The following courses are required for orientation:

Within 30 days of hire:

Infant, Child, Adult CPR/First Aid Certification

• Infant, Child, Adult CPR must be completed in a hands-on setting; online courses will not be approved.
• First Aid Certification cards must state "Pediatric".

Infant Safety Essentials - 2 hours

Within 90 days hire:

New Staff Health & Safety Orientation - 6 hours

Together We Grow – 3 hours

Early Childhood Essentials – in person at local R & R

Every 3 years after completion of initial Orientation courses:

All staff in family/group, and center child care facilities that are counted in ratios and provide direct care to children. This means all new and existing Early Childhood Teachers including Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Directors, and Substitute Teachers regardless of the number of hours per year.

• Does not include foster-grandparents if they are not providing direct care or counted in ratios.
• Does not include staff that provide specialty services to children but are not counted in ratios.

• The Infant Safety Essentials course is not required for staff that work at facilities that provide care exclusively to children age 5 and over.

Staff must complete the 30-day orientation courses before they may be left alone in a room with the children in care. This means CPR/First aid and Infant Safety Essentials.

Some of the information in the shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma information applies to children over 2.

If you care for infants that are accustomed to sleeping with a light-weight blanket, you may continue to use a light-weight blanket for those infants until February 1, 2019. These blankets should be no heavier than a receiving blanket. New infants coming into the facility should be started without a blanket or should be started with a sleep sack that does not restrict the infant’s arms.

The department encourages the use of sleep sacks that do not constrict the infant’s arms. Infants should wear clothing that is warm enough for their environment but not too warm. Caring for our children guidelines warn against allowing infants to become too warm while sleeping.

ARM 37.95.1005 INFANT AND TODDLER, SLEEPING
(7) All pillows, quilts, comforters, heavy blankets, sheepskins, bumper pads, stuffed toys, and other soft products must be removed from the crib and play pen when an infant is laid down for sleep.
(a) Blankets of any weight must be removed when infants 12 months of age or under are laid down for sleep.
(b) Sleep sacks and similar safe sleep clothing may be used if the item does not restrict the infant's arms.
(c) Infants under 3 months of age may only be swaddled if medical documentation from a health care provider is on file at the facility.
(d) Infants over 3 months of age must not be swaddled.

Facilities that submit a written request may receive a conditional waiver for ARM 37.95.1005 (7)(a). The written request must:

• include the basis for request such as significant hardship to the infants;
• propose an alternative that is consistent with best practices in early childhood standards;
• demonstrate that blankets used are light-weight and used in a way that meets the intent of the rule;
• demonstrate that infants are directly observed by sight and sound during naptime. Lighting and location of the nap area must allow staff to have the ability to see and move a blanket if an infant becomes tangled or if the blanket covers the head.
• agree to have each parent sign a form or policy stating that they are aware of national recommendations regarding blankets, aware that blankets of any weight can pose a strangulation or suffocation hazard, and allow the facility to use a light-weight blanket.
• The facility has shown continuous compliance with safe sleep deficiencies.
• A department signed copy of waiver terms must be posted by infant sleep area.