DCF 250.08(4)(c)1.1. Prior to the day a driver first transports children in care and annually thereafter, the licensee shall obtain a copy of the driving record for each driver and place the record in the staff file. The licensee shall review each driving record to ensure that the driver has no accidents or traffic violations that would indicate that having children ride with the driver could pose a threat to the children.
DCF 250.08(4)(c)2.
2. In determining whether a driver may pose a threat to the children, the licensee shall consider the totality of the driver's record, any other relevant facts, and the following factors in combination:
DCF 250.08(4)(c)3.
3. A driver whose driving record indicates that the driver poses a threat to the children may not transport children.
DCF 250.08(4)(d)1.1. Except as provided in subd.
2., a driver of a vehicle that is transporting children in care may not use a cellular phone or other wireless telecommunication device while loading, unloading, or transporting children, except when the vehicle is out of traffic, not in operation, and any of the following applies:
DCF 250.08(4)(d)1.c.
c. The phone or device is used to communicate with the center regarding an emergency situation.
DCF 250.08(4)(d)2.
2. A navigation device may be used during transportation of children if the device is programmed to a destination when the vehicle is out of traffic and not in operation.
DCF 250.08(5)(a)(a) The licensee shall ensure that each vehicle that is used to transport children is all of the following:
DCF 250.08(5)(a)1.
1. Registered with the Wisconsin department of transportation or the appropriate authority in another state.
DCF 250.08(5)(a)2.
2. Clean, uncluttered, and free of obstruction on the floors, aisles, and seats.
DCF 250.08(5)(b)
(b) At 12-month intervals, the licensee shall provide the department with evidence of a vehicle's safe operating condition on a form provided by the department.
DCF 250.08 Note
Note: The department's form,
Vehicle Safety Inspection, is used to record evidence of the vehicle's safe operating condition. Information on how to obtain forms is available on the department's website,
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
DCF 250.08(5)(c)
(c) The licensee shall obtain and maintain vehicle liability insurance with minimums no less than those specified in subch.
VI of ch. 344, Stats.
DCF 250.08(5)(e)
(e) At least once per year, the licensee shall make available to the department each vehicle that is required to have a child safety alarm under sub.
(8) (a) to determine whether the child safety alarm is in good working order.
DCF 250.08(6)(a)
(a) No person may transport a child under 8 years of age in a motor vehicle, unless the child is restrained in a child safety restraint system that is appropriate to the child's age and size in accordance with s.
347.48, Stats., and ch.
Trans 310.
DCF 250.08(6)(b)1.1. Each child who is not required to be in an individual child car safety seat or booster seat when being transported under par.
(a) shall be properly restrained by a seat belt in accordance with s.
347.48, Stats., and ch.
Trans 315.
DCF 250.08(6)(c)
(c) Children transported in school buses or vehicles built to school bus standards shall be properly seated according to the manufacturer's specifications.
DCF 250.08(6)(d)
(d) Children under 13 years of age who are in the care of the center may not ride in the front seat of a vehicle.
DCF 250.08(7)(a)
(a) The center shall be responsible for a child from the time the child is placed in a vehicle until the child reaches his or her destination and is released to a person responsible for the child. A parent of a school age child may authorize a child to enter a building unescorted.
DCF 250.08 Note
Note: Form,
Transportation Permission - Child Care Centers, may be used to designate an adult to receive a child being transported. The form is available on the department's website at
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
DCF 250.08(7)(c)
(c) When children are transported in a vehicle, there shall be at least one adult supervisor in addition to the driver whenever there are more than 3 children who are either under 2 years of age or who have a disability that limits their ability to respond to an emergency.
DCF 250.08(7)(d)
(d) The licensee shall develop and implement a procedure to ensure that all children exit the vehicle after being transported to a destination.
DCF 250.08(7)(e)
(e) No child may be in a vehicle for transport to or from a center, a field trip, or other center activity for more than 60 minutes for a one-way trip.
DCF 250.08(8)(a)(a) A vehicle shall be equipped with a child safety alarm that prompts the driver to inspect the vehicle for children before exiting if all of the following conditions apply:
DCF 250.08(8)(a)1.
1. The vehicle is owned or leased by a licensee or a contractor of a licensee.
DCF 250.08(8)(a)2.
2. The vehicle has a seating capacity of 6 or more passengers plus the driver. The seating capacity of the vehicle shall be as determined by the manufacturer.
DCF 250.08(8)(b)
(b) No person may shut off a child safety alarm unless the driver first inspects the vehicle to ensure that no child is left unattended in the vehicle.
DCF 250.08(8)(c)
(c) The child safety alarm shall be in good working order each time the vehicle is used for transporting children to or from a center.
DCF 250.08 History
History: CR 03-052: cr.
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05;
CR 07-102: renum. (3) and (5) to be (3) (a) and (5) (a) and am., cr. (3) (b), (c), (5) (b), (c), (d), (e) and (6) (e), r. and recr. (4), am. (6) (b)
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09;
CR 14-028: cr. (8)
Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16;
EmR1918: emerg. r. and recr., eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: r. and recr.
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (6) (a), (b) 1., 2. made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register February 2023 No. 806.
