Caterpillars Infant Daycare
Our services
Infant Day Care
The Vine Preschool has been a trusted infant day care and childcare provider in Alexandria, VA for 17 years. Our dedicated team of early childhood educators recognizes that every child is unique, and we customize our approach to support their developmental milestones.
From infants to preschoolers, our infant day care programs are designed to nurture learning, creativity, and social-emotional growth in a safe and caring environment.
PLEASE NOTE: The Caterpillars infant program is only available at the St. James location.
Infant Day Care Daily Schedule
*Times are Flexible: Infants receive bottles & naps as needed, diapers are changed every 2 hours or as needed.
6:30 – 8:00 Bottles / Diaper Checks / Changes/Floortime
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 Morning Activity / Craft/Story, Circle Time / Music and Songs
10:00 – 10:20 Feedings / Water / Bottles
9:00 – 10:45 *Morning Naps, *Indoor/Outdoor Walks / Floortime
10:45 – 11:00 Hand Washing and Story Time
11:00 – 11:30 Midday Meals / Feedings / Lunch
11:30 – 11:45 Diaper Checks / Changes
11:45 – 2:30 Afternoon Naps / Floortime, *Quiet Toys, Mat play,
2:40 – 3:00 Diaper Changes / Afternoon Feedings
3:00 – 3:30 Snack
3:30 – 5:00 Afternoon Activity / Floortime *Indoor / Outdoor Walks & Play: Balls, Bubbles,
5:00 – 6:00 Diaper Checks / Changes / Floor Time, *Music, Sensory Exploration, Toys
Ages: Birth - 1
We consider ourselves the best infant day care in Alexandria. At The Vine Preschool, we understand that first and foremost, babies need to feel safe and parents need to feel secure knowing that their baby is in good hands.
We are a trusted daycare for babies. The first way that infants take in their surroundings is through sight and sound. They are navigating through their environment and rely heavily on familiar faces and voices. For parents looking for Alexandria infant day care, The Vine Preschool has just the right program you’re looking for.
S² Philosophy
The S-squared philosophy is our belief that every child needs seed deposits of security, stability and stimulation in order to grow cognitively, emotionally and physically. This cultivation begins in our Seedling Infant Program and continues in our Toddler and Preschool programs.
In the same way that we experience the world through our five senses, the S² philosophy encompasses five sensory experiences:
1. emotional stimulation – providing experiences that make your baby feel safe, excited, and happy
2. environmental stimulation – providing an environment that has developmentally appropriate toys to explore
3. language stimulation – talking to babies, narrating what they are experiencing and what is going on around them
4. physical stimulation – providing tummy time and floor time to reach developmental milestones such as eye-tracking, holding their head up, rolling over, reaching for objects and crawling
5. neurological stimulation – combining these experiences to increase the brain’s ability to make connections
Why Choose Our Infant Day Care Program?
Every baby has a different temperament and our caregivers take the time to understand and meet each infant’s individual needs.
When your infant is enrolled into our program, please provide us with an information sheet that lets us know how your routine at home has been. This information sheet will help our caregivers establish a similar routine as your baby transitions to his or her new environment.
There are so many milestones that are reached when children are in child care, and communicating through the HiMama app serves as the eyes and ears of your child’s experiences at The Vine Preschool. This is also the place where parents can provide the caregiver with information such as the child’s disposition the night before, like having restlessness night due to teething.
Each baby is assigned their very own crib and we support the Safe to Sleep Campaign (formerly called the Back to Sleep Campaign) by always placing babies in the crib on their backs to sleep. We follow each baby’s schedule based on the information that parents provide.
We Love our Kiddies at The Vine Preschool
Our dedicated team of caregivers are trained to provide personalized attention and age-appropriate learning experiences to support your baby’s development. We focus on:
✅ Safe & Nurturing Environment – Our daycare center follows strict safety protocols to ensure your baby is always protected.
✅ Early Development Activities – We incorporate tummy time, sensory play, music, and interactive learning to promote motor and cognitive skills.
✅ Experienced & Caring Staff – Our caregivers provide one-on-one attention, fostering a warm and trusting bond with every infant.
✅ Flexible Scheduling Options – We offer full-time daycare to meet the needs of busy parents.
✅ Convenient Location in Mount Vernon – Alexandria, VA – Our center is easily accessible for families in Old Town Alexandria, Lorton, Kingstowne, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Commonly Asked Questions
The best age to start infant care depends on your family’s needs, your baby’s development, and the daycare’s policies. Here’s a general guideline:
Common Ages for Starting Infant Care:
🍼 6 weeks: This is the earliest most daycares accept infants, often due to parents returning to work after maternity leave.
🍼 3 months: Some parents wait until their baby has a more established feeding and sleep routine.
