When considering a particular child care setting, you need to know all the rules and practices that would affect your baby, especially hygienic ones. While touring the child care home or center, check to see if the following basic health and safety standards are being met:

• The premises are clean and reasonably neat (without discouraging play by the children).
• There is plenty of play equipment, and it is in good repair.
• The equipment is appropriate for the developmental skills of the children in the program.
• Babies are closely supervised when climbing on play-things, roughhousing, or playing with blocks (which are sometimes thrown) and other potentially dangerous toys.
• Food is stored in an appropriate manner and if the child care site is preparing the food, that it is nutritious.
• Areas where food is handled are clearly separate from toilets and diaper-changing areas.
• Diaper-changing areas are cleaned and sanitized before and after being used for each infant.
• Hand washing sinks are available where they are needed and are used not only by the children, but also by the staff members to wash their hands.
• Potty (or training) chairs are avoided in order to decrease the risk of spreading germs that cause diarrhea.
• Children are supervised by sight and sound at all times, even when napping.

Source

Your baby's first year