DCF 250.08 NoteNote: Information on the required vehicle safety alarm is available on the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ccregulation/providers.
DCF 250.08 HistoryHistory: 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 250.09DCF 250.09Additional 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)(c) General requirements.
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 NoteNote: 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)4r.4r. Waterbeds may not be used by children under 2 years of age.
DCF 250.09(1)(c)5.5. Safety gates shall be used at open stairways when children are awake.
DCF 250.09(2)(2)Daily program.
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.