How to become recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) would like child care providers to successfully support breastfeeding families. Breastfeeding gives moms and babies many health benefits- yet many moms worry that going back to work will make it hard to breastfeed. Helping moms continue to breastfeed can be done with just a little time and resources. Becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care is a voluntary recognition program available to Missouri child care facilities.  Click the link below to learn how you can become recognized:

http://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/nutrition/breastfeedingfriendlychildcare/index.php

Infographic on Enterovirus

Below is a link to an infographic for use in your centers to post and educate your families and staff.

http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV68-infographic.html

What Daycares Need to Know About Enterovirus

We have had a few calls concerning what daycare providers should tell their families and what protocols to have on hand for the Enterovirus that has hit our community. Unfortunately, the CDC is still learning about the particular Enterovirus that is causing the outbreak in KC.  The current recommendations generally for Enteroviruses are only to keep kids home if they have a fever or if they are unable to take care of themselves (such as coughing and unable to stop).  But for kids with just a cough or runny nose, there isn’t a good way to know how long they are contagious and it isn’t really feasible to keep them out the whole time they might be contagious.

If you have a child at your daycare who has been diagnosed with Enterovirus or something else, the daycare needs to let the other parents know.  Especially in the case of this new virus, which is particularly tough on the kids with asthma, the daycare and parents need to be aware and make sure asthmatic kids are getting their medications and keeping it under control. 

 

The best recommendations to keep any virus away is to:

Practice good hand washing throughout the day

Frequently sanitizing surfaces

Practice good cough hygiene

Below is a great data sheet from CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV-D68.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001