Medical Records
Medical examinations and immunization records must be provided upon enrollment and kept current for children under 5 years old.
We cannot permit attendance unless the immunization records on file meet our local child care licensing regulations. If you wish to request a religious, personal, or medical exemption to our practice of securing necessary medical documents or immunization records, please contact your Center Administrator.
Medications
Whenever possible, we recommend that you administer medications at home. To help with medication scheduling, you may consider asking your health care provider for prescriptions with 12-hour dosages. At the center, medications (not including fever-reducing treatments) will be administered in accordance with local child care licensing regulations and the policies described below. If licensing regulations differ from our policies, the more stringent guidelines always apply.
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication
For a staff member to administer any medication to your child, you must complete all required paperwork provided by your Center Administrator.
Bring medication in its original container in a clear bag. Clearly label the container and bag with your child’s first and last name.
Prescription medication must include a prescription label with your child’s name, specific dispensing instructions, a current date, and printed information about any possible side effects.
For nonprescription medications, we must follow the manufacturer’s directions on the label unless you provide written instructions from a physician that say otherwise.
For us to apply topical nonprescription medications, including sunscreen, you’ll need to complete a Topical Ointment Authorization Form.
If your child is under the age of two, we require written instructions from a physician before we can give your child any nonprescription medication.
Do not store medication in diaper bags, lunch bags, backpacks, or any other personal belongings.
We do not mix medication with food, formula, or juice, nor will we dispense any medication in a bottle or cup.
Unused medications must be taken home every Friday or on the child’s last day of attendance each week, except for emergency medication and medication needed by school-aged children who do not arrive with their parents or guardians on their first day of the week. Our center cannot store medications over the weekend.
Our center staff are trained in CPR and Emergency First Aid. We are not licensed to provide medical care, and our team members are not trained to provide medical care.
Allergies
If your child has allergies, please inform your Center Administrator and list the allergen information on your Enrollment Agreement so we can take the right precautions to protect your child’s health.
Your Center Administrator, in partnership with our team members, will gladly work with you and your child’s doctor to accommodate your child’s dietary needs. Allergies to cow’s milk require written authorization from your family physician or pediatrician to substitute the required milk component. Soy milk requires written authorization from your doctor; however, Lactaid is acceptable if you provide it for your child.
Due to severe nut allergies, we ask that you refrain from bringing items containing nuts to the center. If your child has severe allergies that may require a medical response (such as the use of an EpiPen), please let your Center Administrator know so we can take care of any paperwork and training that might be needed.
School-aged children may be permitted to carry their own prescribed or emergency medication, such as an inhaler, when a Medication Authorization Form has been completed and signed by the parent/guardian and all applicable center requirements have been met. Please speak with your Center Administrator regarding medication procedures.
Handwashing
Teaching your child the importance of handwashing at an early age helps maintain their health and helps your child take an active role in staying healthy. Your child will be required to wash their hands upon entering the center, before eating, after bathroom visits, when returning from outside, and at other times built into our curriculum throughout the day to reinforce safe and healthy habits.
We encourage you to reinforce handwashing at home. To make the task fun, you may want to use special liquid soap (there are many child-friendly brands and scents available) or soap in your child’s favorite color. If your child sees handwashing as a fun activity, they’re more inclined to make it a habit! We teach children to wash their hands while singing the Happy Birthday song, since this is about the time it takes for a child to wash their hands thoroughly.
