What is the educator-to-child ratio in the babies room?

Our Babies Room operates with a 1:4 ratio. With two babies aged rooms, we only ever have a maximum of 8 babies in a room.

Will my baby's routine be followed at Sanctuary?

We work with your baby’s individual routine while balancing the needs of the group.

How do you support babies settling into care?

We provide a gradual, supportive transition and maintain consistency with home routines where possible. We encourage stay and play sessions to help educators and families build connections and trust, which also translates to the babies transitioning into this environment.

How do you communicate with parents?

We provide regular updates through our family communication platform called OWNA. We encourage all of our families to download the parent app to keep connected not only to the information coming from the baby's room each day, but also for any other news the centre would like to communicate.

What types of activities do babies participate in during child care?

Babies engage in sensory play, movement, music and early social experiences.

Transitioning babies into childcare

Choosing the right child care centre for your baby can be a complex and emotional process. You want to know that they'll be cared for, truly known and in safe hands. Even after you've found your centre and feel confident in your choice, the transition into child care can be a difficult time for you as parents and for the child, whether they're eight weeks old or eighteen months. At Sanctuary Ashmore, we understand all the feelings at play during this time. Our approach is patient, responsive and genuinely centred on both your baby and your family. We aim to make the transition to childcare as calm and intentional as possible. At Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure Ashmore, supporting families through this journey is something we take very seriously.

A thoughtful, unhurried introduction into child care is one of the most important investments you can make in your baby's childcare experience.

When babies are given time to gradually build familiarity with their new environment — the smells, the sounds, the faces, the rhythms — they develop a genuine sense of security and it can become a safe space for them outside of their home. That sense of security is not just about comfort in the moment. It lays the neurological groundwork for confident exploration, healthy attachment, and positive early learning experiences that can last a lifetime. At Sanctuary Ashmore we know that time spent building trust at the beginning sets up a good foundation for months and years to come.

Every baby is different, and every family's circumstances are unique. Our approach to settling in is flexible, responsive and guided by your baby's individual cues. Here is what you can generally expect:

The first step is to book a tour at one of our centres. This visit is all about you and your baby getting a feel for the space — meeting your baby's lead educator, exploring their room, and asking any questions you may have. There is no pressure and no timeline.
Following the tour, we offer free stay and play sessions which can gradually increase in length, allowing your baby to build familiarity with their educators and environment while you are still nearby.
We communicate openly and honestly throughout these sessions, sharing what we observe, what is working, and adjusting our approach as needed.
When the time comes for your first full session, we are with your baby every step of the way. And we welcome as many phone calls as you may need, to reassure you on how they are going.
Our educators communicate clearly throughout the day using the OWNA app and work to build a partnership with our families, sharing updates and funny stories from your baby's day.

We offer as many free stay and play sessions as your family may need and there is no expectation about how quickly your baby should settle. We follow your baby's lead — always.

Each of our rooms at Sanctuary Ashmore have a lead educator, someone who becomes the consistent, familiar face at the centre of your child's settling experience. This person takes the time to learn your baby's individual cues, preferences and personality before the transition even begins. They know how your baby likes to be held, what helps them settle to sleep, what makes them light up with delight. That depth of knowing does not happen by accident. It is built intentionally, through time and genuine attention — and it makes a big difference to how quickly and confidently a baby feels comfortable in a new environment.

Cece is the warm, calm heart of our Babies Room. With more than five years of experience at Sanctuary Ashmore, she takes the time to truly get to know each baby and family, learning their routines, following their cues, and making sure every little one feels safe, settled, and loved. She speaks five languages, so families from diverse backgrounds always feel right at home, and she believes deeply in unhurried time with babies, slowing down to listen, observe, and let little ones lead the way. Cece's passion for nurturing goes beyond the classroom, she organises seed collecting and planting with the babies, teaching our tiniest learners a love and respect for the living world around them.

As new parents you may still be enjoying the newborn bubble and when the time comes that you may require childcare for your baby, it can be daunting. Something that does not get talked about enough is how hard this stage can be for parents. The guilt, the worry, the strange mix of sadness and relief — all of it is completely normal, and all of it is valid. At Sanctuary Ashmore, we see supporting parents through this transition as just as important as supporting babies.

We encourage you to share everything with us — your baby's quirks, your concerns, your preferences, your fears. The more we know, the better we can care for your child in a way that feels like an extension of your own family's approach. And we promise to always be honest with you about how your baby is going, even on the hard days.

Parents often ask us how they will know when their baby has truly settled. While every child's timeline is different, some of the signs we look for include:

• Your baby begins to recognise and respond positively to their lead educator

• Drop offs become easier, even though some level of upset or discomfort may remain

• Your baby engages with the environment — exploring, playing and responding to sensory experiences

• Sleep and feeding patterns at the centre begin to mirror those at home

• You feel informed, included and genuinely confident in the care your baby is receiving

That last one matters more than people realise. When parents feel comfortable and safe with the childcare and the educators, babies sense it and they're able to settle all the more easily because of it.

What is the educator-to-child ratio in the babies room?
Our Babies Room operates with a 1:4 ratio. With two babies aged rooms, we only ever have a maximum of 8 babies in a room.
Will my baby's routine be followed at Sanctuary?
We work with your baby’s individual routine while balancing the needs of the group.
How do you support babies settling into care?
We provide a gradual, supportive transition and maintain consistency with home routines where possible. We encourage stay and play sessions to help educators and families build connections and trust, which also translates to the babies transitioning into this environment.
How do you communicate with parents?
We provide regular updates through our family communication platform called OWNA. We encourage all of our families to download the parent app to keep connected not only to the information coming from the baby's room each day, but also for any other news the centre would like to communicate.
What types of activities do babies participate in during child care?
Babies engage in sensory play, movement, music and early social experiences.