Research shows that despite the facilities or number of staff that a daycare center has, the true indicator of the quality of a childcare program directly relates to the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the adult professionals who work there. Regardless of experience and qualifications, ongoing professional and personal development is critical.
Part of every good professional development plan is being a lifelong learner and an excellent planner. Below is a complete checklist of the different aspects of infant care, needs, and changes that daycare staff should consider:
1. Baby Needs to Take Note of When Caring for Infants
With infants, some things happen automatically, while some need coaxing. Care providers cannot dictate a baby’s action. They are there to serve, regardless of the need or how hard it appears. Infants essentially need the following five things from caregivers:
- Food:Feed babies below six months old breast milk or infant formula only, or the diet dictated by their parents. It usually includes soft foods like mashed bananas. Also, do not give the following foods to infants below one-year-old: honey, cow’s milk, fruit juice, candy, unpasteurized foods, chocolate allergenic foods (like eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, strawberries).
- Burping: Be keen on the babies that require burping.
- Changing:Regularly check for soiled or soaking wet diapers.
- Sleep:Stick to the babies’ nap schedules.
- Attention:Infants love attention, and their brains soak up everything within their environment.
Look out for the following baby changes. While the sounds discussed below are generalized, most babies will make similar sounds based on their needs, according to the Dustan Baby Language theory. They are as follows:
- “Neh,” with a sucking motion, means the baby is hungry.
- “Owh,” similarly to the start of a yawn, means baby is tired.
- “Heh” shows discomfort or distress, such as from a full diaper.
- “Eairh,” with pushing or grunting sound, reveals a baby’s gut hurts. It could be because they have an upset stomach or have to pass gas or poop. If it persists, gently push up the infant’s knees up to the belly to help get the poop out.
- “Eh,” (short sound) means baby is probably trying to release a burp.
Run the following checks if a baby is crying and you have no clue why:
- Check the diaper
- Play with the infant
- Try feeding (give it a few tries)
- Burp the baby
- Do some bicycle pumps
- Hug, hold and walk around with the infant
- Try and put him or her to sleep
If nothing happens, check the temperature using a thermometer.
2. General Care Checklist
- The daycare room is bright and cheerful.
- Ensure that you maintain fresh air and healthy heating or cooling conditions.
- Keep diapering, feeding, play, and sleeping areas separate.
- Label the cribs, clothing, bedding, feeding utensils, or diapers with the respective child’s name.
- Arrange the space to enable infants to enjoy quiet play safely with enough space to roll-over and objects or toys they can explore.
- Keep bright, interesting objects at the infants’ eye level.
- Provide soft, clean surfaces for sitting and lying.
- Take infants outside for fresh air.
- Keep all floors and surfaces clean.
- Have enough clean water for washing.
3. Safe Sleep Practices Checklist
- Infants have a safe sleeping area free from falls or other hazards.
- Put all infants to sleep on their backs.
- Sleep spaces consist of a firm sleep surface like a crib or mattress.
- Sleep spaces are free of soft objects, loose bedding, crib bumpers, and toys.
- Regularly check on sleeping infants to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
- Infants sleep in their designated sleep spaces.
- During rest or sleep time, care providers can hear and see the infants at all times.
- Post safe sleep infant practices within the sleeping area to remind volunteers, substitutes, and even staff.
- Post sign by the infant sleep area to indicate whether or not they can roll-over.
- Take measures to reduce smoke exposure.
4. Health and Safety Checklist
- Ensure that all outdoor and indoor environments are clear of broken equipment, peeling or chipped paint, and tripping hazards.
- Lock away all cleaning supplies and other chemicals out of the reach of the infants.
- Keep toys safe, clean, and within reach of the babies.
- Take all precautionary measures to prevent second- or third-hand smoke exposure.
5. Nutrition: Eating and Drinking Checklist
- Hold infants while feeding them infant formula or breast milk from a bottle.
- Never put infants to sleep with sippy cups or bottles, and never prop bottles into their mouths.
- If babies can eat solid foods, give them healthy options like fruits, milk products (yogurt or cheese), vegetables, and wholegrain products (cereal or bread) for snacks and meals.
- Follow all meal and snack preparation, service, and storage as per the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program.
- Don’t serve babies juice.
- Offer babies older than six months tap water throughout the day – ideally with fluoride.
- Post individual infant’s food allergies somewhere where the care providers can see, in the classroom, care area, or wherever you serve food.
