Nursery and Childcare

Our Nursery and Childcare Ministry cares for our littlest Genevans and visitors from birth through age three. Below we explain more about our facilities, hours, what to expect when dropping off your child for care, our staff, and health policies. We also invite you to learn more about annual events such as the Fall Pumpkin Carnival and spring Easter Egg Hunt.

Facilities
The Nursery Department is made up of three rooms: The Crib Room, the Infant Room and the Toddler Room.

Crib Room: This room is for children from birth until they start to crawl. Swings, cribs, and age appropriate toys are used here. No snacks are given. Rocking chairs are available for nursing mothers and a refrigerator is available for bottles. This room is used when Moms request a little more privacy and several babies are with us.

Infant Room: Attached to the Toddler Room, this is similar to the Crib Room and is used when the Crib Room is closed. It is also used for children from birth until they start to crawl.

Toddler Room: Our brightly decorated toddler room is for walking children up to age three. Our outdoor playground is adjacent to this room. Snacks and drinks are provided during longer stays at the nursery. This is also where your child will be introduced to story time and even a few crafts.

Hours
The nursery is open fifteen minutes prior to the start of regular church services or special events (e.g. all church meetings, spaghetti dinners, youth activities such as Big Wednesday, etc.). All children must be picked up within fifteen minutes after the conclusion of the last Sunday service or the event you are attending.

What to Expect When Dropping Off a Child

What to Bring
Please include in your diaper bag: three disposable diapers per child, &/or pull-ups, and a complete change of clothes for children under four years of age), baby wipes, and diaper rash cream. We ask that you label these items ahead of time with your child’s full name and bring the following also: bottle or sippie cup, small dish with spoon (if needed), pacifier with attachment clip (if needed), and snacks &/or juice (if needed). Nursery staff will double check that these items along with your diaper bag are labeled upon your child’s arrival.

Your First Visit
You will be asked to complete a registration card, emergency contact card, and medical authorization form for each of your children. In addition to some basic information such as name, address, and emergency numbers, these forms will ask you to note any medical conditions such as allergies, medications taken, or anything else you think the staff needs to know to ensure the safety of your child.

Checking-In
A caregiver will meet you and your child at the door and ask you to sign-in using the sheet provided. We also ask you to include any information about your child in the space provided which may assist us in their care, such as nap time or feeding times. A pager is provided to you while your child is at Geneva. The pager number will be written next to your name on the sign-in sheet. The pagers are set on vibrate mode only.

Saying Good-Bye
We know it can be difficult to leave your child, especially the first time in a new place, but after you've completed signing in, we suggest you give your child a quick kiss and depart. It is normal for a child to cry for a few minutes. But rest assured, our caregivers are experts in distraction. If your child is upset longer than ten minutes, we will page you.

Checking-Out
Use the same sign-in sheet to sign-out. Hand in your pager (the staff will compare numbers with the one on the sign-in sheet), and a caregiver will bring you your child. For your child's safety, only nursery staff are allowed in behind the nursery gate.

Staff
At least two adults are on duty in the nursery every Sunday morning. Two regular staff caregivers, who work in rotation, are in the toddler room and one or two adult volunteers work in the crib or infant room. All paid staff in the nursery, infant room, and crib room are required to receive training in Geneva's Child Safely Policy, and Infant/Child CPR.
Nursery Coordinator : Elizabeth Kudryk, at (949) 837-4765, ext. 217 or at ekudryk@cox.net, for more information.

Health Policies Illness
Please refrain from bringing your child if he/she is not feeling well or has had any of the following symptoms within the past 24 hours: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, rash or open sores, coughing, sneezing, running nose (anything but clear). To ensure the safety and health of other babies and workers we cannot accept any child that is ill. Our staff will have to page you to pick up your child if he/she starts showing any of the above symptoms.

Medication
Our staff is not allowed to give any medication. If a child needs medication the parent must administer it.

Cleanliness
To make the nursery as healthy and safe as possible, latex gloves are used for each diaper change.

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MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers)
MOPS exists to meet the needs of every mom—urban, suburban, stay-at-home and working moms, single and married moms—moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be! MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy to kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.
MOPS is about celebrating motherhood, meeting needs, making connections and experiencing God's love through relationships and resources. In addition to a special program for moms, MOPS also offers a loving, nurturing program for children.
Geneva MOPS meets every other Monday morning in the Saddleback Room from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Questions? Contact Susan Wegner-Hermann at (949) 586-6532

October Pumpkin Carnival
An old-fashioned fall harvest party complete with games, food and a costume parade, which our Middle and High School kids put on for smaller children. This October event features fun events such as a cake walk, bounce house, photo booth, and a snack bar with pizza, popcorn, pumpkin seeds and more.. Bring your kids and your appetite! No scary or evil costumes, please.

Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt
If you can walk, you can hunt for Easter eggs! Even our littlest Genevans can participate in our annual egg hunt. We make a special effort for the youngest children to get their fair share of eggs.

For more information on any of these events contact Edie Robertson, Director of Children's Ministries, at edith.robertson@cox.net.