Family day care educators as a source of child car safety information for parents

Abstract

Family day care (FDC) is a child care model used internationally where children are cared for in the homes of educators. FDC educators have regular contact with families and transport children in their care in their own vehicles. The potential of using child care services as a delivery point for information on optimal child car safety practices has previously been established. However, all previous work has focused on formal early childhood education centers. This study examines child restraint practices and knowledge among FDC educators, and the degree to which these services are being used to provide child restraint information to parents, using a descriptive cross-sectional study design. FDC educators (n = 82) and families (n = 142) completed surveys on child restraint knowledge and practices. Educators reported that 96% of children in their care had been transported in vehicles while attending FDC. While 91% said they knew the law regarding child restraint use only 84% reported complying with this legislation for the children in their care at all times. While 70% reported providing child restraint advice to parents and 88% reported receiving training on child restraints, this training appeared uncoordinated and inconsistent among respondents. Only 9% of families using FDC reported their FDC educator as a child restraint information source. A more structured approach to training and support of FDC services is required to ensure consistent and effective information exchange with parents. While FDC educators are a potential health promotion delivery point about child restraint use, this potential is currently being underutilized.