Prenatal Tips for the Second Trimester

According to the publication “Looking for Care for Your Baby?”, there are questions specific to baby care that parents should be asking.

Ask about the caregivers. Do they:

• Greet each parent and baby warmly; help baby separate by talking about parent leaving; encourage parents to spend time with baby and say good-bye before leaving.

• Frequently talk with each baby about what the baby is doing and encourage babies to talk.

• Interact warmly with babies during playtime and play with babies as babies play with toys.

• Hold and pat babies.

• Use pleasant voices, smile frequently, and help babies who are hurt or upset.

Are there enough caregivers present to meet each baby’s needs with little crying or waiting?

• There should be at least one caregiver for every 3-4 babies.

• There should be no more than 9 babies in a group with several caregivers.

• Does at least one of those caregivers stay with this group of babies for at least a year?

• Do caregivers have a certificate or degree in child development, early childhood education, or infant care (CDA,AA, BA/BS)?”

Ask about care routines:

• Is the diapering area cleaned and disinfected after each use.

• Are different sinks used for food preparation and diapering clean-up.

• Does the feeding area look clean and sanitary.

• Do caregivers place babies on their backs to sleep. How are the youngest babies, who can’t turn over, placed in their cribs?

• Are there individual cribs for each baby present with firm, tight fitting mattresses.

Ask about the setting:

• Does the center support breastfeeding?

• Are there some soft rugs and other soft areas where children can play with supervision.
• Do babies who are not crawling or walking have a variety of safe places to play, including open floor space.

• Are there toys and equipment to encourage safe crawling, walking, climbing, pushing, pulling, and ball play. Will furniture and toys not tip over when babies are trying to pull themselves up.
• Are there low, open shelves where babies can get safe toys.

• Are toys and equipment in good repair with no sharp edges, splinters, or loose small parts.

• Are there many kinds of toys and activities for babies like books, dolls, blocks, rattles, tubs to fill and pour out, and toys to push or pull.
• Are vinyl or hard page books available for babies to get on their own.
• Are there comfortable places where adults, including nursing mothers, can sit and hold babies.

• Are detergents, cleansers, medicines or other dangerous items locked up.
• Are parents asked to evaluate the program at least once a year?

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