Opening Fall 2026 Silver Lake, CA

Elevated childcare
for the earliest years.

A small home nursery for infants and young toddlers, designed for close, consistent care.

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Infant care · continuity through age 3 Tues · Wed · Thurs 8 AM – 4 PM
A small wooden archway and cube beside a glass jar of fresh herb cuttings, draped with soft rainbow silks — natural toys and materials from the Infant Atelier home nursery.

The first years are foundational.

For infants and toddlers, the quality of care matters deeply. These early years are a sensitive period for safety, trust, regulation, and confidence. Here, care is designed around that responsibility.

Small by design.

Four to five children at most, so each baby can be known, noticed, and cared for with patience.

Close observation

Your baby’s cues, rhythms, and needs are learned over time.

Quieter days

A slower pace, fewer transitions, and less noise.

A home-and-garden space

Natural textures, soft color, shaded outdoor play, and water play opportunities.

Calm rhythm. Lively discovery.

We see babies as complete, capable people, exactly as they are. Rather than rushing the next milestone, we notice and support what each child is doing right now.

  1. 01

    Care from familiar adults

    Cues are noticed. Routines stay predictable. There is time to respond without rushing.

    Steady limits, confidently held

    Respectful care includes steady limits. When big feelings or hard moments arise, adults stay close, calm, and clear, offering support without shame or harshness.

  2. 02

    Play that starts with the child

    A baby reaches, watches, pours, stacks, returns to a favorite object, and tries again. Adults protect that curiosity by observing carefully instead of interrupting with a lesson plan.

  3. 03

    Simple materials and water play

    Water, light, baskets, blocks, and real objects give babies something meaningful to explore through touch, movement, mouthing, looking, and listening.

  4. 04

    Musical exploration opportunities

    Adults sing with babies throughout the day, and baby- and toddler-friendly real instruments offer gentle invitations for rhythm, listening, and sound-making.

  5. 05

    Tummy time and free movement

    No walkers, no bouncers. Babies spend real time on the floor, practicing what their bodies are ready for, with close observation nearby.

  6. 06

    An uncluttered “yes space”

    Adults prepare the room so babies can move, reach, roll, pull up, and meet appropriate challenges without constant interruption.

    How adults support this

    Adults observe closely, stay available for safety and connection, and give babies time to try before stepping in.

  7. 07

    Outdoor time when possible

    Shaded outdoor play yard time, sunlight, and watching the trees move in the breeze.

    For toddlers

    Older toddlers may also use a mud kitchen and taste-safe sensory garden area.

  8. 08

    Organic meals, eaten together

    Nutritious, age-appropriate real food, offered with patience and shared at the table.

  9. 09

    Potty learning, when ready

    When a toddler shows readiness, such as interest, body awareness, communication, and enough predictability, potty learning is supported with respect, consistency, and patience. No rushed training agenda.

  10. 10

    Baby sign language, woven in

    Simple signs help babies communicate and be understood before clear speech arrives.

  11. 11

    A quiet room for naps

    Separate from the play space. Dark, quiet, and peaceful.

Every choice has a reason.

The small scale, steady relationships, free movement, and open-ended materials are intentional choices, grounded in child development research and pediatric guidance.

Science & sources Read the science behind the approach
Portrait of Jess Makram, founder of Infant Atelier.

Meet Jess Makram.

Jess has spent 18 years in child development, working closely with families in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

She is a New Parent Educator (CAPPA) and a Credentialed Nanny through the International Nanny Association, trained in RIE®, including the Nurturing Nanny® and Foundations® programs.

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She is CPR/First Aid certified and holds an Advanced Child Care Training certificate from the American Red Cross. Her work is also informed by training with the Zen Caregiving Project, which deepened her attention to presence, compassionate care, and staying grounded with families.

Her work is shaped by respect, careful observation, and early childhood traditions including Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia.

Her experience as a nanny placement agent also shaped the way she thinks about caregiver-family fit, communication, and the trust parents place in the people caring for their children.

Parent education workshops for new and expecting parents are planned for the future, with a focus on postpartum planning, infant care confidence, and the everyday questions of early family life.

Selected training and background

  • 18 years in child development
  • New Parent Educator, CAPPA
  • Credentialed Nanny, International Nanny Association
  • CPR/First Aid certified
  • Advanced Child Care Training, American Red Cross
  • Mother, artist, music lover, and lifelong learner

Care that stays with you.

Kind words from families about Jess

We expect to open in Fall 2026 in Silver Lake, in a private location on the south end of the reservoir. If you’re comparing daycare, nanny share, and private infant care, we’d love to meet your family.

Get on the waitlist →
Still deciding? Read the evidence Read kind words