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Nursery Interiors

Safety Checklist

Example Photos

Paging System

Policy Handbook

Nursery Forms

Word Action Nursery Curriculm

First Step Towards God

Building the Church Nursery From The Ground Up!

What do I put in my church nursery?

All items found in the church nursery should be wipeable.  This means all items that are not wipeable should be taken home after each use to be washed in the washing machine  (for example, sheets & blankets).

Necessary Items:

• Cribs that meet all safety standards (No more than 2 3/8 inches between each slat)
• Firm, tight fitting crib mattresses
• Crib sheets
• Swings and/or bouncy seats
• Changing table at adult height with wipeable changing surface – You should never use cloth changing surfaces.  These are simply a breeding ground for germs!
• Age-appropriate toys – Anything that will fit into a toilet paper tube is TOO SMALL and, therefore, not appropriate for the nursery.
• Rockers or Gliders
• Highchairs – wipeable, of course
• Disinfecting (and non-toxic) cleaning solution and paper towel
• Books and puzzles
• Tissues and Baby Wipes
• First aid kit
• Baby gates – to keep babies in and unwanted visitors out

Extra Items:

Refrigerator for keeping juice/milk cold

Bottle warmer

Wipe warmer

Diaper Genie

Extra diapers and wipes just in case

Items that should NOT be found in your Nursery:

• Any item that is not wipeable
• Baby walkers – These are generally considered unsafe anymore.
• Toys with porous surfaces, made of cardboard, or cloth
• Stackable cribs – There is some debate about the safety of stackable cribs.  Why risk it?
• Play yards, cribs, anything with protruding screws, bolts, or nails – Check older items OFTEN to make sure they are safe for babies.
• Stuffed Animals, Pillows – They are not wipeable!
• Ball pits – Unless you want to hand wipe every ball after every service. 
• Mobiles – They are not safe for babies who can pull up or stand up.

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Nursery Safety Checklist - Just checking!!! 

Every once in a while, you may want to take a tour of your church nursery to make sure everything is perfectly safe. 

Make sure the baby furniture (cribs, swings, play yards) are in compliance with current safety standards.

Check all equipment for protruding parts.  Tighten screws and replace batteries.

Check all outlets to make sure they are all covered.

Keep diaper pail, trash can, and disinfecting cleanser out of the reach of children.

Crawl around on the floor – just like the babies do – to make sure you have created the safest environment possible for the babies in your church!

Click here to find a weekly safety checklist.

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Nursery Pictures

Here is an example of a clean and organized Nursery.  You can see all of the safety measures are in place in each of these photos.  The space is very conducive for safe care and play.  Notice that all surfaces can be wiped with disinfecting cleaners.

Ames Church of the Nazarene (Ames, IA)

Creative Nursery Decorating Ideas

Beautiful murals are very inviting for small children.

Utilize artists in your church to spice up your children’s rooms.

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Parent Paging Systems

Parents love taking a pager when they drop off their child.  Just knowing that you can be contacted at any moment makes leaving your child less stressful!  I highly suggest that churches with babies invest in a paging system.  If you shop around, they can be very affordable, and they prove to families that children matter in your church.

I suggest the following features on a church paging system:

• Vibration Only Option
• No interference with wireless microphones or sound systems
• Complete campus coverage – Make sure the distance coverage is at least as large as your church facility.  Check to see if they go outdoors if you have multiple buildings.
• Rechargeable batteries – This is the best option for long term affordability.
• Durability – They will be dropped!  Make sure they are durable and covered under a warranty.

Here are some of the most popular pager companies:

J-Tech , Microframe Corp. , Parent Seeker , Lone Range Systems,

Commtech Wireless

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Nursery Policy Manual

I suggest creating a Nursery Handbook or Nursery Policy Manual creating a list of policies and procedures for your church nursery.  Make the handbook thorough, creative and easy to read.

After you plan and research, include the following items in your handbook:

Nursery Mission Statement

–         Why does your church have a nursery?

–         What are the age limits for each nursery?

–         What makes your nursery unique and special?

