N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.4.24

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 8.9.4.24 - SERVICES AND CARE OF CHILDREN IN CENTERS

A. GUIDANCE:

(1) A center will have written policies and procedures clearly outlining guidance practices. Centers will give this information to all parents and staff who will sign a form to acknowledge that they have read and understand these policies and procedures.

(2) Guidance will be consistent and age appropriate.

(3) Guidance shall be positive and include redirection and clear limits that encourage the child's ability to become self-disciplined. The use of physical or mechanical restraints is prohibited unless due to documented emergencies or medically documented necessity.

(4) A center will not use the following disciplinary practices:

(a) physical punishment of any type, including shaking, biting, hitting, pinching or putting anything on or in a child's mouth;

(b) withdrawal of food, rest, bathroom access, or outdoor activities;

(c) abusive or profane language, including yelling;

(d) any form of public or private humiliation, including threats of physical punishment; or

(e) unsupervised separation.

(5) Children will not be lifted by the arms, hands, wrist, legs, feet, ankles, or clothing.

B. NAPS OR REST PERIOD: A center will provide physical care appropriate to each child's developmental needs that will include a supervised rest period.

(1) Children under the age of six years in the centers for more than five hours will have a rest period.

(2) A center will allow children who do not sleep to get up and participate in quiet activities that do not disturb the other children.

(3) Cribs, cots or mats shall be spaced at least 30 inches apart to permit easy access by adults to each child. If the room used for sleeping cannot accommodate 30 inches of spacing between children, educators shall space children as far as possible from one another. There must be enough room to permit easy access to all children without moving cribs, cots or mats. Cribs which have sneeze guards installed may be placed end-to-end as long as they remain easily accessible.

(4) Each child will have an individual bed, cot, or mat clearly labeled to ensure each child uses the same items between washing.

(5) Cots or mats will have a nonabsorbent, cleanable surface. Mats will be at least three-fourths of an inch thick. Mats and cots shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use regardless of the same child using the mat or cot. Linens may be used multiple times over the course of a week but must be laundered before being used by another child.

(6) Educators shall ensure that nothing covers the face or head of a child aged 12 months or younger when the child is laid down to sleep and while the child is sleeping. Educators shall not place anything over the head or face of a child over 12 months of age when the child is laid down to sleep and while the child is sleeping.

(7) Children with disabilities or medical conditions that require unusual sleeping arrangements will have written authorization from physician justifying the sleeping arrangement. A physician's note must contain a timeframe for the specific sleep arrangement. The facility shall adhere to the timeframe recommended by the doctor.

(8) Staff must be physically available to sleeping children at all times. Children must not be isolated for sleeping or napping in an un-illuminated room unless attended by an educator.

(9) Illumination equivalent to that cast by a soft night light shall be operational in areas that are occupied by children who are napping or sleeping. Illumination must be enough to see the entire room, clearly observe sleeping children and allow for quiet activities for non-sleeping children.

(10) Staff/child ratios and group sizes shall be maintained at naptime.

C. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS

(1) The center will provide a crib for each infant and, when appropriate, for a toddler.

(2) Cribs will meet federal standards and be kept in good repair. The center will not use plastic bags or lightweight plastic sheeting to cover a mattress and will not use pillows in cribs. Stacking cribs is prohibited. Cribs will not be used for storage. Animals and pets will not be allowed in cribs or on sleeping materials.

(3) No child will be allowed to sleep in a playpen, pack and play, car seat, stroller, swings, bouncers or high chairs, or other equipment not intended for sleep purposes.

(4) Children under the age of 12 months shall be placed on their backs when sleeping unless otherwise authorized in writing by a physician.

(5) Toys that are mouthed by infants and toddlers will be cleaned after mouthing by one child before other children do the same.

(6) A center will not admit any child under the age of six weeks except with the written approval of a licensed physician.

(7) A center will care for children under age two years in self-contained rooms separate from those used by older children. Children age six weeks to 12 months may be in the same room with children age 13 to 24 months, when they are physically separated from the older children. A center may group toddlers ages 18 to 24 months with children ages 24 through 35 months.

(8) Throughout the day, an educator will give each infant and toddler physical contact and attention. A caregiver will hold, talk to, sing to and take inside and outside walks with the child. A caregiver will respond immediately to all cries of infants and to the cries of all children within two minutes.

(9) An educator will use routine activities such as nap time, feeding, diapering and toileting as opportunities for language development and other learning.

(10) Infants shall not be allowed to be confined to one area for prolonged periods of time unless the infant is content and responsive. Children that are awake should be moved every 30 minutes to offer new stimulation.

(11) Each infant shall be allowed to form and observe his/her own pattern of feeding, sleeping and waking periods.

(12) A center will arrange the sleeping and play areas so that children in the play area do not disturb sleeping children. Infant rooms shall be arranged so that placement of cribs in an area used by other children does not encroach upon the minimum usable floor space requirements.

