Looking for caring, safe, affordable baby care? Welcome to Whenua, the baby care room at Piccolo Park. We specialise in babies and infants 3-24 months old.

Babies & Infants

We understand that choosing a place for your little one’s early learning years is an important decision. You can rest assured that our focus is on providing a nurturing environment that meets your baby’s individual needs; not the centres convenience, as is all too common.

Our qualified teachers have warm and caring personalities and a real understanding of babies and infants. You can have peace of mind that your baby will receive loving, nurturing and patient baby care that responds to all your baby’s physical, emotional and developmental needs.

We’re confident your baby will thrive in the happy environment of the Whenua baby care room, our specialist baby and infant area. You can be assured your baby will receive genuine care and encouragement toward developmental milestones.

8 Reasons to Choose Piccolo Park

A Relaxed Approach

We believe in taking a relaxed approach and doing things at your baby’s pace, e.g. a simple thing like not rushing when changing nappies means a calm, positive energy is transferred to your child. Natural physical development is supported and encouraged. We provide time and space for babies and toddlers to explore, learn and discover.

Relationships are the foundation from which all learning flows. You and your child will have a Key Contact person who will liaise with you to ensure you have a smooth transition, and settle into the centre well. Our caregiver-to-baby ratio is only 1:4 (4 babies per caregiver). That’s better than ministry requirements of 1:5 (5 babies per caregiver) enabling closer supervision of your baby.

Babies can freely explore our safe and well-considered environment that evolves and adapts to meet the changing needs of those who spend their days here. Age-appropriate resources are available to help infants develop and grow at their own pace.

Babies get lots of stimulation here. We encourage exploration of both the indoor and outdoor environment. We provide age appropriate resources such as toys, books and paint (non toxic). Our furniture is age appropriate and there are open spaces for infants to explore on the floor.

Our outdoor environment has been designed around keeping children close to nature. There are lots of textures and, should children explore through taste, we’ve made sure all plants are non-toxic. There is a great flow to the outside with big open doors where children can freely move in or out of the room.

A qualified chef has designed our menu and established the kitchen and trained our cook. Your baby will enjoy fresh food each day.

We provide breakfast for all infants dropped off before 8:00 am and late snacks for those picked up after 5:00 pm. There are puree fruits and vegetables for those who have only just begun solids. Older babies who are more proficient eaters will be provided with food from our menu in small portion sizes suitable for infants.

Learn More

We know its hard to keep up when you are on the go so, we have a daily communication book to keep you posted on your child’s day (i.e. meals, sleeps, bottles and changes). We are also happy to change under-twos from PJs to day clothes so you don’t have to think about it.

Fitting in with your baby: we do what works for your baby, not our convenience. We endeavour to maintain your baby’s home routine as much as possible with regards to meal and bottle times and sleep times.

Check Out Piccolo Park Baby Care

We’d love to meet you and show you around! To make an appointment, please complete the form below.

Infant & Baby Care FAQs

What does it cost?

You’ll find our baby care fees are very affordable. Please use the contact form, above, to request an information pack, which includes current fees.

Yes, your child can have a sleep at the centre as per their routine at home, or at specific request from you as the parent.

Feeding, sleeping, etc: we endeavour to maintain home routines as best as practicably possible to ensure consistency between home and the centre.

The minimum attendance is 2+ days per week and 6+ hours per day.

Please provide formula or breast milk, depending on what your child is having. We will make the formula at the centre as per instructions on the formula container. You also need to bring in nappies for your baby.

If your baby is in cloth nappies, we will rinse soiled nappies and have them in a bucket or wet bag in the nappy change room ready for collection when your baby is picked up. You should also ensure your baby comes to the centre with named clothes, named bottles and a sun hat.