Caregivers also should not overlook health professionals who are parents of children enrolled in their facility. A health consultant should be a person who has an interest in and experience with children, has a knowledge of resources, and is comfortable working with facilities outside the medical system. Facilities that serve any child under 2 years of age shall be visited at least once a month. Facilities that are not open every day or that serve only children 2 years of age or older shall be visited quarterly on a schedule that meets the needs of the composite group of children. Caregivers acknowledge the lack of availability of staff trained in infant care and a high turnover rate of staff.
Infants are more vulnerable to injuries and infections.
Their rapid changes in behavior make regular and frequent visits by the health consultant extremely important. Nursery schools are examples of facilities that might not be open every day. The health consultant shall define the aspects of care, activity, physical maintenance, and administration in the facility that relate to prevention and management of illness and injury and to the enhancement of the child's development. A health consultant shall be used by each facility for advice about the health plan and about specific problems as they arise, and as a source for contacts with the health care community. Child care health consultants can help develop and implement written policies for the prevention and management of communicable diseases.