Infant Program

The first year of life is the foundation of every year that follows. Babies in our infant program are assigned a primary caregiver who learns your baby's hunger cues, sleep windows, soothing preferences, and emerging personality. That consistent adult — the same warm face at drop-off, the same voice during diaper changes, the same arms at nap time — is not a luxury. It is the single most important variable in healthy infant development outside the home.

Decades of attachment research from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development show that infants who experience consistent, responsive caregiving in their first year develop stronger self-regulation, better language outcomes, and more secure relationships at age three and beyond. Our low infant-to-teacher ratios — well below Virginia's licensing maximums — make this depth of relationship possible. Every cry is answered. Every smile is met. Every milestone is celebrated by an adult who genuinely knows your baby.

We follow current American Academy of Pediatrics safe-sleep guidance for every infant in our care. Babies nap on their backs in firm, fitted cribs with no blankets, pillows, bumpers, or loose soft objects in the sleep space. Each crib is labeled with your baby's name. Sleep is supervised continuously, both in person and through our WatchMeGrow camera system that lets you check in from your phone at any time.

We do not enforce a one-size-fits-all nap schedule. Newborns and young infants sleep on their own rhythm, and our teachers track every nap, every feed, and every diaper in real time through BrightWheel so you arrive at pickup with a complete picture of the day.

Our infant kitchen safely stores, warms, and serves breast milk and formula according to each family's preferences. Nursing mothers are warmly welcomed to feed on-site, and we keep a private, comfortable nursing space available. As your baby transitions to solids — usually somewhere between four and six months under your pediatrician's guidance — we partner closely with families on introducing single-ingredient foods, watching for allergies, and building skills with spoons and cups.

Feeding is never rushed. It is one of the most relationship-rich moments of an infant's day, and our teachers treat it that way.

Babies are not waiting to learn. From the first weeks of life, our infant teachers are narrating, singing, reading, and offering high-contrast visual stimulation. Tummy time is part of every day, with teachers on the floor encouraging head control, reaching, and rolling. As babies grow into the room, we add safe mirror play, rattles, board books, sensory baskets, music, and the supported sitting that builds core strength for crawling.

Language exposure is one of the strongest predictors of later vocabulary and reading. Our teachers narrate diaper changes, name objects, repeat baby sounds, and read aloud every day — even to the youngest infants. That sustained, responsive language input is one of the quiet superpowers of high-quality infant care.

We know how hard it is to leave a baby for the first time. Our WatchMeGrow camera system lets parents check in on the infant classroom from a phone or laptop at any point in the day — a quiet moment between meetings, a midday lunch break, a long afternoon when you just want to see your baby's face.

Beyond cameras, you'll receive real-time BrightWheel updates with every feed, nap, diaper, and milestone photo. Drop-off and pickup are unhurried — your teachers will tell you how the morning went, what your baby ate, how long they slept, and what made them smile.

As your baby approaches crawling, pulling up, and a more confident sense of the world, we begin gentle planning for the move to our mobile infant classroom. The transition is gradual, individual, and family-led. Babies who grow up at Discovery Time know the building, the teachers down the hall, and the rhythms of the day long before they move rooms — which means the next step feels like a celebration, not a disruption.

If you are expecting, on parental leave, or searching for infant daycare near Alexandria, Del Ray, Old Town, Rosemont, or Potomac Yard, we would love to give you a tour of our infant classroom and answer every question you have.