(13) Infants shall either be held or fed sitting up for bottle-feeding. Infants unable to sit shall always be held for bottle-feeding. Infants and toddlers shall not be placed in a laying position while drinking bottles or sippy cups. The carrying of bottles and sippy cups by young children throughout the day or night shall not be permitted.

(14) Children will not be allowed to walk or run with pacifiers. Pacifiers will not be used outside of cribs in rooms with mobile infants or toddlers. Pacifiers will be labeled and not shared. Pacifiers will not be tied to the child. Pacifiers that contact the floor or ground will be cleaned and sanitized appropriately.

(15) Foods served will meet the nutritional needs of the infant or toddler. Foods will be developmentally appropriate for each infant served.

(16) A center shall provide an evacuation crib with wheels suitable for the surfaces around the facility and placed closest to the means of egress (exit).

D. DIAPERING AND TOILETING:

(1) An educator will plan toilet training with a parent so the toilet routine is consistent. A center will not attempt to toilet train a child who is not developmentally ready.

(2) A center will change wet and soiled diapers and clothing promptly. Staff members will wear non-porous, single-use gloves when changing a diaper and wash their hands after changing a diaper. Food service gloves are not permissible for diaper changing.

(3) A center will have a change of clothes on hand, including dry, clean clothing and diapers sufficient to meet the needs of each child. A center will label diapers and diapering supplies for each child and store them properly. Diaper bags will be inaccessible to children. Soiled diapers will be stored in a secure container with a tight-fitting lid to assure proper hygiene and control of odors.

(4) An educator will change a child's diaper on a clean, safe, waterproof surface and discard any disposable cover and disinfect the surface after each diaper change.

E. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:

(1) Child care facilities are responsible for staff awareness of community resources for families of children with disabilities, including children under the age of five years as well as those of school age. If center staff believe that a child may have a delay or disability, possible resources for referral and assistance are provided to parents when appropriate. No referral for special needs services to an outside agency will be made without a parent's consent. Family Education Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) will be respected at all times.

(2) Child care facilities are responsible for staff awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it relates to enrolling and caring for children with disabilities.

F. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NIGHT CARE:

(1) A center that provides night care will have 50 square feet of activity area per child for night care.

(2) Staff will be awake and immediately available to children who need attention during the night.

(3) The beds and cots provided for children shall be completely furnished with mattress, waterproof mattress protectors, sheets under and over the child, blanket, pillow and pillowcase and will meet all requirements for nap or rest period in accordance with Paragraphs (3) through (10) of Subsection B of 8.9.4.24 NMAC.

(4) Linens shall be changed immediately in case of soiling.

(5) The same menu shall not be used for lunch and supper.

G. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

(1) Environment shall be organized into age appropriate functional identifiable learning areas. If any of the selected learning areas are not represented at a given time, the areas shall be rotated to provide children with the opportunity to gain skills supported by a variety of learning experiences. The areas may include:

(a) dramatic play;

(b) creative art;

(c) books;

(d) blocks and accessories;

(e) manipulatives;

(f) music;

(g) science;

(h) math/number; and

(i) sensory.

(2) Each center is clearly defined, using shelves and furniture.

(3) Adults can visually supervise all centers at all times.

(4) The capacity of each room will be posted in an area of the room that is readily visible to parents, staff members and visitors.

(5) Learning areas have adequate space and noisy and quiet areas are arranged so that children's activities can be sustained without interruption.

(6) Materials are well cared for and organized by type. Where appropriate, materials are labeled with words or pictures. Adaptations to materials are made when needed to accommodate various abilities of all children. Unused materials are stored in inaccessible storage.

(7) Examples of children's individually expressed artwork are displayed in the environment at the children's eye level.

(8) Floor surface is suitable for activities that will occur in each learning area.

(9) File and storage space is available for educators' materials.

H. SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENT:

(1) Educators remain calm in stressful situations.

(2) Educators are actively engaged with children. Educators talk, actively listen and respond to children appropriately by responding to children's questions and acknowledging their comments, concerns, emotions and feelings.

(3) Educators help children communicate their feelings by providing them with language to express themselves.

(4) Educators model appropriate social behaviors, interactions and empathy. Educators respond to children that are angry, hurt, or sad in a caring and sensitive manner. Educators make appropriate physical contact to comfort children who are distressed.

I. EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAM:

(1) Toys and equipment must be safe, durable, and easy to clean, non-toxic and sanitized daily. Toys will be disinfected, at a minimum of, once per week. Frequency of disinfection of toys must be increased in the event of a communicable disease, following appropriate guidance.

(2) A center will not use accordion-style baby gates.

(3) A child care center will provide activities that encourage children to be actively involved in the learning process and to experience a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and materials.

(4) A center will provide sufficient equipment, materials, and furnishings for both indoor and outdoor activities so that at any one time, each child can be individually involved.

(5) Each child at a center will have a designated space for storage of clothing and personal belongings.

