Positive Relationships: Let's talk about ... Working with babies

- Q: What differences are there in working with babies compared with older children?

'From my perspective, working with babies is probably the most challenging age group. In our baby room we can take up to 22 babies under Ofsted regulations, but we are trying to keep that to just 15. We have to maintain the 1:3 ratios due to financial considerations as well. Ideally babies would need a 1:1 ratio. This is especially true if a baby is ill or teething, when you have to give them lots of attention as well as coping with looking after the others.'

'I do feel that you need to have considerable childcare experience or life experience to work well in the baby room. Lots of younger, less experienced staff do come in and then common sense is very important, as is having a strong leader and role models. They often think that if a baby is not crying then everything is fine, and do not realise how important singing, eye contact, passing things and showing things is. It's all about talking and smiling - babies learn through turn-taking and conversations, in concentrated baby babbling through experienced practitioners. But it can be really hard to get that message across to both staff and parents.'