Children in day-care are exposed to a variety of germs. This exposure helps kids develop strong immune systems and teaches them how to fight off infections.
However, if your child gets sick while in nursery, it can be frustrating and disheartening. That’s why it’s important to keep your child as healthy as possible and take proper precaution when sending them to nursery in Glasgow.
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is one of the best preventative measures you can take to keep your child healthy in childcare. It can protect about 1 in 3 children from diarrhoea and 1 in 5 from respiratory infections like pneumonia.
If children see their teachers and other staff washing their hands, they will be more likely to do the same. Consider building time into daily routines for children and staff to wash their hands, especially at key times such as after bathroom breaks or before lunch.
Illness Policy
A nursery sick policy is an essential tool to keep your children and staff healthy. It communicates your expectations to families, offers guidelines for staff to follow when illness occurs and provides a clear framework for taking swift action in the event of an outbreak.
A well-thought-out sick policy is a must have for every childcare centre. It will help protect children’s health, maintain a safe and healthy environment for your staff, and ensure your business runs smoothly.
Nutrition
Nutrition is a vital component of keeping your child healthy in childcare. It helps them grow and develop, prevents disease, and gives them energy to play and explore.
Good nutrition is based on the five main food groups: grains, dairy, protein, vegetables, and fruits. These foods contain the nutrients your child needs for growth and development.
Providing nutritious meals and snacks, training staff, and providing information to families can help children build healthy eating habits. Services should develop and maintain a policy that outlines the service’s responsibilities for meeting children’s nutritional needs.
Sleep
Sleep is critical for your child’s health and well-being. It helps them develop their physical health, cognitive abilities, emotional wellbeing, and positive behaviour.
Infants up to 12 months need around 12-16 hours of sleep including several naps, while toddlers need 10-13 hours with an additional nap and nursery children require 10-12 hours with a daytime nap.
All children need to have a regular sleep routine and bedtime, consistent throughout the day and night. These routines are a great way to teach children the importance of sleep and how to get it.