South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 114 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Article 5 - LICENSING
Subarticle 1 - DAY CARE FACILITIES
REGULATIONS FOR THE LICENSING OF GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES
Section 114-519 - Infant and Toddler Care, Care for Mildly Ill Children, and Night Care
Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 114-519
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
A. Infant and toddler care
(1) Stimulation and nurturing.
(a) Children shall not remain in their cribs
or play equipment for other than sleeping and specific, short time-limited
quiet play.
(b) Infants and
toddlers shall be routinely held, talked to, rocked, caressed, carried,
nurtured, read to, sung to and played with throughout the day.
(c) There shall be toys and materials that
encourage and stimulate children through seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling and
tasting.
(2) Programs
for infants and toddlers.
(a) Staff shall
provide appropriate attention to the needs of children.
(b) The daily program for infants and
toddlers shall include goals for children, which promote healthy child
development and allow for individual choice and exploration.
(c) Information about the child's daily needs
and activities shall be shared with parents.
(3) Feeding, eating and drinking.
(a) Cups and bottles shall be labeled with
the child's name and used only by that child.
(b) Infants shall be fed in accordance with
the time schedule, specific food and beverage items and quantities as specified
by the parent.
(c) Infants shall be
held while being bottle fed until they are able to hold their own bottles.
Bottles shall not be propped or given in cribs or on mats.
(d) Due to nutritional concerns, the
microwaving of breast milk is prohibited. The microwaving of formula and other
beverages is strongly discouraged due to the possibility of a burn injury to
the child. However, if the facility plans to use this method of heating formula
and other beverages, they must notify all parents in writing as part of the
enrollment or orientation process.
(e) All warmed bottles shall be shaken well
and the temperature tested before feeding to a child.
(f) Baby formula, juice, and food served in a
bottle shall be prepared, ready to feed, identified, and packaged for single
use for the appropriate user. Any excess formula, juice or food shall be
discarded after each feeding. Formula, juice and food requiring refrigeration
shall be maintained at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
(g) Infants and toddlers shall not sleep with
bottles in their mouths.
(h)
Toddlers shall be offered water routinely throughout the day.
(i) Breast milk and formula shall be dated
and labeled with the child's name and refrigerated until ready to
use.
(j) Food for infants shall be
cut in pieces one-quarter inch or less.
(k) Food for toddlers shall be cut in pieces
one half inch or less.
(4) Feeding chairs.
(a) Feeding chairs shall have a stable
base.
(b) Feeding chairs shall have
a T-shaped safety strap that prevents the child from slipping or climbing out
of the chair. The safety strap shall be used at all times the child is in the
chair.
(c) Feeding chair trays
shall be in good repair and made of an easily cleanable surface and shall not
have chips or cracks.
(d) Feeding
chairs shall be used only for eating or a specific, short time-limited tabletop
play activity.
(e) Seat heights of
feeding chairs shall be appropriate to the age and development of the child.
Feeding chairs shall be in good repair and children shall be constantly
supervised.
(5)
Sleeping.
(a) Infants shall be placed on their
backs to sleep unless the parent provides a note from a physician specifying
otherwise.
(b) Crib mobiles shall
not be permitted for infants or toddlers who can sit.
(c) Two years from the effective date of
these regulations, stacked cribs will no longer be permitted.
(6) Equipment and materials.
(a) Indoor space shall be protected from
general walkway where crawling children may be on the floor.
(b) Mobile walkers are not
permitted.
B. Care for mildly ill children
(1) Parent
notification and instructions.
(a) If a child
becomes ill while in care, the operator shall notify the parent or responsible
party immediately.
(b) If a child
may have been exposed to a serious communicable disease that is spread through
casual contact, the group child care home shall notify the parents of all
potentially exposed children about the nature of the illness and the potential
exposure to the illness, and recommend consultation with the child's
physician.
(c) If an operator
chooses to provide care to a mildly ill child, the operator shall receive
instructions from the parent for any special care needs of the child.
(2) Policies and procedures.
(a) If an operator chooses to provide care to
a mildly ill child, the group child care home shall have written policies and
procedures specifying inclusion and exclusion from the group, communication
with parents, recording of illness and care provided, specific types of
illnesses and symptoms which prohibit care from being provided, special staff
training required and emergency health procedures.
(b) Children shall be excluded when they
exhibit the conditions listed in the DHEC Exclusion Policy.
(c) If a child is in a rest area due to
illness, the child shall be supervised at all times.
C. Night care
(1) In group child care homes providing
overnight care, at least two adults shall be on the premises at all times,
physically near, readily accessible, and responsible for the ongoing activity
of each child and able to intervene when needed.
(2) The operator shall present written
evidence that a plan has been worked out whereby an additional, outside person
can be quickly summoned to assist in an emergency.
(3) Sleeping equipment.
(a) Each child shall have a bed with a solid
foundation, a fire retardant mattress, a pillow, and bedding appropriate for
the temperature of the group child care home.
(b) Cots and portable beds are not
permitted.
(4) Bedtime.
(a) Children shall be provided the
opportunity to read or be read to before bedtime.
(b) There shall be books, games, and other
quiet time activities for the child prior to bedtime.
(c) Special bedtime routines as specified by
the parent shall be followed to the extent feasible.
(5) Bathing.
(a) If children bathe at the group child care
home, there shall be a bathtub or shower with a slip resistant
surface.
(b) Each child shall have
his or her own clean towel and washcloth.
(6) Night clothes.
(a) The group child care home shall make
arrangements with the parent to provide clean appropriate nightclothes.
REGULATIONS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF CHILD CARE CENTERS OPERATED BY CHURCHES OR RELIGIOUS ENTITIES
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