Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 38, September 20, 2024
11.1.
A facility providing care for children 24 months or age or younger shall have
sufficient space for the following:
11.1.a.
Separate indoor and outdoor play areas for infants and toddlers away from those
used by older children and
11.1.b.
A quiet sleeping area with sufficient space to allow at least two feet between
infant cribs, portable packs and play yards, beds, or cots
11.2. Staff shall place an infant who is
unable to turn over independently on his or her back to sleep unless medical
documentation prohibits sleep in that position.
11.3. Staff shall use only a firm crib
mattress covered by a sheet for sleep and keep soft objects and loose bedding
out of an infant's sleeping environment.
11.4. Staff shall clothe infants lightly for
sleep and keep the sleeping area at a temperature that is comfortable for
lightly clothed adults.
11.5. The
facility shall provide indoor and outdoor play materials and equipment suitable
for staff to use with infants and toddlers. Materials and equipment shall be
physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially stimulating for the children.
Equipment shall be:
11.5.a. Durable, safe, in
good repair, and free of potentially hazardous characteristics such as sharp
edges, small objects, and toxic paint; and
11.5.b. Maintained in a sound, sanitary
condition.
11.6. The use
of jumpers and infant walkers is prohibited
11.7. Effective December 28, 2012, the use of
traditional drop side cribs, and any crib manufactured prior to June 28, 2011,
is prohibited. Stackable cribs shall not be used. A family child care facility
shall:
11.7.a. Only use cribs that comply with
the Consumer Product Safety Commission crib standards, and were manufactured
after June 28, 2011, and any portable pack and play yards manufactured after
February 19, 2014;
11.7.b. Supply
separate cribs or portable packs and play yards for infants. Portable packs and
play yards shall not be used for infants able to climb; and
11.7.c. Have bars no farther than 2 3/8
inches apart.
11.8.
Diapering practices shall comply with the provisions of the Bureau for Public
Health's Child Care Centers Rule, 64 CSR 21.
11.9. Toilet Training.
11.9.a. The operator shall discuss and agree
upon toilet training methods with the parent of each child being toilet
trained.
11.9.b. Toilet training
shall not be initiated until the child is developmentally ready to control
toileting functions.
11.9.c. Potty
or training chairs shall be provided and shall be disinfected after each
use.
11.9.d. No child shall be
forced to sit in a training chair for extended periods of time.
11.10. Infant Nutrition and
Feeding. Facilities shall:
11.10.a. Hold
infants six months of age and younger while bottle feeding. Bottle propping is
prohibited;
11.10.b. Hold infants
and toddlers with special needs over six months of age while bottle feeding
until they are able to hold their own bottles securely;
11.10.c. Refrigerate infant food and formula
and feed infants in a sanitary manner;
11.10.d. Discard any unused breast milk
within two hours of feeding;
11.10.e. Offer drinking water to infants and
toddlers several times daily;
11.10.f. Feed children according to plans of
the child's physician or other health care provider, clinic, or
parent;
11.10.g. Clearly mark
formula bottles and breast milk with the child's name; and
11.10.h. Encourage older infants and toddlers
to feed themselves with supportive help from staff as needed.
11.11. High chairs shall be
provided with safety straps and shall have a wide base to reduce the
possibility of tipping.
11.12. The
facility and staff shall provide activities for infants and toddlers to
stimulate their physical, intellectual, and emotional growth. Activities shall
include:
11.12.a. Opportunities to interact
with caregivers, siblings, and other children;
11.12.b. Frequent verbal communication and
eye-to-eye contact between staff and children;
11.12.c. Opportunities for the child to be
held, rocked, played with, and dressed in an unhurried manner;
11.12.d. Opportunities for children to
explore and learn on their own in a protected area with the freedom to creep,
crawl, toddle, and walk as they are physically able;
11.12.e. Frequent moves of infants who are
unable to climb and are awake and alert to different locations. Infants shall
not routinely be left in a crib or portable packs and play yard except for rest
or sleep. They may be left for short periods of time, however, if they are
alert and responsive and provision is made for stimulating activity in the form
of mobiles or other safe crib toys;
11.12.f. Use of infant seats, swings, and
high chairs when used for periods of less than one hour and only if direct
supervision is provided and the infant is content;
11.12.g. Opportunities to play with safe,
nontoxic, and age-appropriate toys which are stored in low, open shelves for
easy access;
11.12.h. Practice in
self-care habits such as washing, dressing, brushing or combing hair, or
toileting as the child shows evidence of the ability to do so;
11.12.i. Play with a wide variety of
toys;
11.12.j. Opportunities for
children to express themselves through conversation and imaginative play;
and
11.12.k. Opportunities for the
child to participate in art and craft activities and to run, climb, and engage
in other physical activities.
11.13. Staff shall give immediate attention
to the emotional and physical needs of a child. Crying shall be attended to
immediately.
11.14. Continuity of
care shall be provided. The facility shall assign each infant or toddler to a
primary caregiver who shall feed, diaper, and play with the child on a daily
basis to provide the reassurance and bonding necessary for the child's healthy
development.
