Welcome to Sagewood Childcare

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Sagewood Childcare: The Infant Collective is a specialized caregiving program exclusively for babies and young toddlers, serving children ages 6 weeks– 3 years in Exeter, NH. This is not a traditional daycare model. We intentionally focus on this early stage of childhood because infants and young toddlers are their own group of people, with unique developmental, emotional, and caregiving needs that deserve dedicated attention. Our program is designed entirely around this phase, offering a calm, relationship-based environment where care is shaped by each child’s rhythms, cues, and growth rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

At Sagewood, our Infant Collective is inspired by the idea of the nest, a child’s first community and place of belonging. While the concept of the Nido comes from Reggio Emilia, our approach is not rooted in a single philosophy. Instead, we draw from a range of thoughtful, research-informed practices to meet the needs of each individual child.

The Infant Collective is designed as a calm, relationship-centered environment where babies and young toddlers feel secure, understood, and deeply cared for. Our spaces are shaped by soft light, natural materials, predictable daily rhythms, and responsive caregiving that honors each child’s unique cues and developmental pace.

We believe that no one philosophy fits every child. By adapting ideas from Reggio Emilia, Montessori, developmentally appropriate practice, and nature-based care, we are able to respond flexibly to how children grow, regulate, and connect during these earliest years.

Within our Infant Collective, children move through two developmentally meaningful stages:

Hatchlings (approximately 6 weeks–18 months) are our youngest babies, nurtured through close, responsive, one-on-one caregiving as they begin discovering the world. Their days are slow, comforting, and guided entirely by their individual cues.

Chirpers (approximately 18–36 months) are emerging explorers—mobile, curious, and eager to engage with their environment. They express themselves through sounds, early language, and joyful discovery while still grounded in the safe, predictable nest of consistent caregivers.

Children remain in the Infant Collective until they show early signs of readiness for the Schoolhouse (our preschool-coming soon!), ensuring a thoughtful, supported transition when the time is right.

We believe babies and young toddlers thrive when care is unhurried, responsive, and rooted in connection. At Sagewood, we follow each child’s natural rhythm rather than a rigid, center-wide schedule. Our days are shaped by feeding and sleep needs, sensory exploration, time outdoors, and quiet moments of comfort.

This foundation allows children to feel safe and deeply known, and prepares them to transition to our Schoolhouse when they are truly ready.

Why We Serve Children Up to Age 3 in the Infant Collective

One thing that sets Sagewood apart is that we do not follow the traditional childcare structure where infants, young toddlers, and older toddlers are separated into strict age-based rooms (6–12 months, 12–18 months, 18–24 months, etc.).

Traditional daycare models often divide children by age for logistical reasons — class size, licensing, ratio requirements, “curriculum blocks,” or staffing schedules.

But we know something very different:

Many children are still deeply in that infant–toddler bridge at 18–30 months:

• They need one-on-one attention
• They still rely on attachment-based caregiving
• Their routines are changing frequently
• Their regulation is developing
• They require predictable, calm environments
• They thrive with caregivers who know them intimately

This is why we intentionally serve children from 6 weeks to 3 years old within the Sagewood Infant Collective.

Not because they are “behind.”
Not because they’re not ready to learn.
But because they are still in the baby phase — emotionally, developmentally, and relationally.

And this phase deserves to be honored.

Sagewood Childcare operates inside the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter (FUUSE) at 12 Elm Street in Exeter, NH. Our program is housed within thoughtfully arranged, home-like classroom spaces designed to support comfort, regulation, sensory exploration, and gentle movement as children grow.

Families enter through the Sagewood doors, where our caregiving team welcomes infants and young toddlers each morning. Throughout the year, we use both our nurturing indoor environments and the surrounding outdoor spaces, giving children daily opportunities for fresh air, peaceful exploration, and supported discovery at their own pace.

✓ You are looking for care designed specifically for babies and young toddlers, not a one-size-fits-all daycare model.
✓ You value consistent caregivers and relationship-based care during the earliest years.
✓ You want your child’s days to follow their individual rhythms for sleep, feeding, and play rather than a rigid, center-wide schedule.
✓ You believe babies and young toddlers deserve a calm, predictable environment where emotional regulation and attachment come first.
✓ You are comfortable with your child remaining in a specialized infant and young toddler program until they are truly ready for a more school-like setting.
✓ You are seeking a smaller, home-like environment that prioritizes connection, observation, and responsive caregiving.

If these values resonate with your family, Sagewood may be the best place for your child’s earliest years.

While we proudly meet all New Hampshire licensing requirements, our focus goes further. We are building a team of caregivers chosen for their experience, intuition, and deep respect for caring for babies and young toddlers; professionals who truly understand and honor the earliest years of childhood.