A medida que el tiempo se calienta, es importante ser consciente de cómo mantener a los niños (¡y a nosotros mismos!) a salvo del calor y la humedad. Cuando el índice de calor (“sensación térmica”) supera los 90° F, los niños son especialmente vulnerables a las afecciones relacionadas con el calor. Este gráfico del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional muestra cómo se calcula el índice de calor y cuándo las temperaturas se vuelven peligrosas. 
Algunas formas de mantener seguros a los niños cuando hace calor (consejos de los CDC y HealthyChildren.org):
- Traslada el tiempo al aire libre a las primeras horas del día, antes de que el sol esté alto.
- Aplícate y vuelve a aplicarte protector solar: las quemaduras solares pueden provocar deshidratación e impedir que el cuerpo regule la temperatura adecuadamente. La protección solar es importante para personas de todas las etnias y tonos de piel.
- Ten agua potable accesible en todo momento, y fomenta (¡y modela!) las pausas frecuentes para beber agua.
- Recomienda a las familias que vistan ropa holgada, ligera y de colores claros. Utiliza ropa protectora contra los rayos UV y sombreros para mayor seguridad.
- Mantente fresco con juegos acuáticos seguros. Un aspersor, botellas nebulizadoras o una mesa de agua pueden ayudar a regular la temperatura corporal y mantener a todo el mundo de buen humor.
- Conoce los signos de las enfermedades relacionadas con el calor y prepárate para actuar en consecuencia.
Manipular, almacenar, calentar y alimentar con leche materna puede parecer que tiene muchos pasos. Este PDF imprimible repasa cómo proporcionar leche materna de forma segura a los lactantes cuyas familias se la proporcionan, incluyendo el almacenamiento, la preparación y la alimentación. A continuación, también encontrarás un vídeo de Head Start en el que se ve a una profesora de Early Head Start dando el biberón a un bebé y demostrando la alimentación receptiva y la interacción con un bebé a la hora de comer. 
Gestión de la leche materna en el cuidado de los niñosHandlingBreastmilk
¿Qué notas en este vídeo de la profesora de Early Head Start dando de comer al bebé? ¿Cómo responde el bebé a sus acciones y a su forma de hablar?CACFP Week is a national education and information campaign sponsored annually the third week of March by the National CACFP Sponsors Association. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger. The CACFP brings healthy foods to tables across the country for children in child care centers, homes, and afterschool programs as well as adults in day care.
The theme of CACFP Week in 2024 is eating the rainbow!
When you register for National CACFP Week to let us know that you’ll be participating, we’ll send you a sample menu that focuses on eating a different color of the rainbow each day.
Visit the Campaign Page for resources, recipes, advocacy opportunities, and social media contests!
A safe environment that promotes health is the baseline expectation for a child care home. There are many policies and procedures to ensure that you, your family, and the children you care for remain healthy and safe year-round.
As of November 13, 2023, there have been 22 reports of illness potentially linked to recalled product submitted to FDA. As part of this investigation, FDA and state partners are collecting and analyzing additional product samples of fruit puree and applesauce pouches. At this time, sample analyses have not shown elevated levels of lead in any non-recalled products.
- Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis-brand apple cinnamon pouches and should discard them.
- These products have a long shelf life. Consumers should check their homes and discard these products.
- Most children have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure. If there’s suspicion that a child may have been exposed to lead, parents should talk to their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of lead toxicity after eating recalled fruit pouches.
Staying informed about recalls that might impact your materials is one way to be sure that the items you and your children use each day are safe for them. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is the organization that tracks safety issues as well as voluntary and mandatory recalls for all the products in our homes, like the pictured cups which were recalled for lead level violations in July 2023.
To search or browse recalls, visit Recalls | CPSC.gov
To sign up for email updates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which will notify you of recalls and safety alerts, go to: Subscriptions | CPSC.gov
Protect the children in your care by knowing the facts about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). A viral disease primarily affects children but can occur in people of all ages. RSV infects the nose, throat, lungs, and breathing passages and is spread through contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Be proactive and talk to your families about the importance of careful and frequent hand washing. Share the signs and symptoms of RSV and how it spreads. If you suspect illness, suggest the child see their doctor for a diagnosis. Go over your health policy, so they know when their child should stay home.
There is a new immunization available as of Fall 2023 for pregnant parents, infants under 8 months (and up to 19 months if they are severely immunocompromised), and all people over 60 years old that can prevent severe illness from RSV.
Daily health screenings are a vital tool which help identify potential health risks and may reduce the transmission of infectious diseases in child care programs. Having a health check chart for each child can help providers keep accurate records and look for patterns.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), food allergies are common, affecting 4% – 6% of children and 4% of adults.
Infants and young children are at a greater risk of potential food allergy symptoms; as providers, we must be well informed and prepared. This fact sheet from the National Food Service Management Institute provides answers to common food allergy questions
Common-Questions-Family-Day-Care-Providers-Fact-Sheet
Summer is here and if you have a safe space for children to play outdoors and have fun in the sun. This fact sheet from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps you understand how to protect yourself and the children in your care from over-exposure to the sun. It includes information on how to read the UV Index and how to be safe when in the sun.
