Child Care
Child care providers play the vital role of caring for our children while parents are at work. It’s important to keep communication open and ongoing between parents and providers. Below find some tips and resources to help keep kids safe.
Safe Sleep:
Unintentional suffocation is the leading cause of injury-related death among children under 1 year of age. Nearly three-quarters of suffocation deaths among infants are from accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed.
Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to communicate with each other about safety recommendations, sleep positions, baby proofing, emergency planning, and expectations of care for the child. Our Safe Sleep Tip Sheet has information and recommended safety guidelines for both parents and childcare providers on safe sleep environments - specifically safe sleep position, the danger of unaccustomed tummy sleeping, use of an approved crib or playpen, and guidelines for adequate supervision.
Communication regarding infant care practices at home and away from home can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS) as well as unintentional suffocation and strangulation. Two way communications between parents and caregivers, such as relatives and childcare providers, regarding safe sleep practices may very well save a child’s life. This important conversation needs to take place before the very first day the child is cared for and should be reinforced by both the parent and the caregivers on a regular basis.
Click here for a printable copy of the Safe Sleep Tip Sheet for parents and childcare providers.
www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Preventing-SIDS.aspx
What does a Safe Sleep Environment Look Like – Back to Sleep Campaign
View a short video on how to create a safe sleep environment for your child: www.safesleepkansas.org
Recalls.gov for crib recalls.
Child Care Providres Guide to New Crib Standards
Transportation:
Child care providers have an opportunity to play an important role in keeping kids safe. Not only in the day-to-day care and safe environment they provide, but also through communication and policy. Over half of all children who die from heatstroke in a motor vehicle were forgotten by a parent who believed the child was safely at child care. To help prevent this scenario, the following policy is recommended for child care providers.
“If a child who is scheduled to arrive at the center does not arrive within SPECIFY TIME FRAME minutes after the specified time on the written agreement signed by the parent, and I have not been notified in advance of the child’s absence, I will attempt to contact the parent or guardian to determine the child’s whereabouts. All attempts, whether successful or unsuccessful, will be documented.”
If the child care provider transports children in their care, it is recommended that they enact a process of checking children in and out of the vehicle and do a final check to ensure sleeping or silent children are not accidentally left in the vehicle.
Child Care Providers have an opportunity to participate in either in-person or online training related to child safety and receive continuing education hours towards re-licensure. The following classes are now available:
Infant Safe Sleep Practices - http://kccto.org/programs/online-learning/course-descriptions
Child Care Transportation Safety www.ktsro.org/basic-car-seat-trainings
Additional Resources:
Kansas Child Care Licensing www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/index.html
Child Care Aware of Kansas www.ks.childcareaware.org/