Guardian Childcare and Education has stepped up its baby program, with more to come for 2026, to help families balance their lives with confidence and give their child the best possible early years experience.
The program currently includes initiatives like specialist Baby Ambassadors in each room, Baby Nourish and Nurture, Baby’s First Foods Passport and recently the To BE Me learning and development framework.
Guardian centres are introducing new resources to baby rooms as they work closely with families to support them through their babies’ very early years.
Guardian Childcare and Education Chief Network Officer Sharon Whiteman said Guardian was constantly striving to provide the best possible environment for babies.
“We recognize that the very early years can be challenging for families, and leaving a baby at an early learning centre requires a high degree of trust and confidence,” she said.
“Baby rooms are a really important part of the Guardian experience. Our baby spaces really are beautiful environments – newly refurbished, calming, and full of great resources. We want it to feel like a home away from home for the babies.
“The expertise of our Nursery teams helps families to feel reassured that their little ones are in the very best hands and well settled.”
Babies and their families go through a Baby Welcome program which moves from orientation, enrolment, transition and induction to an engaged relationship that can last from birth to starting school.
Ms Whiteman said the specially-trained Baby Ambassadors at the centres acted as champions for babies and their families.
This group had advanced expertise in safe sleep, child protection, food handling and baby development and learning.
“The Baby Ambassador acts a storyteller of the day, guiding the team, babies and families through each day,” she said.
“They are a warm and inclusive partner for families and a role model within the Nursery team of each centre. Our Baby Ambassadors are all skilled and experienced Nursery teacher/educators and they advocate for baby’s rights and the voice of the baby in our centres.”
Other aspects of the Guardian Childcare and Education baby program include:
- The Baby Nourish and Nurture experience which encompasses all aspects of a baby’s food and mealtime experiences in their first year with a Guardian centre. It is designed to “delight and comfort” each baby and their family within the centre and address the specific well-being requirements of babies. The program is underpinned by the Baby’s First Foods Passport which plans and documents the baby’s food progression in partnership with families.
- Safe, individualised routines which include sleep/rest risk assessments, can/can’t roll cards, sleep checks every 10 minutes, hygiene and cleaning processes and age-appropriate resources.
- The To BE Me learning program helps families to understand how their baby is progressing and specific programs are designed for the needs of each child and family. This is recorded in a My Learning & Development Book, which becomes a valuable keepsake of these special years.
Ms Whiteman said that in 2026 Guardian Childcare was also looking at more programs to help provide quality support and information for families of babies and build even deeper partnership relationships.
“We aspire every day to be the specialists in baby care and development and we have spaces specifically designed to give babies safe room to move,” she said.
“This allows us to manage risks while supporting exploration and physical development.
“Sleep routines are adapted as your baby grows, our educators are trained in attachment, baby development and responsive caregiving and we practice consent-based care to ensure babies feel safe and respected.”