- Don’t serve foods that are choking hazards such as meat sticks, raw carrot, hard candy, whole grapes, chips, popcorn, marshmallows, nuts, seeds, or hard pretzels.
- Infants are always seated while eating.
- Wash all vegetables and fruits thoroughly using clean water before use.
6. Oral Hygiene Checklist
- Ensure that each infant has their soft-bristled, baby-sized toothbrush. Label all toothbrushes with the respective baby name.
- Replace all toothbrushes every three to four months, after an illness, or when the bristles become frayed or worn out.
- Wash your hands with water and soap before and after brushing each infant’s teeth. The child care program staff should wear new gloves for brushing each baby’s teeth.
- Use a small smear (rice-sized) of fluoride toothpaste when brushing baby teeth.
- Have a plan and an equipped first aid kit in hand to handle any oral emergencies such as:
- Broken tooth
- Broken jaw
- Cut or bitten tongue, cheek, or lip
- Continued bleeding after a baby tooth falls out
- Have an actionable plan in place for transporting an infant with an oral emergency to their dentist or the nearest source of emergency health care.
- Have the contact information for each infant’s dentist plus a signed release form from the parent. It allows the dentist to share pertinent information with a care provider.
The Bottom Line
Observation, reflection, and documentation are essential skills for high-quality infant care. Developing these skills helps to forge caring providers. It also allows them to know the infants under their care better, share daily observations with their families, appreciate the unique learning style of different infants, encourage competence and success, practice patience, collect information, make quick, informed decisions, and find ways to improve daily routines.
The software can help daycare staff better record information and daily changes. Technology provides several advantages: easy navigation, a quick update of records when other staff take over a shift and set reminders if records remain stagnant for long.
Prime Child Care Software provides comprehensive care and support with easy-to-use cloud-based tools that make prime working hours more enjoyable and productive. It also provides easy access on any device, intuitive point-and-click tools for entire teams, and features a responsive mobile childcare app.
Contact us today to learn more about our childcare software.
Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba licha ya vifaa au idadi ya wafanyakazi kwamba kituo cha utunzaji wa siku ina, kiashiria cha kweli cha ubora wa mpango wa utunzaji wa watoto moja kwa moja inahusiana na maarifa, mitazamo, na ujuzi wa wataalamu wa watu wazima ambao kazi huko. Bila kujali uzoefu na sifa, maendeleo ya kitaaluma na ya kibinafsi ya kuendelea ni muhimu. Sehemu ya kila mpango mzuri wa maendeleo ya kitaaluma ni kuwa mwanafunzi wa maisha yote na mpangaji bora. Hapa chini ni orodha kamili ya mambo tofauti ya utunzaji wa watoto wachanga, mahitaji, na mabadiliko ambayo wafanyakazi wa utunzaji wa siku wanapaswa kuzingatia: 1. Watoto wanahitaji kujihadhari na mambo fulani wakati wa kutunza watoto wachanga. Watoa-matibabu hawawezi kuamuru mtoto afanye nini. Wao ni huko kutumikia, bila kujali uhitaji au jinsi inavyoonekana kuwa ngumu. Watoto wadogo wanahitaji vitu vifuatavyo vitano kutoka kwa watunzaji: Chakula:Wanafunzi walio chini ya miezi sita wanapaswa kulishwa maziwa ya mama au formula ya watoto wadogo tu, au chakula kilichoamriwa na wazazi wao. Kwa kawaida hutia ndani vyakula laini kama vile ndizi zilizochomwa. Pia, usiwape watoto chini ya umri wa mwaka mmoja chakula hiki: asali, maziwa ya ng'ombe, juisi ya