(a) Environment.  Infants, toddlers and two-year-olds shall be in an environment which protects them from physical harm and stimulates physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development.  A written record of the infant and toddler's feeding, diapering, and naps is available daily for parents to see.

(b) Feeding.  Infants and toddlers are fed in accordance with their needs.  Infants and toddlers are fed the infant formula or breast milk and diet prescribed by the child's physician or authorized by the child's parent.  Parents may be requested to provide infant formula and baby food.

• (1) When a child has a special dietary need, parents may be requested to supplement the center's food service.
• (2) When infants and toddlers show evidence of wanting to feed themselves, they are allowed to do so.
• (3) The child's hands are washed with soap and water, disposable diaper wipe, or a damp paper towel with a drop of liquid soap before and after self-feeding.
• (4) Infants shall be held while being bottle-fed unless they are able to hold their bottles securely without assistance.
• (5) Bottles are not propped at any time.
• (6) Children are not given bottles in cribs or moving swings due to increased risk of choking, ear infections, and tooth decay.
• (7) Infants and toddlers who are not held for feeding have a designated place for eating.
• (8) Children younger than two years of age shall not be fed candies, gum, marshmallows, raw carrots, celery, raw peas, whole grapes, nuts, seeds, popcorn, or chips as these foods may cause choking.  If served, peanut butter must be spread thinly.  All other foods shall be cut up into small pieces no larger than ¼ inch cubes for infants and no larger than ½ inch cubes for toddlers.
• (9) Staff members wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before feeding children, including bottle-feeding.
• (10) Bottles and baby food provided by parents are labeled with the child's name.  Previously opened baby food jars are not accepted from parents.
• (11) Bottles of formula or breast milk shall be refrigerated until immediately before feeding and immediately after feeding.  At the end of the day, bottles and opened baby food jars are either sent home with parents or the contents are discarded.
• (12) Baby food is served from a separate dish and spoon for each child.  Baby foods that have come into contact with the feeding spoon are discarded and not served again.
• (13) Bottles of formula or breast milk are not warmed in a microwave oven.  If microwave ovens are used to warm food:
• (A) staff are trained to assess safe temperatures; and
• (B) a warning to check food temperature before feeding children is posted on all microwave ovens.

(c) Diaper changing.  Rooms in which children under three years of age are in diapers have an operable sink with hot and cold running water, hand-washing soap, and individual-use towels either in the same room or in a bathroom that opens directly into the room.

• (1) The requirement in this subsection does not include:
• (A) rooms in which children, who are at least two years of age, are in disposable or cloth training pants if adequate provisions are made for supervision and sanitation; and
• (B) centers licensed for 15 or fewer children in buildings originally designed as a family residence if:
• (i) there is a centrally located bathroom sink with a changing table nearby; and
• (ii) children in diapers play throughout the house rather than in an assigned room.
• (2) The diaper-changing table shall be:
• (A) adjacent to or near the sink with a clean, moisture-proof surface;
• (B) sturdy and maintained in good repair;
• (C) a minimum of 28 inches above the floor; and
• (D) kept free of all objects except those used for diaper changing.
• (3) Staff are instructed in the proper procedure for diaper changing in a child care setting.
• (4) The procedure for diaper changing is posted in the diaper-changing area.
• (5) If cloth diapers and training pants are used, they shall be able to contain urine and stool and minimize fecal contamination of the environment.  Cloth diapers and training pants are not rinsed when soiled.  Fecal content may be disposed of in a toilet, but soiled diapers or training pants are not rinsed in the toilet.
• (6) Diapers are checked hourly and whenever the child indicates discomfort or exhibits behavior that suggests a soiled or wet diaper.
• (7) Diapers are changed promptly when wet or soiled.
• (8) A child's diaper or soiled underwear is changed in the diaper-changing area.  Diapering is not done on surfaces used for other purposes.
• (9) Clean cloth diapers or clean disposable diapers are used.
• (10) Children are not left unattended on the diaper-changing table.
• (11) Disposable towelettes are used to thoroughly cleanse the child and are discarded after one use.
• (12) The surface is sanitized after each diaper change.  Any sanitizing agent other than bleach must be approved by local or state health official and must be used according to manufacturer's instruction.  If moisture-proof, disposable surface products are used, they are discarded immediately after each diaper change, and the surface is sanitized.
• (13) Staff members are required to wash and scrub their hands thoroughly for at least ten seconds with soap and warm, running water after each diaper change.
• (14) If used, disposable gloves are discarded before a clean diaper is applied.

(d) Toilet learning.  The plan and progress in toilet learning are discussed with the parents.

• (1) Toilet learning is relaxed and pressure free.
• (2) A child is encouraged through regular use of a toilet or potty chair for short periods of time not to exceed ten minutes.
• (3) Staff are required to respond promptly when a child requests toileting assistance.
• (4) Staff do not show disapproval or punish children for accidents.
• (5) A child's clothing is changed immediately following a toileting accident. Soiled clothing is placed in a sealed, labeled, moisture-proof bag and sent home.
• (6) Potty chair receptacles are emptied, rinsed, and sanitized after each use.
• (7) Staff are required to wash their hands with soap and water after each toileting and assist children with hand washing, using soap and water.

(e) Program.  Each child is assigned a primary staff person.  Staff are required to be present at all times in each room or adjacent bathroom when it is occupied by children.

• (1) Children are:
• (A) removed from their cribs often when not sleeping;
• (B) not left for more than 30 minutes while awake in playpens, swings, high chairs, or stationary activity centers; and
• (C) provided opportunities to play freely on a clean, safe floor.
• (2) Staff provide frequent stimulation in a variety of ways including talking to, playing with, and holding and rocking children.
• (3) Language development is encouraged by staff members through individual interaction with each child, for example, singing, talking, reacting to the child's sounds, naming objects, describing events, reading stories, and playing musical games.
• (4) Infants and toddlers spend time outdoors daily when weather permits.
• (5) For awake infants who cannot move about the room, the staff shall hold, rock and/or carry the child frequently to change the place and position of the child and the selection of toys available.
• (6) Caregivers communicate and interact with children at the child's eye level as they feed, change, and cuddle them.
• (7) Toys that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated shall be cleaned and sanitized before being reused.
• (8) Additional requirements regarding equipment and rest time for infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds are found in OAC 340:110-3-14(a) through (d) and 340:110-3-25.5.