Health Tip: Protect Your Child at Day Care

Reduce the youngster's risk of illness

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(HealthDay News) -- Children who attend day care are at increased risk of getting sick or acquiring an infection.

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The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help reduce your child's risk:

• Make sure your child always washes his or her hands before each meal or snack, and always after using the bathroom.
• Breast-feed your baby, if possible.
• Make sure the day-care center you choose has staff that is trained to minimize the spread of germs.
• Ensure that food preparation and diaper changes are done in places that aren't near each other.
• Check that all staff and children are up to date with immunizations.

-- Diana Kohnle