A study of six child care centers was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of three food contact surfaces (one food serving surface and two food preparation surfaces) and one non-food contact surface (diaper changing surface) to determine the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitization procedures within the facilities. Aerobic plate counts (APCs) and Escherichia coli/coliform counts o...

In this paper, we examine the effects of existing state-level child care regulations on the cost, or price, of non-parental child care, the demand for (non-parental) child care by parents, and the mother’s decision to enter the labor force. We distinguish between the indirect effects of regulations on demand via their effect on the cost of such care facing parents as well and the direct (and no...

OBJECTIVE To examine toddlers' full-day patterns of cortisol production on child care days and non-child care days, with a particular focus on whether the mid-afternoon elevations at child care persist into the evening or decrease to typical levels observed on non-child care days. DESIGN A prospective observational study. SETTING Four child care centers in a suburban, mid-Atlantic area. P...

When New Jersey became the first state to require a flu vaccine for children in 2008, parents protested outside the State House. 1 The new mandate requires children between six months and five years old to get an annual flu shot to attend a child care facility or day care center. 2 According to state epidemiologist Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, New Jersey based its decision to require flu vaccines for pre...

BACKGROUND Given that environmental factors, such as the school environment, can influence child development, more attention should be paid to the development of children attending day care centers. OBJECTIVE To determine whether there are differences in the gross motor, fine motor, or cognitive performances of children between 1 and 3 years-old of similar socioeconomic status attending publi...

background: oral health education for the mothers of very young children is important in reducing the risk of early childhood caries. this study aimed to evaluate the impact of an oral health intervention among mothers of 1-2 years old children. methods: this cluster randomized controlled trial (2012) was conducted among ninety mothers of 1-2 year old children. the setting of study was 10 child...

The Child and Adult Care Food Program ðCACFPÞ provides cash reimbursement to family day care, child-care centers, homeless shelters, and afterschool programs for meals and snacks served to children. Despite young children’s known vulnerability to fluctuations in nutritional intake, prior literature has largely neglected the contributions of the CACFP to reducing household food insecurity. Using...