🍼 6 months: Babies are more interactive, have stronger immune systems, and may transition more easily.
🍼 12 months: Some families delay daycare until their baby is more mobile and independent.
Factors to Consider:
✔ Your work schedule – If you’re returning to work early, you may need infant care sooner.
✔ Baby’s development – If your baby is on a good sleep/feed schedule, adjusting to daycare may be easier.
✔ Daycare availability – Some daycares have long waitlists, so early planning is key.
✔ Cost & alternatives – Consider if family help, a nanny, or in-home care might be better options.
Ultimately, there’s no perfect age—it depends on what works best for your baby and family.
Teacher Salaries and Benefits – Daycares must offer competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain qualified staff, ensuring children receive high-quality care and education. This includes health insurance, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
Staff-to-Child Ratios – Licensing regulations require a low caregiver-to-child ratio, especially for infants and toddlers, meaning more staff must be hired to maintain compliance, increasing labor costs.
Facility Maintenance and Upgrades – Daycare centers must maintain a safe, clean, and engaging environment. This includes regular facility upkeep, repairs, and renovations to meet safety standards and provide children with a stimulating space.
Educational Programs and Materials – Many daycare centers follow structured curricula that require age-appropriate learning materials, books, toys, art supplies, and technology to support early childhood development.
Safety and Security Measures – Investments in childproofing, security systems, background checks for staff, and emergency preparedness plans contribute to operational costs but ensure a safe environment for children.
Food and Nutrition Services – Many daycares provide meals and snacks that meet state and federal nutrition guidelines, requiring budgeting for food, kitchen staff, and compliance with health regulations.
Licensing, Insurance, and Compliance Costs – Daycare centers must maintain licensing, liability insurance, and adhere to strict health and safety regulations, all of which require ongoing administrative expenses.
Lower Cost per Child – In a daycare setting, costs are shared among multiple families, making tuition significantly lower than paying a nanny’s full salary, benefits, and employment taxes.
Socialization and Peer Interaction – Daycare provides children with opportunities to develop social skills, learn teamwork, and interact with peers in a structured environment, whereas a nanny offers limited social exposure.
Trained and Certified Staff – Daycare centers are required to hire trained professionals who meet state licensing requirements, including early childhood education, CPR, and first aid certification, ensuring high-quality care.
Structured Learning and Activities – Many daycare centers follow an educational curriculum with age-appropriate learning activities, promoting cognitive, motor, and social development in a way that some nannies may not be trained to provide.
Reliability and Consistency – Daycares operate on fixed schedules, reducing the risk of last-minute cancellations due to a nanny’s illness, vacation, or personal emergencies. Parents can depend on daycare to always have coverage.
Regulated Environment – Licensed daycare centers must adhere to health, safety, and curriculum standards, offering parents peace of mind that their child is in a supervised, well-monitored setting.
Infant daycare can offer many benefits for both babies and parents. Here are some key advantages:
Benefits for Infants
🍼 Social Development – Babies get early exposure to different people, sounds, and interactions, helping them develop social skills.
🍼 Cognitive Growth – Many daycares include age-appropriate activities that stimulate learning, like tummy time, music, and sensory play.
🍼 Consistent Routine – Daycares follow structured schedules, which help babies develop sleep, feeding, and play patterns.
🍼 Physical Development – Supervised activities encourage movement, helping with motor skills like crawling and grasping.
🍼 Stronger Immune System – Exposure to other children can help build immunity over time.
Benefits for Parents
✔ Reliable Childcare – Unlike nannies or family members, daycare centers follow set schedules and are open consistently.
✔ Qualified Caregivers – Many daycare staff members are trained in early childhood education, infant CPR, and first aid.
✔ Prepares for Preschool – Being in a structured setting early on makes the transition to preschool easier.
✔ Work-Life Balance – Parents can focus on their jobs while knowing their child is in a safe, nurturing environment.
Is Infant Daycare Right for You?
If you’re looking for structured, professional care with early learning opportunities, daycare can be a great choice. However, it depends on your baby’s temperament, your family’s schedule, and your childcare preferences.
Infant Daycare
The first way that infants take in their surroundings is through sight and sound. They are navigating through their environment and rely heavily on familiar faces and voices.
Toddler Ones
(1-2)
During this stage, our staff also makes safety a top priority as toddlers begin to crawl, pull up, stand, and walk. Our staff is vigilant and physically present while toddlers explore.
Toddler Twos
(2-3)
The Toddler Twos program is all about socialization and negotiation. At this stage of development, children are mostly expressing themselves nonverbally.
Preschool
(3-5)
Between the ages of 3-5 years old, there is a dramatic increase in a child’s development. The child you have watched grow thus far is now blossoming into a child full of wonder.