Considering Expanding or Remodeling Your Child Care?

Do you know the age of your child care building? If your family child care home or center building was constructed before 1978, there is a good chance that there may be lead paint present that can pose a risk if it is disturbed. Lead paint chips or dust produced during remodeling or renovation can cause serious, lifelong health effects, especially to young children. Lead damages the nervous system and exposure can lead to lowered IQ, behavior problems, hearing and speech issues, slowed growth and development, and many other health effects.

If you are doing work or having work done on a child-occupied building, like a child care center, family child care home, or preschool, federal regulations require that any contractor who disturbs more than six square feet of paint or replaces windows must be Lead-Safe Certified.  

For more detailed information, please review this brochure or this booklet for child care providers from the Environmental Protection Agency. To find a certified contractor, you can visit the Washington State Department of Commerce’s website for a list. If you have more questions about lead risks in child care facilities, please reach out to our staff at shd.childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.us.

Self-Care Tips for Caregivers & Parents

As we move into the holiday season, added stressors can cause us to feel overwhelmed and experience burnout. Although we can get caught up in the whirlwind of juggling many demands, it is important to prioritize our health and wellness. Below are some tips to help relieve stress and boost wellbeing.

Take care of your body.

• Maintain a healthy sleep routine:Tips for Better Sleep | CDC
• Engage in physical activity: Move Your Way: Tips for Busy Days - YouTube
• Add fruits and veggies to the menu: Resources | Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Give yourself space.

• Create a space in your environment that is your own (such as an office, a desk, or a cozy reading chair).
• Check out this video for tips on creating your personal space in a busy home: Self-Care Sunday | Personal Space - YouTube

Focus on the things you can control.

• To combat stress, practice identifying the things within your control: Handout - Locus of control (caringsafely.org)
• Work on accepting the things that are outside of your control. 
• Limit exposure to unnecessary stressors, when possible (such as news or social media).

Schedule time to worry.

• If you tend to get overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, schedule a devoted time to be present with those thoughts.
• Spend 15 minutes reflecting on or writing down the things you are worried about – if you catch yourself worrying outside of the scheduled “worry window”, practice saving it for the next session.

Give yourself kudos.

• Practice self-compassion and give yourself kind encouragement.
• Take a moment to appreciate yourself and all that you do.
• Remember, you can do anything, not everything!

Public Health Alert! 

Recall: WanaBana Fruit Puree Pouches May Contain Elevated Levels of Lead!

The FDA is advising parents and caregivers not to buy or feed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches to children because the product may contain elevated levels of lead. Parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should contact their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test.

More information can be found here.

Recall: Choking Hazard: Rainbow Road Series Board Books