Child Care Centres

Infection control at these organizations are essential to protect against the spreading of bacteria and viruses.

Child Care Centres include centres that have five or more children.

Our infection control practices include:

• Observation of the disease and appropriate outbreak management response.
• Implementation of diapering/toileting policies which include sanitizing surfaces and hand hygiene.
• Cleaning and disinfection of toys, surfaces, bedding and linens.
• Ensure a safe environment, safe activities, safe toys for children.
• Supervise any animal interaction.
• Promote proper personal hygiene and hand washing of child care workers and children.

For Managing Infections and Exclusion Guidelines for Child Care Providers and Schools, click here.

Pre-Entrance Tuberculosis (TB) Requirements for Employees, Providers, and Volunteers in Child Care Centres

Pre-Employment Health Form for Employees, Providers, and Volunteers in Child Care Centres

Importance of Infection Control in Child Care Centres

The children in a child care centre are more likely to pick up infections because they:

• Have limited immunity.
• Have limited personal hygiene.
• Have a lot of personal contact.

Best Infection Control Practices

Handwashing

In order to prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses or parasites from person to person, hands of child care workers should be washed between direct child contacts.

Children should be reminded to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

Parents and visitors should take the same precautions to protect themselves, their relatives and friends.

All staff and visitors should wash hands or use hand sanitizer before entering and exiting the facility.

Other Precautions

• Children and staff need to be immunized for certain routine immunization. Influenza vaccine is recommended yearly. See the Immunization & Vaccine Preventable Diseases page for details.
• Food should be carefully handled and monitored in all child care facilities to prevent any possible food borne illness. Parents sometimes bring food or treats to children. This may result in food borne illness if the food is stored improperly before being eaten. If you want to bring food for your own child, it is best to give it to staff so they can refrigerate it until served.
• Outbreaks should be managed well. In the event of an outbreak of infectious illness (fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.) there should be some changes in the routine to try to stop the spread. These may include:
  • Restriction on children and staff.
  • Restriction on social activities.
  • Temporary shifting of rooms to isolate ill or exposed children from the others.

What if My Child Is Sick?

Children and staff should not attend the centre when they have diarrhea and when they have certain infectious diseases. Check Managing Infections and Exclusion Guidelines for Child Care Providers and Schools for the exclusion guidelines for common childhood infections.

Children should not be placed in any other child care setting but should remain at home until they get better.

If in doubt, check with the centre administrator.

Germs brought in with a child or staff can sometimes start an outbreak of illness that can affect everyone.