matunda, peremende, vyakula visivyo na pastura, chokoleti, vyakula vinavyosababisha mzio (kama mayai, karanga, nyanya, jordgubbar). - Burping: Kuwa makini na watoto ambao wanahitaji burping. - Badilisha: Angalia kwa ukawaida kama vitambaa vimekuwa vimechafuliwa au vimenyunyizia maji. - Kulala: Fuata ratiba ya kulala usingizi ya watoto. - Uangalifu: Watoto wanapenda uangalifu, na ubongo wao huchukua kila kitu kilicho karibu nao. Angalia mabadiliko ya mtoto yafuatayo. Wakati sauti zilizozungumziwa hapa chini ni za jumla, watoto wengi watatoa sauti sawa kulingana na mahitaji yao, kulingana na nadharia ya Lugha ya Mtoto wa Dustan. Ni kama ifuatavyo: - <unk>Neh,<unk> na harakati ya kunyonya, inamaanisha mtoto ana njaa. - <unk>Owh,<unk> sawa na mwanzo wa yawn, ina maana mtoto ni uchovu. - <unk>Heh<unk> inaonyesha usumbufu au dhiki, kama vile kutoka diaper kamili. - <unk>Eairh,<unk> na kushinikiza au grunting sauti, inaonyesha tumbo mtoto hurts. Inaweza kuwa kwa sababu wana maumivu ya tumbo au wanahitaji kutoa gesi au kutapika. Ikiwa hali hiyo inaendelea, mwinuke mtoto kwa upole kwenye magoti hadi tumbo ili kusaidia kumtoa. - Eh, (sauti fupi) inamaanisha kwamba huenda mtoto anajaribu kupiga kelele. "Kama mtoto analia, jaribu kuangalia kama anafanya hivyo kwa njia ya ""kujaribu"" - kama mtoto anaanza kulia, jaribu kumpa chakula (na kujaribu mara chache) - jaribu kumpa chakula (na kujaribu mara kadhaa) - jaribu kumpa chakula (na kisha kumpa chakula) - jaribu kumpa usingizi (kama hakuna kitu kinachotokea) - jaribu kumpa joto kwa kutumia thermometer." 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Orodha ya Usimamizi wa Jumla - Chumba cha utunzaji wa siku ni chenye kung'aa na chenye furaha. - Hakikisha kwamba unadumisha hewa safi na hali nzuri ya joto au baridi. - Weka sehemu za kubadili vitambaa, kulisha, kucheza, na kulala mbali. - Weka alama kwenye vitanda, nguo, vitambaa vya kulala, vyombo vya kulisha, au vitambaa vya mtoto kwa jina la mtoto husika. - Panga nafasi ili kuwezesha watoto wachanga kufurahia kucheza kimya salama na nafasi ya kutosha ya roll-over na vitu au toys wanaweza kuchunguza. - Weka vitu vyenye kung'aa na vyenye kupendeza katika urefu wa macho ya mtoto. - Kutoa nyembamba, safi nyuso kwa ajili ya kukaa na kulala. - Weka watoto wachanga nje kwa ajili ya hewa safi. - Weka sakafu na nyuso zote safi. - Kuwa na maji safi ya kutosha kwa ajili ya kuosha. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Mfano wa usalama wa kulala: Watoto wadogo wanaweza kulala katika mahali salama ambapo hakuna hatari ya kuanguka. - Weka watoto wote walale mgongoni. - Maeneo ya kulala yana uso imara wa kulala kama kitanda cha mtoto au godoro. - Maeneo ya kulala hayana vitu laini, vitambaa vya kitanda, mabamba ya kitanda, na vitu vya kuchezea. - Angalia watoto wachanga wanaolala kwa ukawaida ili kupunguza hatari ya SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). - Watoto wachanga hulala katika maeneo yao ya kulala. - Wakati wa kupumzika au kulala, watunzaji wanaweza kusikia na kuona watoto wachanga wakati wote. - Weka mazoea ya kulala salama ya watoto wachanga ndani ya eneo la kulala ili kuwakumbusha wajitoleaji, wabadilishaji, na hata wafanyakazi. - Weka ishara karibu na eneo la kulala la mtoto mchanga ili kuonyesha kama wanaweza kugeuka au la. - Chukua hatua za kupunguza mfiduo wa moshi. 4. Uwe na uhakika Usafiri wa ndani na nje: Hakikisha mazingira yote ya nje na ya ndani ni wazi ya vifaa vilivyovunjika, rangi iliyopasuka au iliyopasuka, na hatari za kuanguka. - Weka vifaa vyote vya kusafisha na kemikali nyingine mbali na watoto wachanga. - Weka vitu vya kuchezea salama, safi, na karibu na watoto. - Chukua hatua zote za tahadhari ili kuzuia mfiduo wa moshi wa pili au wa tatu. