We love babies! At Valley, we view our nurseries as a place to begin to experience God's love and security by laying down foundations for spiritual growth. The children are cared for by volunteers who have an expressed interest in children and who have completed the KidSafe process (an application, references, security background check and an interview).
At our Avon Campus, two nurseries are provided for all weekend services.
- Infant Nursery: Babies through age 1
- Walker Nursery: Age 13-24 months
Cry Room: Available for parents who want to take their babies to the service. It is located at the back of the Sanctuary balcony.
At our Bristol Campus, we have one nursery with a range of practical and play items to serve babies through 24 months.
What you need to know
What will my child experience?
First of all, children will find teachers who love them and take good care of them. They will have a time to play and explore the kid-friendly rooms. In the walker nursery and in Bristol, they will be given a snack such as crackers, Goldfish or Cheerios.
We are a nut-free environment and ask that you do not send anything with those contents, due to potential allergy problems among the other children. If your child has an allergy, please let us know.
Lastly, they will be safe as we make safety a high priority here at Valley. See our Security Policy for further information regarding the safety procedures we have in place.
What if my child is sick?
We prefer you keep sick children with you. Please refer to our Illness Policy for further details.
What do I need to bring?
When leaving your child in the nursery, please make sure to bring a diaper bag with the following items included. Please label all personal items with your child's first and last name before arriving at your child's class.
- Two or three disposable diapers
- A complete change of clothes
- Pacifier or other item, should your child need it for security
- A bottle or sippy cup of milk, formula, juice or water (a good practice even for babies being nursed)
Saying goodbye?
After signing your child into the room, simply wave goodbye and then go to service or class. It is normal for children to cry at first, but our teachers will immediately direct the child to a fun activity and try to calm them.
If your child is unable to be calmed after 15 minutes, the staff will contact you via your cellphone or the vibrating pager you were issued at check-in. It is important to remember that separation does get easier over time so you are encouraged to keep trying.