Our dream of being able to offer high-quality, affordable care to children as young as 6 weeks of age became a reality when we opened our Infant Program on August 30, 2006.

Three grants funded the purchasing of equipment, infant care training for our infant caregiver through Sophia’s Hearth Family Center in Keene, and marketing of the program. The grants were from the NH Charitable Foundation, NH Child Development Bureau, and The Daniels Foundation. Volunteers helped to renovate an area of our kitchen and a small classroom into a warm and lovely environment for the babies to spend their days.

Our Infant Program is influenced by the work of path breaking Hungarian pediatrician and researcher Emmi Pikler. Below are excerpts from an article written by Ruth Mason, Giving Babies the Best Start in Life, about the Pikler approach to infant care:

“Pickler babies are recognized in Budapest, even when they are older by the grace and confidence with which they move. The roots of this grace and harmony lie in Pikler’s notion of what a baby needs for optimal development: lots of space and time for free, uninterrupted play, supported by sensitive, observant attention during slowed down daily care routines. The approach is based on respect for babies as human beings and not objects and trusts in them to develop as they are meant to without our interference or ‘help’.

…Given our hurried lifestyle and the pressure many parents feel to do what’s right for their babies, Dr. Pikler’s advice to ‘do less’ and let the baby’s development unfold naturally, comes as a welcome relief. Slowing down, paying attention, and giving babies – be they our children, grandchildren, or others in our care – lots of time for uninterrupted play not only gives infants a good start in life, it takes the pressure off harried parents and caregivers to constantly be ‘doing’. Letting babies be allows us to take a breath and step away from our busy culture of doing and just let ourselves be as well.”

Both of our lead infant room teachers, Pat Rossi and Lianna Hoffman, as well as director, Linda MacGillvary, have learned about the Pikler approach to infant care through workshops at Sophia’s Hearth in Keene and by reading relevant articles and other literature. All three feel strongly that this approach to infant care feels right as we watch our babies grow into strong, confident, happy toddlers.