Daycare for Babies Under 1 Year Old — What Parents Need to Know | Daisy Days Regina

Enrolling a baby under 1 year old in licensed daycare is one of the most emotionally intense transitions a new parent faces. Questions about safety, attachment, development, and guilt compete in equal measure. At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, our ECE educators care for infants from birth with the warmth, expertise, and 1:3 ratio that provincial regulations and best practice require. Here’s everything first-time infant daycare parents need to know.

The 1:3 Ratio — Why It Matters for Babies Under 1

Saskatchewan’s 1:3 educator-to-infant ratio means one ECE educator is responsible for a maximum of three infants at any time. For babies under 12 months, this is the most protective ratio in licensed childcare — and it’s why infant care is both more costly (more staff per child) and harder to access (fewer spots per educator).

At this ratio, your baby under 1 receives:

• Responsive, attentive caregiving — an educator who learns your baby’s individual cues, communication signals, and temperament
• Safe sleep supervision — someone always in the room and awake when babies are sleeping
• Consistent feeding according to your baby’s individual schedule
• Warm physical contact, rocking, and responsiveness to distress
• Sensory and developmental play appropriate to their specific age and stage

Safe Sleep at Licensed Daycare — Non-Negotiable

Saskatchewan’s licensed daycares must follow safe sleep guidelines consistent with the Canadian Paediatric Society and Saskatchewan’s licensed daycare regulations:

• On their back: All infants sleep on their backs until they can roll over independently (and even then, they’re placed on their back and may roll to their preference)
• Alone: No other infants or children in the same sleep space
• In their own space: A designated crib or approved sleep surface — not car seats, bouncers, or swings for regular sleep periods
• Clear surface: No loose blankets, pillows, bumpers, or positioners in the sleep space
• Temperature-appropriate clothing: Sleep sack or appropriate clothing instead of blankets
• Supervised: An educator present and awake during infant sleep periods

If a licensed daycare uses any sleep practice that conflicts with safe sleep guidelines, this is a serious concern requiring immediate escalation.

Feeding Your Baby Under 1 at Licensed Daycare

• Breastfeeding: Provide labelled pumped breastmilk — Daisy Days Daycare follows Health Canada breastmilk storage and handling guidelines. See our full guide: Breastfeeding, pumping at work and daycare in Regina SK.
• Formula: Provide ready-to-feed formula or pre-measured powder with written mixing and feeding instructions
• Solid introduction: For babies starting solids (typically 4-6 months), provide stage-appropriate food with written instructions. Daycare educators follow your baby’s pediatrician-recommended introduction schedule.
• Written feeding schedule: Every parent of an infant under 1 should provide a written daily schedule: wake times, typical feed amounts and timing, and sleep window patterns

What the Gradual Transition Looks Like for Babies Under 1

Daisy Days Daycare’s gradual transition protocol for infants under 1:

• Day 1-2: 1-2 hour visit, parent present or nearby. Educator and baby get to know each other.
• Day 3-4: Half-day (3-4 hours). Parent leaves. Educator calls if baby is unsettled beyond 30 minutes.
• Day 5-7: Full day. Parent receives end-of-day detailed report on feeds, sleep, activities, and mood.
• Week 2: Regular full days with daily communication. Parents can call anytime to check in.

What to Prepare Before Your Baby Under 1 Starts Daycare

• Current immunization record
• Written daily schedule (sleep, feed, awake windows)
• Feeding supplies: labelled bottles, breastmilk or formula instructions
• Comfort item from home (blanket, small stuffed animal — check safety with educator)
• 3+ changes of clothing (onesies, sleepers, socks — labelled)
• Diapers, wipes, diaper cream (labelled)
• Any medications or medical action plans if applicable
• Emergency contact list — both parents and backup

→ Daisy Days Daycare infant program details
→ Infant separation anxiety — first week guide
→ How long is the infant waitlist in Regina SK?

Contact Daisy Days Daycare for infant enrollment in Regina SK.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5