DCF 250.09
DCF 250.09
Additional requirements for infant and toddler care. DCF 250.09(1)(1)
Applicability, qualifications and general requirements. DCF 250.09(1)(a)(a) Family child care centers providing care and supervision to infants and toddlers shall comply with the additional requirements of this section.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)1.1. A provider shall use information obtained on a department-provided form for children under 2 years of age to individualize the program of care for each child. The information shall be at the center before the child is left for care on the child's first day of attendance. A provider and the child's parents shall periodically discuss the child's development and routines.
DCF 250.09 Note
Note: The department's form, DCF-F-CFS0061-E,
Intake for Child Under 2 Years – Child Care Centers, is used to record information for individualizing the program of care for each child. Information on how to obtain the form is available on the department's website,
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov, or from any regional licensing office in Appendix A. Wisconsin has an information and referral service for persons with questions or concerns about a child's development called Well Badger Resource Center that is available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a call is placed to Well Badger Resource Center at 1-800-642-7837, the caller will learn about early intervention services as well as other related services in the area. When a provider or parent has concerns about a child's growth or development a referral to a Birth-to-Three agency should be considered to determine if the child is eligible for special services. With parental consent and consultation, it is recommended that centers who care for children who have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) coordinate programming activities with the local Birth-to-Three agency.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)2.
2. Cribs and playpens shall contain a tight-fitting mattress and a mattress covering that fits snugly over the mattress.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)3.
3. Sheets or blankets used to cover a child one year of age or older shall be kept away from the child's mouth and nose, and if sleeping in a crib or playpen shall be tucked tightly under the mattress.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)4.
4. A child under one year of age may not sleep in a crib or playpen that contains soft or loose materials, such as sheepskins, pillows, blankets, flat sheets, bumper pads, bibs, pacifiers with attached soft objects, or stuffed animals. No blankets or other items may be hung on the sides of a crib or playpen.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)4g.
4g. An audio monitoring device shall be used in any area or room where children under the age of one year are placed to sleep.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)5.
5. Safety gates shall be used at open stairways when children are awake.
DCF 250.09(2)(a)
(a) Child care providers shall respond promptly to a crying child's needs.
DCF 250.09(2)(b)
(b) Each infant and toddler shall be allowed to form and follow his or her own patterns of sleeping and waking.
DCF 250.09(2)(c)
(c) Each child under one year of age shall be placed to sleep on his or her back in a crib unless otherwise specified in writing by the child's physician. The child shall be allowed to assume the position most comfortable to him or her when able to roll over unassisted.
DCF 250.09(2)(d)
(d) Emphasis in activities shall be given to play as a learning and growth experience.
DCF 250.09(2)(e)
(e) Throughout the day, each infant and toddler shall receive physical contact and attention such as being held, rocked, talked to, sung to and taken on walks inside and outside the center.
DCF 250.09(2)(f)
(f) Routines related to activities such as taking a nap, eating, diapering and toileting shall be used as occasions for language development and other learning experiences.
DCF 250.09(2)(g)
(g) When a non-mobile child is awake, a provider shall change the child's body position and location in the room periodically. Non-mobile awake children shall be placed on their stomach occasionally throughout the day.
DCF 250.09(2)(h)
(h) Each non-walking child who can creep or crawl shall be given opportunities each day to move freely in a safe, clean, open, warm and uncluttered area.
DCF 250.09(2)(i)
(i) A provider shall encourage infants and toddlers to play with a wide variety of safe toys and objects.
DCF 250.09(3)
(3) Feeding. A provider shall do all of the following:
DCF 250.09(3)(a)
(a) Feed each infant and toddler on the child's own feeding schedule.
DCF 250.09(3)(b)
(b) Ensure that food, breastmilk, and formula brought from home are labeled with the child's name, dated, and refrigerated, if required.
DCF 250.09(3)(bm)
(bm) Ensure each infant and toddler is correctly fed the food, breastmilk, or formula labeled with the infant's or toddler's name.
DCF 250.09(3)(c)
(c) Ensure that the food, breastmilk, or formula offered to infants and toddlers is consistent with the requirements of the U.S. department of agriculture child and adult care food program.
DCF 250.09(3)(d)
(d) Provide formula or breast milk to all children under 12 months of age.
DCF 250.09(3)(e)
(e) Provide another type of milk or milk substitute only on the written direction of the child's physician.
DCF 250.09(3)(f)
(f) Discard leftover milk or formula within 2 hours after each feeding and rinse bottles after use.
DCF 250.09(3)(g)
(g) Refrain from heating breast milk or formula in a microwave oven.
DCF 250.09(3)(h)
(h) Offer drinking water to infants over 6 months of age and toddlers several times daily.
DCF 250.09(3)(i)
(i) Hold a child unable to hold a bottle whenever a bottle is given. Bottles may not be propped.
DCF 250.09(3)(j)
(j) Hold or place a child too young to sit in a highchair or feeding table in an infant seat during feeding. Wide-based highchairs with safety straps or feeding tables with safety straps shall be provided for children who are not developmentally able to sit at tables and chairs.
DCF 250.09(3)(k)
(k) Ensure that eating utensils and cups are scaled to the size and developmental level of the children.
DCF 250.09(3)(L)
(L) Infant bottles and nipples may not be reused without first being cleaned and sanitized.
DCF 250.09(4)
(4) Diapering and toileting. A provider shall do all of the following:
