Nursery Ministry
Our Mission
The mission of the Central Baptist Church Nursery Ministry is Christian service to infants and their parents by accepting joint responsibility of home and church by ministering to the physical and spiritual nature of each child.
Our Nursery Ministry
The objectives of the Nursery Ministry are to reach out to the unchurched families, opening doors into new homes; give the church the opportunity to provide Christian training for parents and infants; and to build church membership by holding parents' interest in our church, knowing that their infant is well cared for. Our specific goals in the Nursery are to help our infants (six weeks through age three) to associate God, Jesus and the Bible with positive, happy feelings; to understand they are created by God and are special to Him, and develop self-worth; to know that Jesus is a very special friend who loves them; and to think of church as a happy place where people love them and help them have happy experiences.
Our Biblical Standard
Proverbs 22:6:
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Every Nursery volunteer is screened by the Nursery Coordinator and Pastor of Central Baptist Church. He or she is interviewed and formally trained in the wellbeing of the infants trusted to our care. Training includes health issues to keep the area sanitary and the child clean; safety procedures which are followed from the time of drop-off to pick-up of the child; and spiritual emphasis to provide a continuously nurturing, Christian environment.
Our Nursery Facilities
Six weeks till capably crawling: The smallest infants are segregated from the older infants until Nursery personnel deem them capable of managing themselves physically around more active babies. The Infant Room is equipped with cribs, pads for crawlers, and bounce seats for beginning mobility.
When able to confidently crawl and beginning to walk unassisted: Because each infant develops differently, the Nursery Coordinator will determine when the child is ready to advance to the Toddler Room. Newly-transferred infants are closely watched through this transition.
Our Operating Procedures
No infants are ever left alone or alone with each other.
Every child is to be signed in and thorough information secured on the parents before the child is left with the workers.
Opening/Closing the Facilities: Nursery and Toddler Rooms are opened, paperwork and toys out, and workers ready to accept children at lease 15 minutes prior to the start of Sunday school, Sunday evening service, and Wednesday night service. Facilities are to stay open until all children are picked up and the rooms are cleaned and straightened.
Sign in Security System: As the parent fills out the sign in information on the child, the worker will tag the child and the parent with the same reference number. The parent gives this tag back to the worker upon pick up.
Parent Notification: A parent will be notified if the child becomes ill, an injury occurs, hysterical crying lasts more than ten minutes, or a child bites or is badly bitten.
Medication: Medication will not be given by the worker, but will only be dispensed by the parent.
Diaper Changing: Nursery workers check each baby's diaper at least once ever hour and change, as needed. Each child should be checked just prior to being released back to the parent. A disposable wax paper sheet is used under each child, and workers will wash their hands with antibacterial soap after each diaper change.
Sanitation: Strict sanitation practices are of the utmost importance. Workers must insure they wash their hands with antibacterial soap and disposable towels after every diaper change, after accompanying a child to the bathroom, after assisting a child to wipe his nose or other secretion, and before eating. Workers must insure that a child's hands are washed after going to the bathroom, wiping his nose or other secretion, and before eating.
Cleanliness: Workers clean and disinfect the facilities after every event, to include crib sheets, changing tables, table tops, toys and play equipment. Rugs are vacuumed and floors cleaned.
Our Parent's Responsibilities
Contact Information:
Parents must provide all information needed by the Nursery to include contact information, function the parent is attending, allergy or other health issues, and hints on handling their particular child.
Drop Off: Once the child has been registered and given to the worker, parents should stay out of the Nursery area until they are ready to pick-up the child. This may eliminate an unpleasant and unnecessary situation if your child were to see you and expect to be picked up then; this also can cause a chain reaction and unhappy confusion with other infants in the Nursery. Children that are not there to be dropped off should not come into the Nursery area. For congestion and safety, older siblings and friends should not come into the Nursery area foyer.
Pick Up: Parents must pick up their child immediately following the function. It is recommended that only the parent pick up the infant after the event. Because our Nursery is staffed with volunteer personnel, all workers don't know all siblings and friends of each child. For safety reasons, the child will only be released to the parent or to someone the parent has formally put on their contact form.
Notification during Event: A parent will be notified if the child becomes ill, an injury occurs, hysterical crying lasts more than ten minutes, or a child bites or is badly bitten. Available medical personnel will be summoned in case of emergency.
Personal Items and Toys:
All items brought into the Nursery area from the child's home must be clearly marked with the child's name. Parents are discouraged from bringing many personal toys or treats into the Nursery area. Personal items that comfort the child should be clearly marked.
Diaper Bag Items: The diaper bag should also be clearly marked and include the following items each visit: four disposable diapers or disposable training pants, disposable wipes, washcloth in plastic baggy, complete change of clothes, and plastic bottle or sipper cup.
Feeding: Parents are encouraged to feed their child as close to arrival as possible. Nursing mothers should bring a supply of at least 4 oz. of milk and a supplement of water, formula or juice. Bottle-fed babies need at least one 8 oz. bottle of milk and one 8 oz. bottle of juice or water. Formula must be pre-mixed by the parent.
Illness: In order to protect all children, parents are requested not to leave a child who appears sick. This includes symptoms such as fever of 100°, green nasal drainage, vomiting, unusual fatigue or irritability, unexplainable rash or unexplainable diarrhea. Clear nasal drainage, cold congestion or an infection treated by antibiotics is acceptable after 48 hours have passed.
Service: It is requested that each parent with an infant in the Nursery will volunteer to help in one event a month.