The Questions You Should Ask Your Child Care Provider

Every morning parents head off to work. They entrust their child to a day care or child care provider. Are their children safe? This article examines what every parent should look for, when they send their child off to be cared for another.

From 2007 to 2010, 45 infants died in the State of Missouri, while in the hands of a child care provider. 35 of these were infants that died from reasons other than an existing illness. Most occurred as babies napped. Others died from falls or accidents.

Many of these deaths could have been avoided, if the care givers would have followed basic safety steps. What is sad, is that most care givers had thought they were over protecting the infants. Some deaths had occurred by an infant napping in an adult bed, near blankets or pillows and laying on their abdomens. Other deaths happened from various accidents.

Home care accidents and deaths happen because the State doesn't regulate child care in private homes. Many day cares fill up and have no vacancies. Parents have to use individuals for care services. Although their intentions are good, many of these individuals are not properly trained to do child care. In Missouri, a provider has to be licensed if they handle 5 or more children. Any under this is exempt.

What should a parent do? When selecting a child care provider, see if they have had safe sleep training. Check to see if they have had any training at all. They should have certificates of licenses on file. You also need to check their history with former employees and other parents.

Tour the day care or the home and look for red flags. Look at the sleep areas. Check the cleanliness in the bathrooms and kitchen areas. Observe how children are being supervised. Does the provider have a strong fenced in playground area? How close is the provided area to automobile traffic? How many care givers are their for the number of children in attendance? How do they administer medications? Do they have safe and clean toys? A good rule of thumb is to spend a day at the center with or without your child.

Individual child care providers might need training. If you rely on one individual, that person might need special training. There are many hospitals and organizations that do a good job of providing clinics. You might even provide this yourself for the provider.

Never chance anything. Always take your time in teaching the provider what they need to know. Cover all the bases. The provider should have knowledge on food, medications, sanitation measures, safe sleep measures, general child safety and contact information for parents and emergency personnel.

Only after careful consideration, should a child care provider be accepted for the parent.

sources; Nancy Cambria; stltoday.com