Healthy Environment

• Hand washing

Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Teachers should alway wash their hands after they change a diaper or toilet a child. Children should wash their own hands after toileting. It is a Child Care Licensing Rule that the hands of infants and toddlers are always washed after diaper changes too, since hands can stray into the diaper area or pick up germs from the changing table. Hands should also be washed before and after handling food and/or eating, after wiping a nose, before and after using a water or sensory table, after playing outside, and any other time it seems prudent to do so to prevent the spread of infection.  Please see page 79 of the Child Care Licensing Rules for a complete listing of the hand washing rules.

• Sanitizing toys and equipment

Small toys can be sanitized in mesh bags in a dishwasher. Programs that don’t have a dishwasher or when sanitizing larger toys, a bleach solution of 1 TBS of bleach to 1 quart of water should be used. This solution must be made fresh daily since it loses its potency after 24 hours. The bleach solution may be stored in a spray bottle to spray on larger toys and equipment. For full sanitizing effectiveness, toys and equipment should dry for 3 minutes and not be rinsed. Changing tables and toilets can also be sanitized with this same solution. Infant and toddler toys that are mouthed should be set aside to be washed once the child is finished playing with them. Other toys should be sanitized at the end of the day or sooner if noticeably soiled. Children’s nap belongings should be laundered weekly or sooner if soiled. Clothes for dramatic play should be laundered every 2-4 weeks or more often, if needed. Families should ask child care providers about their cleaning and sanitizing practices to ensure the proper measures are in place for effective infection and germ control.

• Immunizations and physical examinations

Before children are allowed to attend a child care program a  copy of all their immunizations must be on file. A physical examination should be done and the form completed and given to the child care provider within 60 days of a child’s start date. Any questions a child care provider has about a child’s immunizations should be directed to the family immediately and cleared with a doctor’s note. Physical Examination forms should be complete with all the child’s information including screening or assessments that have been done. Child care providers should carefully read the forms so they do not miss any history of hospitalizations or allergies of any sort. Any questions a child care provider has should be discussed with the family. The more providers know about the children, the better QUALITY CARE can be given to each child.

• Child Care Programs’ health policies

Health policies should be established by child care programs and shared with all families and staff.  The information should be available to families and staff to review as needed throughout the year.  Many programs include the policies in family and staff handbooks.  Some providers copy page 52 and 53 directly out of the licensing book and post that page so there are no questions.

• Administration of medication

Child care programs must adhere to licensing rules requiring the administration of medication.  Pages 54 – 56 of the Child Care Licensing Rules detail the steps providers need to take to comply with the updated rules. The medication safety and administration training that is referenced in the rules has not been developed at this time and that part of the rule will not be enforced until child care providers have had the opportunity to complete the training.

• Cleanliness

One of the first things families will say they want in a quality child care environment for their child is cleanliness. Child care providers should make sure that any space used by children and families is cleaned on a regular basis. Surfaces, floors, walls, door handles, and corners should be checked regularly to ensure they smell fresh and clean. Areas with offensive odors should be cleaned  rather than covered up with sprays, except possibly after diaper changes.   Sprays should be used sparingly since sprays are not healthy for children.   Candles should never be burned while children are present.