Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Children and Families › DCF 201-252 - Early Care and Education › Chapter DCF 251 - Group Child Care Centers And Child Care Programs Established Or Contracted For By School Boards › Section DCF 251.09 - Additional requirements for infant and toddler care

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) APPLICABILITY
				AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Group child care
				centers providing care and supervision to infants and toddlers shall comply
				with the additional requirements of this section.
(am) Prior to admission, the licensee shall
				obtain written information from a child's parent or guardian to individualize
				the program of care for the child. Child care workers shall use the information
				obtained from parents to provide care to the child. Information shall include
				all of the following:
1. Schedule of meals and
				feeding.
2. Types of food
				introduced and timetable for new foods.
3. Toileting and diapering
				procedures.
4. Sleep and nap
				schedule.
5. The child's way of
				communicating and being comforted.
6. Developmental and health history.
Note:
The licensee may use the department's
				  form, Intake for Child Under 2 Years - Child Care Centers, or the licensee's
				  own form to record information for individualizing the program of care for each
				  child. Information on how to obtain the department's form is available on the
				  department's website,
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov
, or from any
				  regional licensing office in Appendix A.
(b) Admission information for an infant or
				toddler shall be on file in the room or area to which the child is assigned and
				shall be known to the child care worker.
(c) Child care workers shall document changes
				in a child's development and routines every 3 months based on discussion with
				the parent.
(d) Each infant and
				toddler shall be cared for by a regularly assigned child care worker in a
				self-contained room or area.
(e)
				The regularly assigned child care teacher and assistant child care teacher for
				each group of infants and toddlers shall have a minimum of 10 hours of training
				in infant and toddler care approved by the department within 6 months after
				assuming the position. If the training is not part of the required preservice
				entry-level training under s. DCF 251.05 (3) (f) or (g) it shall be obtained
				through continuing education.
(f)
				Infants and toddlers are restricted to first floors and ground floors having
				direct grade-level exits unless the building is in compliance with all
				applicable building codes that permit children to be cared for on other levels.
				The building inspection report on file with the licensing office shall indicate
				where care may be provided for children under 30 months of age.
(g) Safety gates shall be provided at open
				stairways.
(h) For centers licensed
				on or after January 1, 2009, the space occupied by cribs shall be deducted in
				determining the 35 square feet space requirement under s. DCF 251.06 (7) (a)
				for each child.
(i) The number of
				children under one year of age admitted at any one time may not exceed the
				number of cribs and playpens.
(j)
				Cribs and playpens shall contain a tight-fitting mattress and a mattress
				covering that fits snugly over the mattress.
(k) Sheets or blankets used to cover a child
				one year of age or older shall be kept away from the child's mouth and nose,
				and if sleeping in a crib or playpen shall be tucked tightly under the
				mattress.
(l) A child under one year
				of age may not sleep in a crib or playpen that contains soft or loose
				materials, such as sheepskins, pillows, blankets, flat sheets, bumper pads,
				bibs, pacifiers with attached soft objects, or stuffed animals. No blankets and
				other items may be hung on the sides of the crib or playpen.
(m) An audio monitoring device shall be used
				in any area or room where children under one year of age are placed to
				sleep.
(n) Waterbeds may not be
				used by children under 2 years of age.