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Child Care
Safety Checklist for Parents and Child
Care Providers
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- CRIBS: Make sure cribs meet current
national safety standards and are in good
condition. Look for a certification safety
seal. Older cribs may not meet current
standards. Crib slats should be no more than 2
3/8" apart, and mattresses should fit
snugly.
This can prevent strangulation and
suffocation associated with older cribs and
mattresses that are too small.
- SOFT BEDDING: Be sure that no
pillows, soft bedding, or comforters are used
when you put babies to sleep. Babies should be
put to sleep on their backs in a crib with a
firm, flat mattress.
This can help reduce Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation related to
soft bedding.
- PLAYGROUND SURFACING: Look for safe
surfacing on outdoor playgrounds - at least 12
inches of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea
gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber
or rubber-like materials.
This helps protect against injuries from
falls, especially head injuries.
- PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE: Check
playground surfacing and equipment regularly
to make sure they are maintained in good
condition.
This can help prevent injuries, especially
from falls.
- SAFETY GATES: Be sure that safety
gates are used to keep children away from
potentially dangerous areas, especially
stairs.
Safety gates can protect against many
hazards, especially falls.
- WINDOW BLIND AND CURTAIN CORDS: Be
sure miniblinds and venetian blinds do not
have looped cords. Check that vertical blinds,
continuous looped blinds, and drapery cords
have tension or tie-down devices to hold the
cords tight. Check that inner cord stops have
been installed. See www.windowcoverings.org
for the latest blind cord safety information.
These safety devices can prevent
strangulation in the loops of window blind and
curtain cords.
- CLOTHING DRAWSTRINGS: Be sure there
are no drawstrings around the hood and neck of
children's outerwear clothing. Other types of
clothing fasteners, like snaps, zippers, or
hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro),
should be used.
Drawstrings can catch on playground and
other equipment and can strangle young
children.
- RECALLED PRODUCTS: Check that no
recalled products are being used and that a
current list of recalled children's products
is readily visible.
Recalled products pose a threat of injury
or death. Displaying a list of recalled
products will remind caretakers and parents to
remove or repair potentially dangerous
children's toys and products.
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