OBC's Nursery

We welcome you and your 0–2 year old child to the nursery of Occoquan Bible Church. Our desire is to care for your child in a secure atmosphere of love and warmth while you are attending Sunday School and church service.

This page will introduce you to some important highlights of our ministry. Please familiarize yourself with the information so that we can work together to serve your family efficiently and effectively.

The Purpose of the Nursery Is:

To help your child build positive feelings about being in church through a variety of stimulating experiences.
To provide your child with a feeling of security and love at church by having physical and emotional needs adequately met by caring adults in a safe and nurturing environment.
To allow parents freedom from child care responsibilities so they and other attendees can study, minister, worship, and fellowship.

Check-in Procedures:

Sign in your child in the notebook provided. Please indicate where you will be while we are caring for your child (i.e., sanctuary, Sunday School class, etc.) and any additional information workers should know.
Label your child’s belongings (bottle, pacifier, diaper bag, etc.) with masking tape. We have tape on hand, but doing this labeling at home saves time during check-in.
Receive a number pin to keep throughout the morning.
Hand child and diaper bag to the staff worker behind the gate.

We ask that parents and other children refrain from coming into the nursery, as this can disrupt other children and cause confusion.

Health Care

The health and well-being of your child is of paramount importance to us. Accordingly, crib sheets and toys are cleaned each week. Diaper changing pads are wiped down with an antibacterial solution after each diaper change. During diaper changes, rubber gloves are worn and discarded after each diaper change.

To protect the health of all our children, we cannot accept a child who:

Has a cold, fever, runny nose with yellow or green discharge, head lice, questionable rashes, conjunctivitis, or other contagious illness.

Has vomited or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours.

Has been taking a prescribed antibiotic for less than 24 hours.

If your child is thought or discovered to be ill during the service, you will be contacted immediately.

All toys that are provided have been selected to guard against the possibility of injury. If you wish to donate any items to the nursery, please contact the Nursery Director first to see if that item would be suitable for the Nursery.

Security

Several measure have been implemented to maximize the security of your child, including the following:

We use a number ID system for checking in and out. At check-in, you will be given a number. A matching number will be placed on your child’s clothing and diaper bag. Your child will not be released to anyone who does not possess the assigned number.
We require that only parents check in/out children.
We require all nursery workers to fill out an application form, which is available from the Nursery Director. This confidential security screening is required before serving in any ministry with minors at OBC.
We require all workers approved to serve in the nursery to wear official OBC picture ID badges. Do not hand your baby to any person not displaying a badge.
We commit to hold the nursery only in a safe environment (e.g., not immediately adjacent to an unlocked outside exit) with a clear evacuation route.

Additional Information

We provide crackers to the children. If you prefer your child not to receive this snack, please indicate so on the sign-in sheet.
If you are a first-time visitor, please fill out an information card on your child. This will provide us with specific information on how to better care for your child.
Please provide an adequate supply of diapers, bottles, and a change of clothes. Diapers will be checked regularly and changed once or as needed in the morning. Because of the dynamics of the nursery, our staff cannot follow your exact feeding/sleeping schedule, but it is our desire to do everything possible to help each child have a happy experience in the nursery.
As facility constraints permit, we will seek to provide or recommend a special area for nursing mothers if they wish to nurse their children in private.
Your child may cry when left with us. This is a normal, healthy show of preference for parents. His/her fussing will usually stop within a few minutes and become less common with regular attendance. We discourage prolonged departures. A hug and goodbye followed by a quick exit will allow your child to adjust more rapidly. If your child does not adjust, you will be contacted.
Please do not visit your child once he/she has been left if you do not intend to stay (except for nursing). One tearful goodbye is all a little one should be expected to endure, and it places an extra burden on the staff to once again calm your child.
Please pick up your child immediately after the service (volunteers enjoy fellowship too).
Please wait at the nursery gate when picking up your child. There may be a short wait, but it is safer and more organized for us to hand your child to you.

Nursery Workers

Our nursery is staffed by competent volunteers who will lovingly care for your child. Each worker follows the OBC Nursery Caregivers Guide, a copy of which is available for you to review. The workers are joined each week by a supervisor, all under the oversight of the Nursery Director and Pastor of Family Ministries. You may contact the Nursery Director with any questions, concerns, or compliments.

Nursery volunteers work on a rotating schedule published every three months. After filling out an application form, we ask that all parents help in the nursery. Once you register your child in the nursery, you will then be placed on the nursery schedule, along with other church members with children in the nursery. All workers are required to review and carefully follow the policies outlined in this brochure and the Caregivers Guide.

Emergency Information

Health Emergency
You will be contacted immediately if your child is discovered to have a health emergency. If your child cannot be calmed after crying for 15 minutes, or if he/she becomes excessively aggressive, you will be contacted to retrieve your child for his/her benefit and the benefit of other children and workers.

Fire Emergency
In the event a fire alarm sounds, immediately report to the nursery. After a worker has verified your security number, you will be directed to take your child to the nearest exit. Toddlers and older children will be escorted out by their teachers.

Evening Nursery

A smaller nursery is provided in the evening. This is available to those who need childcare for their 0–3 year old while they serve in AWANA or the Youth Ministry or attend an evening class or program. Although the evening nursery is under the AWANA oversight, the preceding information will still generally apply.