Today’s daycare has made many strides and progress not only to provide care, but also introduce learning programs to advance your child’s education.  Please realize I speak in a very general tone based off of my experience.  Some may not have as many policies as the center my son attends.  My son’s center is an environmentally friendly center that has made great attempts to provide an allergy-free, €œgreen€ learning environment.  Children are separated by age groups.  Each group has their day structured around learning applications that are age appropriate.  As a new parent without friends that had children in daycare, I’ve had to learn about the policies and procedures on my own.

Basic Policies and Rules:

• The daycare may require you to label and date all of the child’s belongings to reduce items going home with the wrong child.  This includes bottles, bottle caps, sippy cups, feeding utensils and containers, clothing, toys, diapers, wipes, etc. The daycare may ask bottles containing breast milk to be marked with a specific label as a  special measure to ensure your baby’s milk is not given to another child.

• Any application of topical lotions or other applications require release forms that are filled out by the parent allowing the center permission apply the lotions.  This includes diaper cream, sunblock, orajel, and any prescription ointments.  Release forms are also required for any medications that must be given throughout the day and may require a doctor’s prescription.

• The daycare should  contact you (depending on the degree of injury) and provide an incident report if an injury occurs to your child while in the care of the daycare facility.

• The center should notify the parent of a possible risk exposure to infectious diseases such as the flu, infectious rash, head lice, etc.  The daycare may have these notices posted in the bulletin section of the center, so make sure to check.

• If your child has three or more loose bowel movements (this number may vary), a fever higher than 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, vomiting, skin rash, eye infections, or any other concerns that may cause the facility to make a decision that the child may be contagious or too sick to remain at the center, the parent must pick up the child.  You may be required to get a doctor’s note or wait exactly 24 hours upon the return of your child back to the daycare, assuming the child is well.   Antibiotics cause loose bowels because it kills the natural bacterium in the digestive tract.  If your child is prescribed antibiotics for any reason, I suggest having the doctor write a note that the child is on antibiotics, which may cause loose bowels.  The doctor must state that the child is not contagious.  Teething can also cause a fever, so if the doctor suspects that this is the cause for fussiness and fever, have them write a note to the daycare center.

• Your facility may require you to wash your hands and your child’s hands before entering the child’s designated learning room during drop-off.  I think this is a great policy to keep bacteria and viruses at a minimum.  It teaches your child to get into the habit of washing their hands.

• The daycare center has the right to expel your child from returning to the facility if the behavior of the child is determined to be a major, on-going disruption to the rest of the children and faculty.

• The daycare center has an obligation to report excessive injuries to the Department of Family and Child Services if they determine that the child may be experiencing child neglect or abuse.  They should have an employee that is well trained to make this determination.

• The daycare has the right to not release the child to the parent or designated guardian if they suspect that the parent or guardian is under the influence of any substance that puts a child’s safety at risk.  If this is suspected, they will hold the child, call the authorities, and call one of your designated caregivers to pick the child up.

• The daycare may require you to notify them when the child will not be at the center, meaning that if you keep your child at home due to illness, or you take a family vacation.  This allows them to properly staff their facility.

• Only people designated by the parents are allowed to pick the child up, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or a trusted friend. You must put their contact information down in the event of an emergency and you, the parent, cannot be reached.  They will have to provide proof of identification upon picking the child up.

It is important to understand your daycare center’s policy so that you know their expectations and requirements.  These are just a few common policies. It’s important to get this information upon your child’s enrollment.

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