Parent Resources

-          Where is the Nursery located in your church?

-          What should parents pack in their child’s diaper bag?

-          What should parents expect to see in your church nursery?

-          Names and pictures of all nursery workers so parents can learn their names/faces.

Nursery Health Policies

-          We want healthy babies only in the Nursery.

-          Create a list of symptoms/illnesses that are not allowed in your Nursery.  Post this list so both parents and Nursery Staff can see them. 

Nursery Safety Procedures

-          What are you doing to protect the babies in your Nursery?

-          Child/Staff Ratios

-          Cleaning Policies and Procedures

-          Do you use a pager system?

Nursery Check-In and Check-Out Procedures

-          Who can drop off and pick up the children?

-          What safety precautions have you taken to protect the children at check-out time?

-     Do you use a kiosk system?  Do you have a sign-in sheet?

Here are some links to various church Nursery Handbooks. 

These might spark some ideas for you!

Roopville Road Baptist Church (PDF version)

Westminster Church of the Nazarene (Westminster, CO)

Bethany First Church of the Nazarene (Bethany, OK)

Disciples Home Missions

Downloadable Helps You MUST Check-Out!

Great Resources on Church Safety

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Important Documents

Nursery Sign-In Sheet – A form that is attached to a clipboard that can be used weekly to sign babies into and out of the church Nursery.

Baby Care Card – A one-time card parents fill out (and renew every 2-3 months) describing the best way to care for their baby

Nursery Health Policy –Ames Church of the Nazarene Health Policy posted outside the nursery door

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WordAction Nursery Curriculum

Toddlers/Twos and Babies, too! curriculum includes the following:

1.     Toddlers/Twos and Babies, too! Teacher: This quarterly teacher' s guide includes three months of activities for children ages birth to 36 months. Each monthly unit is developed around an age- appropriate theme. The monthly theme is presented through activity centers designed to delight young children and to introduce them to basic Bible truths. Toddlers/Twos and Babies, too! Teacher provides Bible insights, developmental facts, and teacher tips that will help teachers make each Bible truth more meaningful to your children. In addition, a full- page unit planner makes organization easy. Each unit also includes "Parent Connections," a reproducible page to help families nurture vital Faith Connections with their babies, toddlers, and twos.

2.     Toddlers and Twos Connections Bible Activities: This student quarterly includes 13 weeks of age- appropriate activity pages for toddlers and twos. Each activity page includes a note to parents and other activities relevant to the monthly unit. The activity pages may be used in class and sent home so parents can continue teaching the Bible truth throughout the month.

3.     Toddlers/Twos and Babies, too! Poster Set: This quarterly packet includes three monthly 17" X 24" posters designed with both teachers and the young child in mind. Bible scenes depicted in simple artwork and bright colors will appeal to children. A narrow column provides easy- to- read text to help the teacher share the unit Bible story, Bible verse, and Bible truth with children.

4.  Baby' s First: An 8- page, full- color monthly magazine designed for parents of children birth to one year. This exciting feature is a vital link between families and the Bible truths you are teaching. With feature articles, helpful hints, developmental information, and two pages of activities to support each monthly unit, this magazine provides a Christian alternative to the parenting magazines so popular with young parents.

As you order curriculum, don' t overlook the youngest members of your church family. Studies show children learn more rapidly in their first three years than in the rest of their lifetime. Therefore, it is imperative that a child' s Christian education begin as early as possible, both in the home and in the church.

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First Steps Toward God

What is Cradle Roll?

An evangelistic outreach to unchurched adults with babies. It is a ministry to new parents and, through them, their babies.

What is the goal of Cradle Roll?

To introduce new parents and their precious little ones to Christ and to the church.

Who is a member of Cradle Roll?

Children under four years of age and their parents may be enrolled in Cradle Roll if they do not attend Sunday School elsewhere.

There are two primary reasons for seeking out families with babies:

1.  Children brought up in Christian homes have a much greater chance of becoming Christians and of building Christian homes for their own children.

2.  God’s Word speaks strongly about the need to minister to children:

“He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me’” (Mark 9:36a).