Infant Day Care

An infant in day care

Reliable infant day care is something today's parents spend months investigating before dropping their babies off at a children's center or home day care provider. Choosing infant day care is one of the most important decisions parents make for the welfare of their babies. Knowing what to look for in a day care setting is of utmost importance when choosing a safe, loving environment for infants. There are many issues to consider when investigating day care for infants and how their needs will be met.

Nurturing Infant Provider

A nurturing infant day care provider

Infants require that both their physical and emotional needs be met. A caring infant day care provider takes care of these needs by making infants feel loved and comfortable. Day care providers should relate to the infants with a relaxed, happy attitude. Smiling, singing, talking, touching, and cuddling are necessary activities for every infant's day care experience.

Objects of Interest

Colorful mobile over the infant's crib.

Infants are fascinated by brightly colored toys and mobiles. The day care center should provide a variety of these interests for babies. Colorful mobiles hung over the diaper area and cribs show that the day care provider cares about the infants' welfare.
Many colored pictures on the wall of the nursery room are also visual appealing to infants. Babies glance from one picture to another and eventually reach out toward them. The infant's cognitive abilities are strengthened through eye contact with various visually fascinating objects.

Activities

A small sensory baby toy for holding and putting in the baby's mouth

Activities in a day care center might include: listening to soft, soothing music and wind chimes. Rattles and cradle gyms are ideal for infants to learn motor control. Infants also reach for small manipulatives and skill building toys like, blocks, shapes, colored balls, and stuffed dolls. Even in infancy, they will watch small toys that are moved back and forth in front of them. They visually follow the toys, especially if the objects are making noise. Objects with sensory appeal to infants include: musical toys that play a series of songs or sounds, fuzzy stuffed animals or squishy balls that have different textures, and toys with moving parts for developing coordination in infants.

Infant Hygiene

Day care diaper changing area

Infant day care good hygiene practices are vital to the health of infants. The diapering area of the day care should be clean and sanitary. Be sure that the day care center has the needed supplies at hand when diapering infants. A disposable covering should be placed over the changing table before laying the infant on the surface. Check that a safety strap is used for the infant while diapering and that providers never leave the baby unattended while changing diapers.

After removal of the soiled diaper, the baby's bottom should be washed with non-allergenic baby wipes or soft paper towels moistened with water. Permission must be obtained from parents if diaper ointment is required. After changing the soiled diaper, the provider's hands and the baby's hands should be washed and the protective covering removed from the changing table. Soiled diapers, baby wipes, and changing table cover should be removed from the day care area immediately. Also,ask the day care provider if the surface of the changing table is always disinfected with a bleach solution after diapering.

CPR and First Aid Certification

Day care first aid kit

Infant day care providers are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. Ask to see the current certification cards to ensure the safety of infants in emergency situations. A CPR certification showing the day care provider knows first aid and CPR could mean the life or death of an infant.

Licensed Infant Day Care

Registering an infant in a state-licensed day care is the best option for parents. The day care center or home provider must meet the day care regulations of the state and undergo training and home inspections in order to be licensed. Knowing that a licensed infant day care provider is caring for an infant relieves some of the worry and stress of making a decision about child care. Licensed day care providers are required to meet certain standards including: CORI check, home safety regulations, serves nutritional meals, discipline regulations, limited number of infants and children per provider, outdoor and indoor space requirements, references, a physical examination, and a mandatory number of hours for child care training.

References

• Child Care Aware: Why Choosing Quality Child Care Matters
• "Home-Based Business Family Day Care"; Connie Bettis; 2006
• "Caring for Other People's Children"; Francis Kemper Alston; 1996

Resources

• The New Parent's Guide: Choosing a Day Care Center