Notes

Almost 60% of mothers of children under one year are in the workforce.

Each day, approximately 6 million infants and toddlers are in the care of someone other than their parents.

More than 40% of infants and toddlers are in child care classrooms of low quality.

Education and experience requirements for infant/toddler caregivers are consistently low, often expecting minimal college-level education.

In 2006, the average infant toddler caregiver in the US earned $9.05 per hour, far below the Federal Poverty Line. Even the most dedicated caregivers cannot afford to live on such a low wage, resulting in high turnover and a lack of continuity of care.
Almost 50% of center-based infant care was of poor quality. Family child care quality was found to be similar.
40% of infant toddler classrooms endangered health and safety.
Only 8.3% of infant toddler classrooms (1 in 12) had developmentally appropriate care.
1) increase the availability and quality of child care for all children under age three;
2) disseminate information that increases the practice of responsive, respectful and relationship
based infant toddler care; and
3) influence national, regional and local policies and practices so that the needs and interests of
individual infants, toddlers, and their families are the foundation for all curriculum development
and program activity.
Be available and sensitive

Respond promptly

Provide a primary caregiver

Provide closeness, reassurance, and comfort

Bring interesting things to the infant

Take the infant to interesting things

Avoid over-stimulation