In-House Newsletter
October 2017
Education Specialist
Take this time to check each classroom's portfolios!
Remember that portfolios should include:
- Anecdotal Notes (2 per child per week)
- Work Samples (1-2 times per thematic unit)
- Pictures (1-2 pictures per thematic unit)
- Assessment Tool
For those teachers who are struggling, set up a time to help them get their portfolios in order!
Rainbow Rep
Staff Appreciation Idea- Let your staff know you think they're a "Spooktacular Teacher!" Create a Caramel Apple goody bag for each teacher with a little note. Add individual caramel packets, and a whole apple and wrap them up. Your teachers will love the thoughtful treat!
Family Connection Idea- At the beginning of the week of Halloween, fill a goody basket by the door! Have enough for each child to have one treat. You can fill this with pretzel broomsticks, jack-o-lantern oranges, or Frankenstein play dough! Use your imagination, or check the Rainbow Pinterest page for additional ideas!
Each month we will continue to provide ideas as well as general tips for connecting with staff and families. We would also love to hear your ideas and see your hard work! Please send ideas and pictures of completed activities to education@rainbowccc.com.
Health, Safety, and Licensing Coordinator
Bottle Feeding
Infant rooms can often become a hectic place when all the babies are fussing for bottles because they are hungry. It is during this most hectic time that we must always remember to stay vigilant and ensure that all children receive the correct bottles. Rainbow Child Care has the following procedure to help ensure that each child receives the appropriate bottle.
Staff members are expected to adhere to these procedures, which are designed to minimize health and safety risks to the children in our care, and address the proper handling, storing, preparation and disposal of food. State licensing regulations will take precedence if they conflict with Rainbow Child Care Center policies or procedures. If Rainbow Child Care Center policies or procedures are stricter, they take precedence.
Color Coding and Dating Bottles/Containers ALL bottles and containers should be marked with each child’s full name, the date, the contents, and the amount. A color-coding system for breast milk bottles will be used. Breast milk bottles will be marked with a bright green label that will identify the child’s full name, the date, and the amount of fluid. All other bottles and containers will be marked with a white label that will identify the child’s full name, the date, the contents, and the amount. These labels will be available at the center, and can be given to the parents to fill out prior to arriving at the center.
Bottle Feeding Procedures
The caregiver of an infant who is ready to be fed a bottle will do the following:
1. Caregiver and infant hands are washed prior to feeding.
2. Perform the 1st check. Check the name on the bottle upon removing it from the refrigerator. Record the time the bottle was removed from the refrigerator on the label and initial next to it
3. Warm the bottle, if requested by the family. Before serving, perform the 2nd check with a colleague to verify that you have the correct bottle. Record initials in the “Bottles and Meals” section of the child’s Daily Communication Sheet.
4. Test the temperature on wrist and confirm that it is not too hot and the lid is tight. Prior to feeding, with the infant in your arms, do the 3rd verbal check with your colleague.
5. After Feeding, wash the infant’s hands and confirm there is no food in the child’s mouth. Bottles/nipples are emptied /rinsed, and returned to the child’s cubby or bag.
Bottles that are warmed and/or partially consumed cannot be returned to the refrigerator. Bottles that are out of the refrigerator for longer than one (1) hour are considered expired and must be disposed of.
Breast Milk Feeding Precautions
Breast milk is a bodily fluid and should be treated as such. When feeding a child breast milk, vinyl gloves should be worn. Breast milk spills should be cleaned up as any other bodily fluid.
Confirmation Checks
The caregiver who is responsible for the infant should handle the bottle/food feedings through these checks, unless noted on the Daily Communication Sheet.
Three (3) checks are performed before a bottle is fed to an infant, as follows:
1. When a bottle is removed from the refrigerator, the name on the bottle is verified. The caregiver will record the time the bottle was removed from the refrigerator on the label itself and initial next to it.
2. When a bottle is removed from the warmer, if not warmed immediately before it is fed, the name on the bottle is checked with a colleague and the Daily Communication Sheet is initialed in the “Bottles and Meals” section.
3. Immediately before feeding a verbal check is performed with a colleague, as follows:
o Caregiver: “This is (child’s name) bottle and this is (child’s name) that I’m feeding now.”
o Colleague checks the name on the bottle and responds aloud: “(Child’s name) is being fed.”
If you are alone, contact an administrator for 2nd verification and complete the verbal check as stated above. In the absence of an administrator, complete the verbal check out loud without a colleague.