Nursery Parents Informational Sheet

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." - Mark 10:14

 New River Church welcomes you and your child to our Nursery.  It is a joy and a pleasure to take care of your child's spiritual, physical and emotional needs while you refresh each Sunday through prayer and worship.  We do not consider the Nursery a babysitting service, but a ministry for the Lord.  We feel it is never too early to show our children that Jesus loves them.  We are committed to providing a loving, healthy and safe environment for your child.  Please read the helpful guidelines here.  If you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance, please feel free to contact Mary Phillip at  mphillip104@cox.net 

Caregiver to infant ratio- We will maintain a 1:3 caregiver to infant ratio. This will allow us to provide a safe and loving environment for your child.

Diaper Changing- Please make sure that your child has been changed prior to signing in to the Nursery.  Diapers are checked during and before the end of the service, so please bring at least two extra diapers for your child and a diaper changing pad.  Also, an extra set of clothes is advisable. We will use disposable latex gloves for changing so it is important to let us know of allergy to latex.

Potty-Trained Children- If your child is potty trained, please take him/her to the potty prior to signing in to the Nursery. Please let the caregivers know if your child is training so he/she will be taken to the potty during the service. Please bring a change of clothing for mishaps.

Administering Medicine- Medicine can only be administered by the parent.  This includes creams or ointments used during diaper changing. If you prefer your child has an ointment on his/her bottom we will page you for diaper changing.

Nursing Mothers and bottle-feeding- If you are a nursing mom, you are welcome to nurse your baby in the Nursery. If your baby is bottle-fed, please feed your baby before leaving him or her.  Because of health concerns and the attention that needs to be paid to all of our babies, nursery caregivers will not be able to bottle-feed your baby. If your baby seems hungry during service you will be paged.

Snacks and drinks- Because of health concerns such as allergies, choking etc.,  we will not provide a snack for your child and we ask that no food be brought in to the Nursery at all.  Children who can drink from a sippy cup are welcome to bring a cup with their own drink.  If your baby is hungry we ask that you keep him or her with you in service while eating.

Health Policy- Please do not bring your child to the Nursery with any of the following symptoms:  fever, yellow or green runny nose, productive cough, suspicious rash, or diarrhea.  If your child has any of these symptoms, we hope you understand that we cannot permit your child into Nursery.  The welfare of the children must be taken into account.  We will minister to your child through prayer, but will be unable to care for them during service.

Sign-In and Pick-Up-  The Nursery opens 10 minutes prior to each service.  A caregiver will help you with signing in your child. You will receive a pager with an assigned number.  Your pager will be used as an identifying number for picking up your child. Your child will not be released to anyone other than you without written permission from you at check-in letting us know someone else will be picking your child up.

Helping baby transition into the Nursery- It is normal for babies to experience some form of separation anxiety at some point during infancy and toddlerhood. We will do our best to help your baby adjust to the nursery environment through play, cuddling, talking, singing etc.  However, if your child is upset for more than 10 minutes we will page you back to the Nursery. This is better for your child and the other children in our care. Over time your baby will get to know the caregivers and grow to love their time in the Nursery.