NAEYC requires that children wash their hands with soap and water in the morning when they enter the classroom. Teachers will also continue having children wash their hands with soap and water during the day.

The hand sanitizer is fast and easy and should be used when soap and water is not readily available. The NAEYC standard says: "… sanitizer is not a substitute for hand washing with soap and water…" in the classroom environment. We also want children to learn good hand washing skills and habits.

After Each Use

• Sinks and faucet handles after being used, to clean feces, vomitus, urine, or blood

• Diapering surfaces

• Toys or other community objects mouthed by infants and toddlers

• Bibs

• Thermometers

• Mops used for cleaning body fluids

• Toilets, toilet seats, and flushing handles

• Lids and containers for holding soiled diapers

• Sinks, faucet handles, and drinking fountains

• Water table and water play equipment

• Play tables

• Smooth surface, non-porous floors

• Mops and non-disposable wash cloths or other materials used for cleaning

• Cribs

• Mattresses, cots, or mats

• All cribs sheets/blankets, and machine washable fabric toys owned by the CDC should be laundered on a weekly basis or more frequently if needed. Sheets, blankets, and fabric toys belonging to children should be sent home for laundering once per week.

• Take special care to wash and disinfect food preparation and serving surfaces, such as counters, tables, and stovetops. Disposable cloths or paper towels are preferred for cleaning these surfaces. Do not reuse cloths or paper towels for any other purpose. These surfaces should be cleansed before and after food preparation. Use automatic dishwasher with a temperature setting of 170 degrees Fahrenheit. If dishwasher is out of commission, hand washing is acceptable as follows: Wash dishes in soapy water 120 degrees Fahrenheit, rinse thoroughly, and then dip in bleach solution at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit. For one minute. Then rinse and allow to air dry in dish rack. Do not use dishtowels to dry dishes.

• Mouthed toys or any toy that is contaminated by body secretion or excretion is either to be washed by hand using water and detergent, the rinsed, sanitized and dried or washed and dried in a dishwasher before it can be put back into use. (NAEYC 5.C.03)

• Any equipment or surface should be disinfected whenever there is visible contamination.

• Teething rings should be handled and served as a food item. Hence, when a teacher gives a child a teething ring, the teacher should wash her hands first, and should assist the child in washing her hands. In the event a teacher is giving multiple teething rings to multiple children, the teacher should wash her hands and use food service gloves in the distribution of the teething rings. Children should wash their hands before receiving a teething ring.

• As is standard procedure, the children should be reminded to place their teething ring in the sink when they are finished and to wash their hands again.

• When toys become contaminated in the classroom, teachers should designate a procedure to clean and sanitize these toys to avoid the spread of germs.