Immunizations help prevent serious disease. For immunizations to be effective, they must be given as scheduled. Researchers regularly discover new information concerning immunizations, including who should receive them and when, so you must stay up to date on the latest recommendations. You can learn more about immunization on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html. Part of your role as a family childcare provider is to get immunization information from families to ensure that your program is in compliance with all health-related regulations. Work with your Service or licensing agency to ensure you have the necessary health-related forms. It is equally important for providers to be immunized, so be sure to follow your Service's or licensing agency’s guidelines.

It is important to remember your service specific policies regarding maintaining healthy environments. In the learning section below are the specific policy and documentation required by Navy Child and Youth Programs regarding the exclusion and readmission of children. You should always contact your family childcare administrator if you have questions or concerns regarding a procedure.

Toys and Materials

One toy can be used by many children every day. Toys can become homes for germs, especially if children put them in their mouths, cough or sneeze on them, or touch them after toileting. It is very important to regularly clean and sanitize the toys in your home. Here is how:

• Keep a box or bin labeled “soiled toys.” When a child mouths a toy or coughs or sneezes on it, place the toy in the bin. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can keep soapy water in the bin, or the bin can be a dry spot for storing toys until you can clean them. Make sure you have cleaned and sanitized the toy before returning it to the learning environment.

• Clean activity spaces, dress-up clothes, and machine-washable cloth toys at least weekly.

• Clean hats daily.

• Clean mouthed toys after each use and sanitize them before returning them to the play area.

• You can put plastic toys in the dishwasher to clean and sanitize them.

The restroom is the location where germs and bacteria are most likely to spread. It is very important to keep toileting areas clean. These guidelines will help you limit contamination:

• Clean and disinfect any changing surfaces after each use.

• Clean and disinfect sinks and faucets daily. If the sink is also used for non-toileting routines, disinfect it after toileting use.

• Clean and disinfect countertops daily.

• Clean and disinfect floors daily.

It is important to provide a healthy environment for sleep. Lice and skin infections can be spread through blankets or bedding that are stored and cleaned improperly. Follow these guidelines for healthy sleep environments:

• Store each child’s bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows, sleeping bags) separately from the other children’s bedding.

• Launder sheets and pillowcases weekly and before they are used by another child.

• Clean cots and cribs weekly and before they are used by another child.

• Launder blankets monthly. If the blankets touch a child’s skin, clean weekly.

Lice and skin infections can also be spread through coats, jackets, hats, and personal belongings that are stored and cleaned improperly. Follow these suggestions for maintaining healthy environments:

• Store each child’s belongings (especially coats, hats, and jackets that may have contact with hair) separately from the other children’s belongings.

• Clean out cubbies or locker spaces before they are used by another child.

If your program uses a pool or offers water play or other experiences where children’s clothes can get wet or even damp with sweat, remember to encourage children to hang up play clothes to dry and take them home to be laundered daily. Mold and fungus can easily grow on damp, confined surfaces.

Several children in your program are finishing breakfast. One of your toddlers refused to use the restroom when she came in this morning. She said she did not need to go, washed her hands, and sat down for breakfast. Now as you walk to the kitchen to start cleaning up, you notice a puddle on the floor behind her seat. You think she spilled her drink, but you notice that her cup is full. You ask her to stand up so you can clean the puddle. You see then that her pants are all wet, and you suspect she had an accident.

You should do the following:

Make sure all children are safe and block off the soiled area.

Wash your hands and gather supplies.

Ask the child who had the accident to go into the restroom area while you gather supplies. Shaming or otherwise telling the child that she should have gone to the restroom when you asked her is not necessary. Accidents happen and young children are still learning about their bodies and natural consequences are just as important as following directions.

Put on gloves if required and follow changing procedures (see Apply section of this lesson) to help the child remove soiled clothing and clean herself.

Put soiled clothing in a sealed plastic bag to be sent home.

Clean your hands and the child’s hands with fresh disposable wipes.

Help the child get dressed in clean clothing.

Wash your hands and make sure the child washes her hands thoroughly. Then let her return to play in a supervised area.

Clean and disinfect the changing area. Wash your hands. Clean and disinfect the soiled area of your family child care program.

Wash your hands again.

What is Tummy Time?

One important component of infant safe sleep requirements is to always place babies on their backs to sleep. Putting infants to sleep on their backs has been shown to significantly reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, babies need to balance the time spent on their backs with time on their stomachs, to strengthen their core and neck muscles and to avoid flat spots on their heads. This is where tummy time comes in. It’s critical for anyone caring for an infant, from parents to childcare providers, to know about and practice safe tummy time.

Although we work hard to prevent accidents and ensure safe environments, emergencies can happen at any moment. As a family childcare provider, you have special roles in preparing for emergencies — you are the individual responsible for both development of and proper implementation of emergency plans. Being prepared and practicing for emergencies will help keep you and the children in your care safe and calm during stressful situations. This lesson will focus on helping you consider different emergencies, developing emergency plans, and preparing for different emergencies with documented drills.

All children should have basic knowledge of fire safety to feel less fearful and be able to help themselves.

All drills should be taken seriously so you are able to protect the children in your care should there be an actual storm or fire.

Fire plans must include two exits out of every room, having a fire extinguisher on the premises, knowing how to use it and having an agreed upon meeting place outside.

Have the children practice both walking out, and crawling. Teach that both heat and smoke rise and the safest place is close to the floor. Also teach that doors need to be checked before they are opened. Check the door closer to the top, using the same theory that heat rises.

Make certain that any and all escape routes are free of clutter. You don't want children to have to maneuver around objects or move items in an attempt to escape.