Whenever children are in groups, their risk of sharing sickness increases. Though it is virtually impossible for toys and items used in child care programs to be in perfect sanitary condition, steps can be taken to avoid the spread of infection.

Immunizations are a valuable weapon when it comes to protecting your child against illness. Make sure your child's immunizations are up to date and include diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and chickenpox. Make sure your child care program requires up-to-date immunization records for each child, as well as for staff.

Children should have easy access to sinks while at their child care program. They should be encouraged and monitored to make sure they are washing their hands after using toilets, before eating, and after blowing their noses or coughing or sneezing into their hands. Staff should be washing their hands after diapering, before handling food, and after any contact with a child's body fluids. Changing tables, toilets, and items that the children place into their mouths should be washed, sprayed with a sanitizing solution and air-dried daily.

When your children are sick, sending them to their child care program will only spread the sickness. As a parent, you can help keep the program's children healthy by keeping your children home until their illness is no longer contagious.

A request can be made that the caregiver alert parents when any child in the program acquires a serious or highly contagious infectious illness.

At home, teach your children proper hygiene, including hand washing. Learn about the illnesses most common in child care programs including colds, flu, diarrhea, diseases and skin/eye infections.