As a parent, you know that babies are often curious and not fully aware of all their surroundings. That’s why you do everything possible to keep your home safe for your baby. Just like parents, daycares must take the right steps to properly baby-proof their spaces. So, today, we want to discuss how daycares are supposed to appropriately furnish infant rooms to keep babies safe. First, let’s discuss what furnishings are required in an infant room.
What is Required to be In Infant Daycare Rooms in Texas?
According to licensing standards in Texas, infant rooms must provide:
- An adult-sized rocker or chair
- An individual crib for each infant to sleep in
- An individual crib, cot, bed, or mat that is waterproof or washable
- A hand-washing sink in the diaper-changing area
- And a sufficient number of toys to keep the infants engaged in activities
The Texas licensing standards also specifically prohibit certain items in infant rooms at daycare.
These are usually deemed unsafe by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Specific equipment that is prohibited from use in infant areas at daycares are:
- Baby walkers
- Baby doorway jumpers
- Accordion-style safety gates
- Certain toys that are too small or have multiple pieces that pose a choking hazard
- And Bean bags, waterbeds, and foam pads as sleeping equipment
It’s important that daycares, including caregivers and directors, know and practice furniture safety when caring for young children. They must keep up with agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics to see if any previously acceptable furnishings are deemed unsafe.
This is all in the interest of keeping infants safe and healthy while they’re at daycare. If caregivers fail to follow the rules and regulations set out by the state, infants are at risk of being seriously injured due to improper furnishings and equipment.
Steps to Take if Your Baby Was Injured From an Unsafe Infant Daycare Room
These types of injuries are 100% preventable. If your baby was seriously injured at a negligent daycare due to improper equipment and furnishing practices, be sure to reach out to our legal team here at The Button Law Firm. We have experience holding negligent daycares accountable for injuries to infants.
But if you’re not quite ready to speak to a member of our team, we completely understand. You can download our guide, 10 Tips for Finding a Safe Daycare, for free. This guide was created to get answers to parents like you about daycares and what safety practices should be implemented. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to keep you moving forward.
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