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Lishe: Orodha ya Chakula na Kunywa - Shika watoto wachanga huku ukiwapa formula ya watoto wachanga au maziwa ya mama kutoka kwenye chupa. - Kamwe usiwape watoto kitanda kwa kutumia vikombe au chupa, na kamwe usiwape chupa kinywani. Ikiwa watoto wanaweza kula vyakula vyenye nguvu, wape vyakula vyenye afya kama matunda, bidhaa za maziwa (yogurt au jibini), mboga, na bidhaa za nafaka nzima (tunda au mkate) kwa vitafunio na chakula. Kuandaa chakula, huduma, na kuhifadhi kwa mujibu wa Idara ya Kilimo ya Marekani ya Watoto na Watu Wazima Care Food Program. - Usiwatumie watoto maji ya matunda. - Wape watoto wenye umri wa miezi sita na zaidi maji ya bomba siku nzima - kwa vyovyote vile yenye fluoridi. - Post mtoto binafsi chakula allergies mahali ambapo watoa huduma wanaweza kuona, katika darasa, huduma ya eneo, au popote wewe kutumika chakula. - Usitumie vyakula ambavyo vinaweza kusababisha kukosa pumzi kama vile vijiti vya nyama, karoti mbichi, peremende ngumu, zabibu nzima, chips, popcorn, marshmallows, karanga, mbegu, au pretzels ngumu. - Watoto wachanga huketi sikuzote wanapokula. - Osha mboga na matunda yote kwa uangalifu kwa kutumia maji safi kabla ya matumizi. 6. Uwe na uhakika Orodha ya Usafi wa Mdomo - Hakikisha kwamba kila mtoto mchanga ana mswaki wake wa meno wenye manyoya laini. Weka jina la mtoto kwenye brashi zote za meno. - Badilisha brashi zote za meno kila baada ya miezi mitatu hadi minne, baada ya ugonjwa, au wakati manyoya yanapoharibika au kuharibika. - Osha mikono yako kwa maji na sabuni kabla na baada ya kupiga mswaki meno ya kila mtoto. Wafanyakazi wa programu ya utunzaji wa watoto wanapaswa kuvaa glavu mpya kwa ajili ya kusafisha meno ya kila mtoto. - Tumia mchanganyiko mdogo (wa ukubwa wa mchele) wa dawa ya meno yenye fluoridi unaposhughulikia meno ya watoto. - Kuwa na mpango na vifaa vya kit ya matibabu ya kwanza katika mkono kushughulikia dharura yoyote ya mdomo kama vile: - jino kuvunjika - taya kuvunjika - kukata au kukata ulimi, shavu, au mdomo - kuendelea kutokwa na damu baada ya meno ya maziwa kuanguka - Kuwa na mpango wa vitendo katika mahali kwa ajili ya usafirishaji mtoto na dharura mdomo kwa daktari wao wa meno au chanzo cha karibu ya huduma ya afya ya dharura. - Kuwa na habari za mawasiliano kwa kila daktari wa meno wa mtoto pamoja na fomu ya kuachilia iliyosainiwa na mzazi. Inaruhusu daktari wa meno kushiriki habari hususa na mtoa huduma. Mstari wa chini Uchunguzi, kutafakari, na nyaraka ni ujuzi muhimu kwa ajili ya huduma ya juu ya ubora wa watoto wachanga. Kukuza ustadi huo husaidia kuwapa watu wenye kujali. Pia huwawezesha kuwajua watoto walio chini ya utunzaji wao vizuri, kushiriki uchunguzi wa kila siku na familia zao, kuthamini mtindo wa kujifunza wa pekee wa watoto tofauti, kuhamasisha uwezo na mafanikio, mazoezi ya uvumilivu, kukusanya habari, kufanya maamuzi ya haraka, na kutafuta njia za kuboresha utaratibu wa kila siku. Programu inaweza kusaidia wafanyakazi wa daycare kurekodi vizuri habari na mabadiliko ya kila siku. Teknolojia hutoa faida kadhaa: urambazaji rahisi, sasisho la haraka la rekodi wakati wafanyikazi wengine wanashika zamu na kuweka ukumbusho ikiwa rekodi zinabaki kwa muda mrefu. Prime Child Care Software hutoa huduma ya kina na msaada na zana rahisi kutumia msingi wingu kwamba kufanya masaa ya kazi ya msingi zaidi ya kufurahisha na uzalishaji. Pia hutoa upatikanaji rahisi kwenye kifaa chochote, zana za wazi za pointi-na-bonyeza kwa timu nzima, na ina programu ya utunzaji wa watoto wa rununu inayoitikia. Wasiliana nasi leo ili kujifunza zaidi kuhusu programu yetu ya utunzaji wa watoto.