Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Early Care and Early Education Programs

The new 3rd edition contains updated guidelines on the development and evaluation of the health and safety of children in all types of early care and education settings - centers and family child care homes.

Features 10 chapters of 686 standards and 39 appendices

• Total of 58 new standards and 15 new appendices
• New and revised standards in all areas
• Easy-to-read 2-column format

Key areas of change include

• Use of early childhood mental health consultants and early education consultants
• Monitoring children's development and obtaining consent for screening
• Positive behavior management
• Limiting screen time
• Promoting physical activity
• Swaddling
• Healthy eating
• Encouraging breastfeeding
• Hand sanitizers
• Sun safety and sunscreen
• Integrated pest management
• Influenza control
• Environmentally friendly settings and use of least toxic products

Updated and new appendices including

• Creating plan for children with special health care needs
• Helmet safety
• Helping children in foster care make successful transitions
• Medication administration forms
• A poster on encouraging breastfeeding in early care and education programs
• Authorization for emergency medical/dental care
• Healthier eating as shown in the USDA MyPlate, which replaces MyPyramid to support healthier food choices