NAC432A.425. Nurseries for infants and toddlers: General requirements.

     1. The director or a designated member of the staff of a nursery for infants and toddlers or other facility that enrolls infants and toddlers shall discuss policies concerning the health of an infant or toddler with the parents before enrollment of the child. Every parent must be given a description of and agree in writing to the following matters concerning the child:

     (a) Feeding;

     (b) Diapering;

     (c) Changes of clothing, which are to be provided by the parents;

     (d) Bathing, including, without limitation, the kind of soap to be used;

     (e) Precautions against infectious disease;

     (f) Sleeping;

     (g) Toilet training;

     (h) Daily reports to the parents;

     (i) Any special precautions regarding the health and safety of the child; and

     (j) Any other information deemed necessary by the facility or the Division.

     2. A caregiver must be assigned to a specific group of infants on a continuing basis.

     3. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (n) of subsection 3 of NAC 432A.416, each infant and toddler must be under direct visual observation by a qualified caregiver at all times.

     4. Each infant and toddler must be given undivided attention by the same caregiver for at least 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon, including periods of feeding and bathing. The caregiver shall, during this time:

     (a) Hold and talk to the child;

     (b) Encourage the development of the child’s coordination by allowing him or her to reach for, grasp, creep, crawl or pull up;

     (c) Give toddlers the opportunity to develop the large muscles of the body by activities such as climbing and walking; and

     (d) Encourage the child to interact socially through playing, using language and solving problems using materials and equipment that are appropriate for the age of the child. Infants under 6 months of age must be provided an additional period of not less than 2 hours of activity each day out of the crib, for example, in a playpen or other suitable area.

     5. Each licensee of a facility shall provide an indoor area which is covered by a soft or nonabrasive material and is protected from traveled walkways where crawling children can be on the floor for at least a part of the day.

     6. A caregiver may take the infant or toddler assigned to him or her outside or to areas of the facility other than their usual room for a part of each day to provide a change in their physical environment and to increase opportunities for social interaction.

     7. When weather permits, each toddler over 12 months of age must be taken outside for a portion of each day. If the weather is extremely hot, the toddler must be kept in a shaded area while outdoors.

     8. An infant who is awake must not be left in a crib for long periods without direct adult care and never for more than 30 minutes at a time.

     9. The staff of a nursery for infants and toddlers shall separate the infants from the toddlers while the toddlers are engaging in physical activities.

     10. There must be a resilient surface under equipment that is used for playing and climbing at a nursery for infants and toddlers. Such equipment must be appropriate for the age of the children using the equipment.

     11. The staff of a nursery for infants and toddlers shall promote the healthy development of toddlers by:

     (a) Expressing feelings with words;

     (b) Giving directions that are worded in a positive manner;

     (c) Modeling desirable behavior; and

     (d) Redirecting behavior.

     12. The staff of a nursery for infants and toddlers shall not discipline or punish an infant or toddler by confining him or her to a crib, high chair, playpen or other such piece of furniture or equipment.

     13. The staff of a nursery for infants and toddlers shall prepare a daily report for each infant less than 12 months of age for whom it provides care. The report must be posted in a conspicuous place in each room used to care for the infants and must include, without limitation, information concerning the feeding, diapering and sleeping of each infant.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. for Child Care, eff. 6-5-84; A by R203-97, 4-1-98; R047-98, 6-10-98; R112-06, 4-23-2009)