Children who are in day care are more likely to get infections than kids who aren't, but there are steps you can take to protect your child from picking up a nasty bug. Start by choosing the right day care center. Before you even sign your child up, visit the center and take the time to watch the caregivers. Do they wash their hands before and after changing diapers, helping with potty visits and feeding kids meals and snacks? Are wet and dirty diapers disposed of properly? Does the center wash toys regularly?
Before she starts going to day care, make sure your child is up-to-date on all her immunizations; if she has any health problems, be sure to discuss them with the staff. Once she starts going to day care regularly, make it a habit of washing her hands thoroughly when she gets home -- before she has a chance to touch her own toys or siblings. Clean any items that she may have brought home from the center, like her lunchbox or a borrowed toy. And have a backup plan for someone else who can watch your child if she gets sick, so that you aren't tempted to send her to day care anyway: Not sending a sick child to day care is key to helping prevent infection in other children.
Children who are in day care are more likely to get infections than
kids who aren't, but there are steps you can take to protect your
child from picking up a nasty bug. Start by choosing the right day
care center. Before you even sign your child up,...
More
Stacy Wiegman answered:Children who are in day care are more likely to get infections than kids who aren't, but there are steps you can take to protect your child from picking up a nasty bug. Start by choosing the right day care center. Before you even sign your child up, visit the center and take the time to watch the caregivers. Do they wash their hands before and after changing diapers, helping with potty visits and feeding kids meals and snacks? Are wet and dirty diapers disposed of properly? Does the center wash toys regularly?
It can be difficult, if not impossible, to fully prevent infections from day care. If your child is old enough, you can encourage her or him to wash hands frequently, and especially before snack and mealtimes. If you are particularly concerned, you can also ask the staff what kind of precautions they take. The best thing you can do on your part is to make sure your child's immunizations are up-to-date. Immunizations protect your child against several highly contagious and potentially dangerous diseases.It can be difficult, if not impossible, to fully prevent infections from day care. If your child is old enough, you can encourage her or him to wash hands frequently, and especially before snack and mealtimes. If you are particularly... More