COVID-19

Policies and Protocols

This health guidance document is for child care,  according to Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Settings.

The information found within the document is intended to support meeting the requirements set out under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 [ CCEYA]

Our COVID-19  policies and procedures are covering the following topics: 

  • Screening
  • Parent drop off and pick up procedures
  • Attendance reporting
  • Physical distancing
  • Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
  • Food safety practices
  • Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection
  • Requirements for the use of toys, equipment, and other material
  • Use of personal protective equipment
  • Isolation/exclusion of ill children and child care staff.

 Screening for symptoms:

  • All individuals, including Babysitters and those living in their household and children attending care and their parents/guardians, must self-screen every time in advance of attending or providing care.
  • Babysitters must answer all screening questions daily for themselves and anyone living in their home regardless of age.
  • Parents must take their child’s temperatures at home before they bring the child to the babysitter’s home or before the babysitter arrives at them. If the temperature is above 37.8C they contact the babysitter to let her know.
  • Screen all children attendees before entry as prescribed by Toronto public health.
  • If the parent did not self-screen, the child must be screened by the babysitter (i.e.temperature taken). Babysitters should take appropriate precautions such as ensuring a 2-meter distance is maintained and they are wearing the required PPE(mask and eye protection).

Drop off and Pick-up Procedures

  • Babysitters must wear a medical mask and eye protection when meeting the parents and during screening, Parents must wear a mask.
  • Individuals should maintain physical distance when dropping off and picking up children or waiting for the Babysitter home (stand at least 2 meters)
  • Parents and Babysitters must wear Masks while interaction
  • If possible and safe, Babysitter can have hand sanitizer (60% – 90% alcohol) as an extra precaution

Cleaning & Disinfecting:

  • In case of a babysitter hosting kids at her home, premisses should be cleaned daily, and besides frequently touched or high touch surfaces must be clean and disinfected at least twice a day, for instance, light switches, doorknobs, tables, and other furnishings railings, toilet handles, and faucet).
  • Wash toys before each use (either is a sink with disinfectant solution or in a dishwasher )
  • Babysitters will maintain Logs to track cleaning and disinfecting.

 Hand washing & Hygiene:

Regular and proper handwashing is the best way to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Babysitters are to wash their hands and those of the children regularly throughout the day.

Follow guidelines set out by public health which include; Wetting hands, applying soap and leathering for at least 20 secs, rubbing between fingers and under nails, and rinsing well.

We recommend Babysitters to wash their hands:

  • At the beginning of the work and while leaving
  • Before and after placing or removing a mask.
  • Before and after diaper checks, changes, and toileting
  • After cleaning and handling garbage
  • Before and after contact with bodily fluids [ i.e. runny noses, spit, vomit, blood)

Children should wash their hands:

  • Before and after meeting with Babysitter.
  • Before and after eating and drinking, after a diaper change and using the toilet After sneezing or coughing into hands

Hand sanitizer does not replace hand washing:

  • It should not be used on children less than 2 years of age
  • Use sanitizer only when you do not have the ability to wash hands [ i.e. out at a park]

Respiratory etiquette:

 Babysitters/providers and children in care should practice proper respiratory etiquette of sneezing or coughing into their elbow worsens into their hands.

Equipment and toy usage restriction

  • Try to use toys and equipment in the home that can be cleaned and disinfected easily
  • Mouthed toys should be cleaned and disinfected immediately after the child finishes using them.
  • Incorporate more individuals activities or activities that encourage more space between children

Nap / sleep time

  • Cribs and playpens should be between children.

If two part-time children are sharing a crib/playpen, Babysitters should disinfect the equipment after each child has used it and change the linen after each use. ( In case Babysitting at her home)

Interactions with Infants/Toddlers

  • Children must not share food, pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups, etc.

Mouthed toys must be removed immediately after cleaning and disinfecting. 

 Meals

  • Babysitters must follow proper hand hygiene when preparing and serving the food.
  • No sharing of the utensils to serve food [i.e. salt shaker, serving spoons ]
  • Ensure that no self-service of food or sharing of food takes place.
  • Meals should be served in individual portions to the children.

Visitors in the home – In case of babysitting at her home:

  • Non-essentials visitors [ i.e. volunteers ] are not allowed in the home during care hours.
  • Home visitors will be screened in advance attending the babysitter’s home and will wear masks and eye protection while in the home.
  • For visitors other than Home visitors, record the name in contact info as well as time in and out in the babysitter Logbook.

Communication with parents

  • These enhanced policies will be shared with all parents of children in care by Karegaroo.
  • Communication regarding the outbreak/case will be shared with parents and other impacted parties as per the direction of the local Public Health.