Infant/Toddler Teacher

Kidz Korner Children’s Center

Job Description: Infant/Toddler Teacher

Position Title:

Infant/Toddler Teacher Reports To: Director / Site Supervisor Program: Infant/Toddler Program

Employment Status: Full-Time or Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Position Summary:

The Infant/Toddler Teacher is responsible for providing a safe, nurturing, responsive, and developmentally appropriate environment for infants and toddlers. This position supports each child’s physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and language development through warm interactions, individualized care, consistent routines, and age-appropriate learning experiences.

The Infant/Toddler Teacher must be attentive, patient, gentle, dependable, and able to meet the unique needs of very young children, including feeding, diapering, rest, comfort, sensory exploration, communication, and early social-emotional development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide direct care and supervision for infants and toddlers at all times.
• Maintain a safe, clean, calm, and nurturing classroom environment.
• Follow each child’s individual feeding, diapering, nap, and care schedule.
• Change diapers and assist with toileting routines using proper health and sanitation procedures.
• Prepare bottles, meals, and snacks according to center policies and family instructions.
• Hold, comfort, rock, talk to, sing to, and interact warmly with infants and toddlers throughout the day.
• Support tummy time, crawling, walking, fine motor development, sensory play, language development, and early social skills.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate infant/toddler activities.
• Use gentle redirection and positive guidance with toddlers.
• Observe and document children’s daily routines, developmental progress, and individual needs.
• Communicate professionally with families regarding feeding, diapering, naps, mood, milestones, and daily experiences.
• Maintain accurate daily logs, including meals, bottles, diaper changes, naps, activities, and any concerns.
• Keep classroom materials, toys, cribs, cots, changing areas, and feeding areas clean and sanitized.
• Follow safe sleep practices and center sleep supervision procedures.
• Follow all licensing regulations, ratio requirements, health and safety procedures, and center policies.
• Recognize signs of illness, injury, discomfort, developmental concerns, or unusual behavior and report concerns to the Director.
• Support children during transitions, separation from families, and emotional moments.
• Work cooperatively with assistants, aides, floaters, and other staff members.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
• Report suspected child abuse or neglect as a mandated reporter.
• Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must meet California child care licensing requirements for an Infant/Toddler Teacher position.
• Early Childhood Education units required or preferred based on assigned role, including infant/toddler coursework when applicable.
• Experience working with infants and toddlers preferred.
• Current or ability to obtain Mandated Reporter training.
• Current or ability to obtain Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification.
• Current or ability to obtain health screening, TB clearance, immunization records, and criminal background clearance.
• Must be able to follow written care instructions, classroom routines, and health and safety procedures.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Warm, patient, nurturing, and responsive approach with infants and toddlers.
• Strong supervision and safety awareness.
• Knowledge of infant and toddler development.
• Ability to support children’s individual routines and developmental needs.
• Ability to communicate professionally with families and staff.
• Ability to remain calm, gentle, and attentive in a busy classroom environment.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to follow licensing requirements, classroom procedures, and center policies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit on the floor, stand, walk, bend, kneel, squat, lift, carry, and move throughout the classroom.
• Ability to lift and carry infants and toddlers as needed.
• Ability to push or pull cribs, strollers, carts, or classroom equipment as needed.
• Ability to assist children with feeding, diapering, toileting, handwashing, and rest routines.
• Ability to supervise children visually and physically at all times.
• Ability to respond quickly to children’s needs and emergencies.

Health and Safety Expectations:

The Infant/Toddler Teacher is expected to follow all health and safety procedures, including handwashing, diapering, sanitizing, safe sleep practices, bottle/food handling, illness observation, injury reporting, and active supervision. The teacher must ensure that infants and toddlers are always cared for in a safe, clean, and developmentally appropriate environment.

Work Expectations:

The Infant/Toddler Teacher is expected to arrive on time, maintain dependable attendance, communicate professionally, follow children’s individual care routines, and provide a loving, calm, safe, and responsive environment for infants and toddlers.