Virginia Law

A. A caregiver shall be physically present on site and provide direct care and supervision of each child at all times. Direct care and supervision of each child includes:

1. Awareness of and responsibility for each child in care, including being near enough to intervene if needed; and

2. Monitoring of each sleeping infant in one of the following ways:

a. By placing each infant for sleep in a location where the infant is within sight and hearing of a caregiver;

b. By in-person observation of each sleeping infant at least once every 15 minutes; or

c. By using a baby monitor.

B. Caregivers shall actively supervise each child during outdoor play to minimize the risk of injury to a child.

C. A caregiver may allow only school age children to play outdoors while the caregiver is indoors if the caregiver can hear the children playing outdoors.

D. No child less than five years of age or a child older than five years who lacks the motor skills and strength to avoid accidental drowning, scalding, or falling while bathing shall be left unattended while in the bathtub.

E. An additional caregiver will be needed to supervise the number of children at a given time when, using the following point system, 16 points is exceeded:

1. Children from birth through 15 months of age count as four points each;

2. Children from 16 months through 23 months of age count as three points each;

3. Children from two years through four years of age count as two points each;

4. Children from five years through nine years of age count as one point each; and

5. Children who are 10 years of age and older count as zero points.

F. A vendor's own children and resident children under eight years of age shall count in point calculations.

G. In accordance with § 22.1-289.02 of the Code of Virginia, no family day home shall care for more than four children less than the age of two years, including the provider's own children and any children who reside in the home, unless the family day home is licensed or voluntarily registered.