DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) — A Douglas woman has opened what state licensing records indicate is the first childcare facility in Southeast Georgia dedicated solely to infants, serving children from birth to 24 months.

Marie Wilcox, owner and executive director of With Love & Kindness Infant Care and Learning, said the idea for the center grew out of a gap she identified after surveying families across Coffee, Valdosta, Fitzgerald and surrounding counties.

“People just don’t want to take infants,” Wilcox said. “A lot of parents, they were telling me that they need this.”

From babysitter to business owner

Wilcox said she has worked with children for approximately 17 years, beginning as a babysitter in her teenage years and progressing through childcare facilities before becoming a director. She said her late mother recognized her passion early and encouraged her to pursue it.

“She was the one that really instilled in me like, Marie, this is what you need to be doing,” Wilcox said. “She always taught us to go after our passion, go after our dreams.”

Wilcox said the business started in her home before transitioning to its current building at 800 North Madison Avenue in Douglas.

What sets a licensed facility apart

Wilcox said the center’s licensed status is central to its mission. Staff members are required to be CPR and first-aid certified and hold at least a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. She said she assists staff members who do not yet hold a CDA in completing the certification before they begin working with children.

“Anybody can babysit,” Wilcox said. “But when you have something that’s solid, you have people behind you making sure that you are doing what you’re supposed to do with the babies.”

She said cameras are installed throughout the building, including in every room, and that the center follows structured lesson plans and curriculum rather than informal supervision.

“We are actually teaching the babies,” Wilcox said. “They’re learning their ABCs, their 123s, shapes, colors—It is an ongoing thing.”

What the center offers

With Love & Kindness Infant Care and Learning provides a range of services designed specifically for infants and their families, including:

• Early bilingual enrichment — the center offers early language exposure as part of its curriculum
• Early potty training — available upon parent request
• Breastfeeding room — open to nursing mothers during business hours
• Structured curriculum and lesson plans — staff teach letters, numbers, shapes and colors through age-appropriate engagement
• Christian-based environment — the center operates on a faith-based foundation rooted in Jeremiah 31:3

Enrollment and facility details

The center is divided into age-specific rooms. Wilcox said the infant room serves children from birth to six months, with a one-to-four teacher-to-child ratio. The facility uses portable cribs and sinks to allow flexible use of space, including tummy time.

Current enrollment capacity is 13. Wilcox said she plans to expand to 25 once additional requirements are met.

The center accepts children from birth to 24 months only.

Wilcox said the center is currently on a waitlist for Georgia’s CAPS childcare subsidy program and will accept CAPS once approved.

How to enroll

Families can find enrollment information, schedule tours and access registration links through the center’s Facebook page, With Love & Kindness Infant Care and Learning.

• Address: 800 North Madison Avenue, Douglas
• Phone: (912) 797-5848
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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