not to attend to diaper changing duties.  Wipe down the changing pad with Clorox when diapering is completed.  

Cleanup:  After 11:00a service (or 9a if we have not yet opened 11) service spray toys and changing table with Cleaning Spray.  Please place any toys that have been in a little ones mouth in the sink or red bucket on counter after the 9:00 service if 11a service has resumed.

Checkout:  As parents come to pick up their baby be sure to gather their diaper bag and supplies and match the babies tag with the parent pick-up tag and then remove the sticker from the baby.  If the tag is still on the child it alerts our security team that the baby may not have been checked out by an approved parent/guardian.  So please make sure tag is removed.