(6) A center will store equipment and materials for children's use within easy reach of the children, including those with disabilities. A center will store the equipment and materials in an orderly manner so children can select and replace the materials by themselves or with minimal assistance.

(7) A center will provide children with toys and other materials that are safe and encourage the child's creativity, social interaction, and a balance of individual and group play.

(8) A center will post a daily activity schedule. A center will follow a consistent pattern for routine activities such as meals, snacks and rest.

(9) Media viewing will not be permitted for children under two years of age. Non-educational viewing for children two years and older will be limited to six hours per month, but not to exceed one full length film in one day. Programs, movies, music and music programs shall be age appropriate and shall not contain adult content. Media viewing includes all of the above as well as computers, tablets, phones, smart devices and screen-based learning equipment. An exception is media that is used for curriculum-based purposes or led by an educator.

(10) Children and family members shall be acknowledged upon arrival and departure.

(11) Full-time children shall have a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity daily, weather permitting, preferably outside. Part-time children shall have a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity daily, preferably outside. The center will ensure drinking water is available and maintained at a cool temperature while playing outside.

(12) Equipment and program requirements apply during all hours of operation of the licensed facility.

J. OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS:

(1) Outdoor play equipment used in child care centers shall be:

(a) intended for public (non-residential) use and installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; or

(b) if intended for residential use, shall be safe and securely anchored.

(2) A center will enclose the outdoor play area with a fence at least four feet high and with at least one latched gate available for an emergency exit. Outside play areas must be on the premises and approved by the licensing authority.

(3) A center will place sufficient energy absorbing surfaces beneath climbing structures, swings, and slides (as determined by Subsection N of 8.9.4.8 NMAC). Based on the consumer product safety commission (CPSC) playground guidelines, grass, artificial turf, and rubber play mats are not energy absorbent material.

Critical Heights of Playground Equipment for Various Types and Depths of Resilient Surfaces Based on Information from the U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC Publication No. 325), Handbook for Public Playground Safety. When no requirement is provided for a specific height of equipment, we have used the requirement for the next higher height, so requirements are conservative, erring on the side of safety.
Equipment Height	Wood Chips	Double Shredded Bark		Uniform Wood Chips	Fine Sand	Coarse Sand	Fine Gravel
	Uncompressed Depths of Materials In Fall Zone
Five feet or less	s inches	6 inches	6 inches		6 inches	6 inches	6 inches
Six feet	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches		12 inches	12 inches	6 inches
Seven feet	6 inches	9 inches	9 inches		12 inches	12 inches	9 inches
Eight feet	9 inches	9 inches	12 inches		12 inches	12 inches	12 inches
Nine Feet	9 inches	9 inches	12 inches		12 inches	N/A	12 inches
Ten Feet	9 inches	9 inches	12 inches		N/A	N/A	12 inches
For poured or installed foam or rubber surfaces, the materials must meet the ASTM F1292 requirements with written verification from the manufacturer.

(4) Playground equipment shall be inspected and inspections documented weekly.

(5) An outdoor play area for children under age two years will have an area protected from the general traffic where the children can crawl in safety.

(6) The use of a trampoline is prohibited at any time during the hours of operation or by any children receiving care at the facility.

(7) Children shall be protected from the sun during outdoor play by providing shade (as necessary), sunscreen, proper attire and limiting the time of exposure to the elements. The center must also consider instructions by the child's parent or guardian. Drinking water should be available as needed and outlined in Paragraph (11) of Subsection I of 8.9.4.24 NMAC.

K. SWIMMING, WADING AND WATER:

(1) Each child will have written permission from a parent or guardian before the child enters the pool.

(2) If a center has a portable wading pool:

(a) a center will drain and fill the wading pool with fresh water daily and disinfect pool before and after each use;

(b) a center will empty a wading pool when it is not in use and remove it from areas accessible to children; and

(c) a center will not use a portable wading pool placed on concrete or asphalt.

(3) If a center has a built in or above ground swimming pool, ditch, fishpond or other water hazard:

(a) the fixture will be constructed, maintained and used in accordance with applicable state and local regulations;

(b) the fixture will be constructed and protected so that, when not in use, it is inaccessible to children; and

(c) when in use, children will be constantly supervised and the number of adults present will be proportional to the ages and abilities of the children and type of water hazard in use.

(4) The following ratios shall be observed for swimming pools more than two feet deep:

Ratio for swimming pools more than two feet deep
Age of the youngest child	Number of educators, lifeguards or volunteers	Number of children
0-23 months	1	1
2 years	1	2
3 years	1	6
4 years	1	8
5 years	1	10
6 years and older	1	12

L. FIELD TRIPS:

(1) A center will ensure the children's safety on field trips and excursions. See Subparagraph (h) of Paragraph (1) of Subsection E of 8.9.4.22 NMAC for requirements for permission slips.

(2) Children will not go to a private residence unless accompanied by two adults.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.4.24

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, October 25, 2022, eff. 11/1/2022