Choosing Safe and Healthy Childcare

A Checklist

Finding a safe and nurturing childcare situation from your child can be an overwhelming task, but the following guidelines from the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care can help make your task easier.

Considering these guidelines can help you find a place where you feel comfortable leaving your child.

Supervision

• Are children supervised at all times, even when they are sleeping?
• How do the caregivers discipline children?

Hint: Discipline should be positive, clear, consistent and fair.

Hand Washing and Diapering

• Do all caregivers and children wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the bathroom and changing diapers?
• Is the place where diapers are changed clean?
• Do caregivers always keep a hand on the child while diapering?
• Do caregivers remove the soiled diaper without dirtying any surface not already in contact with stool or urine?
• Do caregivers clean and sanitize the surface after finishing the changing process?

Hint: Hands should be scrubbed with soap and water for at least 10 seconds and then rinsed and dried. The water faucet should be turned off with a paper towel.

Director Qualifications

• Does the director of a childcare center have a bachelor's degree in a child-related field?
• Has the director worked in childcare for at least two years?
• Does the director understand what children need to grow and learn?

Lead Teacher Qualifications

Want to see more?

• Preschool Checklist
• Nanny Search 101
• Toddlers in Daycare: Easing the Transition
• Talk about it!