In addition to finding a child care provider who is available based on your activity schedule, it is equally important to search for a quality child care setting where health and safety are considered a priority. A high quality child care program puts health and safety first. The following information and links will help parents learn more about health and safety, and valuable tips and hints to ensure that their own home is just as safe.

Kid Tours 2 - Health and Safety

Healthy Eating and Nutrition

The USDA provides many resources to help families explore healthy eating and tips for engaging children in the process. Healthy habits begin at home and will stay with your children for a lifetime. We know that life is all about choices, let’s help children start on the right foot. Here you will find tips for becoming a role model and developing good habits. 10 Tips for Setting Good Examples

MyPlate.gov is an excellent resource to learn more about nutrition and physical activity.

Healthy eating goes hand in hand with increased physical activity for children to support growth and learning. Good habits start early and may effect child development and success in school. As childhood obesity rates continue to increase, it is more important than ever for everyone who comes in contact with a child to help them stay healthy and active. Let's Move!!!

Emergency Preparedness

Be prepared. When facing an emergency situation it is very important to remain calm to make appropriate decisions to ensure your safety. Imagine you are a child care provider and must ensure the safety of the children in your care. Having a well thought out plan and preparing prior to any emergency situation is key. View additional information and resources on emergency preparedness.

• Child Care Aware of VA Crisis and Disaster Resources
• Caring for Children in a Disaster

Safe Sleep – SUID and SIDS

The Safe to Sleep® campaign (formerly known as Back to Sleep®) aims to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and educate parents, caregivers, and health care providers about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. About 3,700 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the United States. These deaths are the result of unknown causes, Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB), and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is defined as an unidentified cause of death in a baby younger than one year. Here you will find additional information about SIDS to arm yourself with the information to keep your children safe at home and with their child care provider. Learn more by accessing the resources below.

• A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep
• Safe Sleep for Babies
• Safe Sleep Campaign Toolkit

Abusive Head Trauma and Shaken Baby Syndrome

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a traumatic injury that is inflicted upon the head or brain of an infant or young child. Shaken baby syndrome is a form of AHT and is a type of inflicted traumatic brain injury that happens when a baby is violently shaken. A baby has weak neck muscles and a large, heavy head. Shaking makes the fragile brain bounce back and forth inside the skull and causes bruising, swelling, and bleeding, which can lead to permanent, severe brain damage or death. Shaken baby injuries usually occur in children younger than 2 years old, but may be seen in children up to the age of 5. To learn more about Shaken Baby Syndrome as well as tips for parents and providers to understand the triggers and reduce the occurrence of injury. Explore the resources below.

• Shaken Baby Syndrome
• Preventing Abusive Head Trauma

Low Cost Lead Test Kits

Health professionals and scientists now understand that there is no safe level of lead exposure for babies or toddlers. The best way to know if your home’s water is contaminated is to test what’s coming out of the tap. The Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health has partnered with Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) to make Lead in Water Action Kits available to families across America so they can test their tap water for the presence of lead. These in-home test kits will be sent to a lab at Virginia Tech for analysis, and each family will receive its test results along with a report containing actions the family can take to reduce their exposure to lead.