Health and Safety Requirements

• Safe storage of toxic substances and hazardous chemicals
• Home sanitation, sanitary diapering and toileting, and adequate handwashing
• Safety of outdoor playground surfaces
• Door locks and safety gates
• Crib safety
• Protection from electrical hazards and water sources, like swimming pools

Meals should contain a variety of healthful foods, including fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. 

The minimum number of snacks and meals that must be served depend on the number of hours per day a child is in care.

• <2.5 hours: No snacks required
• 2.5 – 4 hours: One snack required
• 4 – 8 hours: One snack and one meal required
• 8 – 10 hours: Two snacks and one meal required
• 10+ hours: Two snacks and two meals required

And each snack and meal has its own requirements. Each meal must include:

• Breakfast: A fruit, vegetable, full-strength fruit juice, or full-strength vegetable juice, bread or grain product, and milk
• Lunch/dinner: Meat or meat alternative, two vegetables or two fruits or one vegetable and one fruit, a bread or grain product, and milk
• Snack: Must include two of the following:
  • Milk
  • Fruit, vegetable, full-strength fruit juice, or full-strength vegetable juice (juice cannot be served if milk is the only other item)
  • Meat or a meat alternative
  • Bread or grain product

For more information, see K.A.R. 28-4-116.(e) Nutrition and food service in your specific license’s KDHE Child Care Regulations book.

• How to ensure adequate supervision
• Adherence to licensing rules regarding number of providers and children
• Adequate program of activities and services
• Training for sudden infant death syndrome and safe sleep practices 
• No corporal punishment

Child care providers are responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the children in their care. Providers need to know how to respond quickly and calmly in an emergency. 

Kansas Child Care Regulations require facilities to develop an emergency plan that helps to prepare and reduces the likelihood of poor judgments made under the stress of an actual emergency situation. Having a plan helps:

• Reduce injuries and save lives
• Prevent incidents from happening
• Decrease property damage
• Reduce fear and trauma of an incident
• Recover more quickly

Here’s a sample emergency plan you can use to help develop your own. The state also has a disaster plan for review as well: the Kansas Child Care Disaster Plan.