How Does Your Child Care Program Keep Illness from Spreading?
Germs can spread quickly in a child care setting. Little hands and toys frequently find their ways to mouths; fingers into nostrils. Then, these same hands, toys and fingers touch a friend’s mouth, a door handle or a new toy and it is germ city!
If you have not already, check in with your child’s teacher to find out what the sick policy is and how the child care program helps keep the children in their care healthy.
Questions to ask regarding the sick policy:
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- When should a child who is sick stay home from child care?
- When a child was at child care with a highly infectious sickness, how will the care giver alert other parents?
- If your child becomes sick at child care, how will it be handled?
- What plans are in place to lower the chances of my child getting sick from another ill child?
- If your child has a mild illness like a cold, will he be allowed to attend child care?
- When are children who have had a fever or vomited allowed to return to child care?
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| Birth to 1 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 5 | |
| Babies love to put toys in their mouth. How does your child care provider make sure they are sanitized daily as not to infect other children? | Ask if the diaper areas are sanitized after each use and if the children’s toilets/bathrooms are sanitized each day. | Are there sinks in every room? Are there separate sinks for preparing food and washing hands? Do the children use disposable towels so that they each have their own towel to dry their hands? | One of the best ways to cut down illnesses at your child care is to make sure everyone is washing their hands often and thoroughly! This includes upon arrival, after sand or water play, before and after eating, etc. | Kids who have had a fever or vomited within the last 24 hours should stay home from child care. Is this your care provider's policy too? | |
| Label your child’s bottles and pacifiers. | Be certain your contact information is up-to-date in order for your provider to reach you regarding their health. | Label all of your child’s items: drinking cups, towels, clothes, etc. | Proper hand washing is perfect for combating illness, ask your provider how often do the children wash their hands. | Child care providers and children should all receive the flu vaccine in order to reduce the risk of illness. |
Need More Information?
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