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E-Newsletter: Spring 2023, Volume 7, Issue 4 – (Now Available in Spanish)

April 21, 2023

Our Spring 2023 newsletter is now available in Spanish. Some of the safety topics included are:

  • Shaken Baby Syndrome in Child Care | Síndrome de bebé sacudido en ambientes de cuidado infantil
  • Preventing Nursemaid’s Elbow in Children | Prevención del codo de niñera en niños
  • Incidents in Child Care | Incidentes en ambientes de cuidado infantil

We encourage you to share the newsletter titled “Handle with Care: Safety First” | Trátelos con cuidado – Seguridad ante todo” with Spanish-speaking early educators in your network.

 

E-Newsletter: Fall 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2 Now Available

October 5, 2022

The Fall 2022 newsletter titled: “Prepare and Prevent” is now available. Maintaining a healthy and safe environment in early care and education programs is critical. Immunizations, safe sleep practices, and active supervision are a few of the health and safety topics highlighted in this newsletter. We invite you to read and share it with early educators in your network.

E-Newsletter– Fall 2021, Volume 6, Issue 2 (Now available in Spanish)

October 26, 2021

We want to announce that our Fall 2021 newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 2: “Don’t Lose Your Cool – Keeping Children Safe as the Weather Gets Chilly” is now available in Spanish. Please help us by sharing the Spanish version, “Volumen 6, Número 2: ¡Que no te caiga como balde de agua fría! – Cómo mantener a los niños a salvo conforme el clima enfría” with the Spanish speaking early educators in your network.

 

E-Newsletter Volume 6, Issue 1: Sun Days are Fun Days

July 1, 2021

It is officially summer! We are excited to share that our Summer 2021 newsletter is now available. This issue of our newsletter includes reminders, resources, and activity ideas related to staying safe and having fun this summer.  We encourage you to read and share the newsletter with others. Let’s stay safe and have fun together.

Safe Use of Infant Sitting Devices

September 8, 2019

Information from the Healthy Child Care Pennsylvania ECELS Program

A recent study in Pediatrics, “Infant Deaths in Sitting Devices,” reviewed the safety of infant sitting devices. The study found over 300 sleep-related infant deaths from 2004-2014 happened in car seats, strollers, bouncers, swings, and other infant seats. Most sleep-related infant deaths in sitting devices occurred in car seats. Incorrect use of car seats led to most infant deaths in this type of device. Sleep-related infant deaths in sitting devices were more likely to happen when an infant was supervised by a caregiver or child care provider.

Car seats are safe and effective for infant travel.  Always remove an infant from a car seat after traveling. It is OK if an infant falls asleep in a car seat while traveling.  Transfer sleeping infants from a car seat to a safe sleep environment, such as a crib. If an infant is in a sitting device and falls asleep, move the child to a crib.  

Avoid using sitting devices as a substitute for a crib, bassinet, or portable crib/play yard. Sleeping in a seated position can restrict breathing and may lower blood oxygen levels in infants. Injuries and death have occurred when sitting devices fall from a surface or when straps entrap body parts.

Follow national best practice standards to prevent sleep related deaths in group care settings. Review recommendations in Caring for Our Children Standards 2.2.0.2: Limiting Infant/Toddler Time in Crib, High Chair, Car Seat, Etc, and 3.1.4.1: Safe Sleep Practices and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)/SIDS Risk Reduction. Check your early care and education (ECE) program’s policies and procedures to make sure infant sitting devices are used safely.

Key Messages for ECE Program Staff and Families:

  1. Use sitting devices for their specific purpose, for example, transporting, feeding or playing.  Avoid having infants sleep in car seats, strollers, bouncers, swings and other infant seats.
  2. If an infant arrives at the ECE program sleeping in a car seat, move the child to a crib.
  3.  Always put infants alone on their back for every nap or sleep time in an individual, safe crib.
  4. Limit sitting in a high chair or other equipment that restricts movement indoors or outdoors to no more than 15 minutes. This time can be longer for feeding or while traveling in a vehicle. Infants need to be free to develop physical skills, explore the environment and interact with peers and adults.

Share this information with families too!