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Infant Care Near Dyersburg, TN: Licensed Baby Care 15 Minutes North in Newbern
Babies from 6 weeks old · Open weekdays 6 AM to 5:30 PM · TDHS payment assistance accepted
Finding a spot for a baby is the hardest part of child care in Dyer County. State rules cap every infant room at four babies per caregiver and eight babies per group, so openings are scarce and waitlists are common. Smarty Tots Too is a family-owned, state-licensed center in Newbern, a short drive north of Dyersburg, with a dedicated room for infants starting at 6 weeks old.
This page is for Dyersburg parents weighing infant care options: what the state requires, what to ask on a tour, how the drive works, and how enrollment and TDHS assistance fit together.
Quick Facts for Dyersburg Families
- Address: 625 W Main St C, Newbern, TN 38059
- Distance: about 15 minutes north of Dyersburg on Highway 51
- Infant room: babies from 6 weeks old, who later move up to our toddler and preschool rooms (up to age 5)
- Hours: weekdays, 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM; closed weekends and major holidays
- License: state-licensed child care center
- Payment help: Tennessee DHS child care payment assistance accepted
- Phone: (731) 627-4900
Tennessee Infant Ratios, in Plain English
For babies from 6 weeks to 15 months, a licensed Tennessee center must have at least one adult for every four infants, and a single infant group can hold no more than eight. Unlike older age groups, infant and toddler rooms are never allowed to run over ratio, not even briefly. Our guide to Tennessee daycare ratios by age covers every age group and the questions worth asking.
Ratio is a legal floor. When you tour any center, Dyersburg parents should also ask who covers the infant room during staff lunch breaks, how often sleeping babies are checked, and how long the infant caregivers have worked there. Consistent faces matter more to a 3-month-old than almost anything else in the room.
What Your Baby's Day Looks Like
- Your schedule, not ours. Bottles and naps follow the routine you give us, and it changes as your baby grows.
- Safe sleep. Babies sleep on their backs, alone, in their own crib with a firm flat mattress and no loose bedding, following American Academy of Pediatrics guidance.
- Floor time. Tummy time, reaching and rolling, simple toys, songs and lots of talking, because language starts long before first words.
- A written daily log. Feedings, diapers, naps and notes about the day, so pick-up is a conversation instead of a guess.
Making the Dyersburg to Newbern Drive Work
Newbern sits on Highway 51 between Dyersburg and Union City. For Dyersburg families the trip is roughly 15 minutes each way, and because we open at 6 AM, parents who work early shifts in Dyersburg can drop off in Newbern and still get to work on time. Families who work in Newbern or Union City often find the location sits right on their route.
If you are comparing centers, it helps to time the drive at your real drop-off hour once before you decide. A center that is a few minutes farther away but has an infant opening this season can beat a closer center with a long waitlist.
Enrollment Steps
- Call (731) 627-4900 to ask about current infant openings and your target start date.
- Tour the infant room and meet the caregivers. Bring your questions about ratios, naps and feeding.
- Apply for TDHS assistance if you qualify; see our Dyer County child care assistance guide.
- Complete enrollment forms, including immunization records from your pediatrician.
- Plan a gentle start with shorter first days if your schedule allows.
Check Infant Openings
Infant spots are limited by state ratios. Call to ask what is open for your start date and to set up a visit.
Call (731) 627-4900Infant Care Near Dyersburg: Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find infant care near Dyersburg, TN?
Smarty Tots Too is a licensed child care center at 625 W Main St C in Newbern, about 15 minutes north of Dyersburg on Highway 51. We take babies from 6 weeks old in a dedicated infant room. Many of our families live or work in Dyersburg and drop off on the way to work.
How old does my baby have to be to start infant care?
Babies can start with us at 6 weeks old. Parents often call during pregnancy or maternity leave because infant openings in Dyer County are limited by the state ratio. Calling early lets you plan a start date that lines up with the end of your leave.
What is the infant ratio at a licensed Tennessee daycare?
Tennessee requires at least one caregiver for every four babies from 6 weeks to 15 months old, with no more than eight babies in a group. Infant and toddler rooms may never go over ratio, even for a day. Ask any center you tour how it staffs the infant room at drop-off, naps and pick-up.
Does Smarty Tots Too accept TDHS child care payment assistance?
Yes. We accept Tennessee Department of Human Services child care payment assistance. Families apply through TDHS, and once approved the certificate can be used at our center. Call us and we can explain how enrollment works alongside the assistance paperwork.
What are the hours for infant care?
Our center is open weekdays from 6 AM until 5:30 PM. That early opening gives Dyersburg parents time to drop off in Newbern and still reach a 7 AM or 8 AM shift. We are closed on weekends and major holidays and do not offer drop-in care.
Can I bring breast milk or formula for my baby?
Yes. Parents can bring labeled breast milk or formula, and caregivers feed babies on the schedule you give us. We store and warm breast milk following safe handling guidelines and log every bottle so you can see how much your baby drank during the day.