EP Nursery Guidelines for Workers

 

1.  Preparation – Arrive 15 minutes early for your assigned service – 9:15, 10:30, or 5:45.  Please do not bring hot drinks into the nursery during your duty time.  Wear a nametag.  Make sure the attendance form for that Sunday is on the counter and available for parents.  Greet each parent and child by introducing yourself and assist parent in correct check-in procedures. 

 

2. Visitor Registration

* Give Parents of a visiting child a copy of the Guidelines for Parents.

* Have the parent mark the child’s name on the attendance form.

* Have the parent fill out the numbered tag label, and inform the parent that they must present the numbered portion after the service upon picking up their child.  No sibling under the age of 12 may pick up the children.

* Using the numbered label, make sure that parent has labeled bottles, bags, pacifiers, cups, and all other personal belongings that might be removed from the diaper bag.  Be careful to make sure that other children do not use these items.

* Inform the visiting parent that there is a nursing room if needed.  They may also take a beeper for peace of mind.

 

3.  Registration for Regular Attendees

* Have the parent mark the child’s name on the attendance form.

* Have parent fill out the numbered tag label.

* Using the numbered label, make sure that parent has labeled bottles, bags, pacifiers, cups, and all other personal belongings that might be removed from the diaper bag.  Be careful to make sure that other children do not use these items.

 

4.  Suggestions for Crying Babies – Offer to take a crying child from the parent and hold them for awhile.  Distract child with toys, funny faces, funny noises, or songs.  Look out the window together.  Introduce the child to the play of other children.  Hold, gently bounce, or rock child.  If child continues to cry for 10 minutes, notify the parent and allow the parent to decide if they should return to the nursery.  However, if the child is inconsolable and in need of so much attention that the care of other children is being compromised, the worker should not hesitate to ask a parent to return to their crying child.

 

5.  Illness – Check child for any signs of illness such as fever, diarrhea, runny nose that is thick and cloudy, loose and frequent cough, or unusual lethargic behavior.  If the child appears to be ill at any time, in the best interest of the child and to prevent the spread of germs to other children, notify the parent.

 

6.  Play – Interact and play with children as much as possible.  Sing songs, read books, do puzzles, hold them, and just have fun.  Play a music cd and make up hand motions to songs.  Play games like follow the leader and peek-a-boo.  The children in the toddler room often have their own play activities, but join in with them by playing dolls or trucks, etc.  This is your chance to be young again!

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Diaper Changing – Check each child’s diaper at least once while you are there for your shift.  Use rubber gloves and one of the paper pads from under the counter to go on the changing pad.  To help eliminate odors, try to wrap the soiled diaper in the rubber glove prior to proper disposal.  Wipe counters and changing pad with disinfectant solution after each change.  Remember to wash your hands with antibacterial soap after each diaper change and after each contact with child emitting or toy containing bodily fluids.  Take potty-trained children to the bathroom that is in the infant room.  Wash the child’s hands and your hands afterwards.  Note on the attendance sheet for the parents that the diaper was changed or that the child was taken to the bathroom.

 

8.  Cribs

Use new crib pad for each child.  Remove and place in the hamper after the child is through sleeping.  Close and secure crib gates when children are inside.  Note on the attendance sheet the length of time the child napped.

 

9.  Clean-up

Keep the nursery clean.  Do not allow children to share mouthed toys.  Put all used toys in the sink and disinfect with the toy solution, wash, rinse and dry before returning to bin or shelves.  Get the children to be actively involved in returning things to their places.  Wash any area, including yourself, that has been contaminated by bodily fluids.

 

10.  Check-out

Verify that the person picking up the child has the same number tag that corresponds with the child.  Remind parents to gather all belongings and inform them of any changed diapers, naps from the attendance sheet. 

Try to give a positive report to the parent about the child’s time in the nursery.

 

11.  No-shows

If you have waited 15 minutes in the start of the service, and there are still no children in your nursery room, we ask that you check with the other nursery room to see if your assistance there would be helpful.  If you are not needed, then you may feel free to leave the nursery area.

 

12. Emergency

In case of emergency and the need to leave the building, use the cribs in the infant room.  These cribs are evacuation cribs and are capable of holding all the kids in the nursery.  They hold up to 130 lbs for each crib.  Wheel the cribs down the hall and out the front door to the driveway and wait there.  If the hallway is not passable use the door that is in the toddler room.  Just remember that this door locks from the outside once the door is shut.  There is a phone on the wall in the bathroom of the infant room in case of emergency.

 

Thank you for all your efforts in the nursery.  Parents can worship more freely knowing that their children are being well cared for.  Thank you for your ministry!