Group Child Care: Health and Safety
Topic Overview
Make sure sound health- and safety-related policies are followed at any child
care facility you are considering for your child. Ask about the following
issues, and get written documentation if possible:
- Is smoking banned from the
facility?
- Do all children and staff have up-to-date immunizations?
How are immunizations monitored?
- What procedures do staff follow
when a child becomes ill? What precautions do they take to help prevent the
spread of illness? Children should not be allowed in group child care if they
are not physically able to participate in activities because of illness or if
they are too ill to be taken care of by staff without jeopardizing the safety
of other children.1
- Will staff give
prescribed medicine?
- How are parents notified when a child at the
facility has a highly contagious or serious illness?
- Is play equipment safe?
- Are toxins out of reach?
- Are all
caregivers trained and committed to placing infants to sleep on their backs (to
reduce the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome[SIDS])? About 20% of SIDS
deaths occur in child care settings.2
References
Citations
-
American Academy of Pediatrics (2009). Children in out-of-home child care. In LK Pickering et al., eds., Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 28th ed., pp. 124–140. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
-
Moon RY, et al. (2003). Nighttime child care:
Inadequate sudden infant death syndrome risk factor knowledge, practice, and
policies. Pediatrics, 111(4): 795–799.
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
|
Last Revised
|
February 17, 2012 |
Last Revised:
February 17, 2012
American Academy of Pediatrics (2009). Children in out-of-home child care. In LK Pickering et al., eds., Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 28th ed., pp. 124–140. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Moon RY, et al. (2003). Nighttime child care:
Inadequate sudden infant death syndrome risk factor knowledge, practice, and
policies. Pediatrics, 111(4): 795–799.
