Young Children Volume 80 • No 2 | Page 34

Sample Routines Form
Infant educators use information shared by families, their own observations, and colleagues’ observations to identify each baby’ s individual routines. These routines can be documented and shared with other staff in the program. Here is a sample form that contains guiding prompts, with the first few rows completed.
Baby: Imani DOB: 11 / 17 Key Teacher: Nicole
Guiding Prompts Family’ s Insights Educator Observation 1 Educator Observation 2
How does the baby prefer to be greeted during arrival?
She is shy and easily overstimulated.
Imani needs time to warm-up: A gentle, warm, quiet welcome helps.
Imani smiles in response to hearing her name with a calm greeting after entering.
What routines support the baby to separate from their family?
She has no problem separating.
After about 10 minutes, family places Imani on the floor. She selects toys, family plays for about 5 minutes, then says good-bye.
Imani plays on the rug with toys and her family for a few minutes. When time to leave, I pick her up, and we wave“ good-bye” at the window.
How does the baby prefer to be held?
How does the baby indicate their diaper needs to be changed?
Describe the baby’ s diaper changing routine.
How does the baby indicate they are tired?
Describe how the baby is put to sleep.
How does the baby indicate they are hungry?
Describe the baby’ s feeding routine.
What are some of the baby’ s favorite activities?
How does the baby typically explore and play with materials?
How does the baby respond to seeing family at the end of the day?
What routines support the baby to separate from the classroom?
32 Young Children
Summer 2025