Rule 5180:2-20-06 | Equipment and supplies.
(A) How are preschool spaces to be equipped?
Indoor and outdoor play space shall contain furniture, materials and equipment of appropriate size and type to meet the intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of the preschool children enrolled in the preschool program. Material and equipment shall be:
(1) Maintained in a safe and sanitary condition.
(2) Provided in quantities proportionate to the enrollment.
(B) What are the safety and sanitation requirements for preschool furniture, materials, and equipment?
Furniture, materials and equipment shall meet the safety and sanitation requirements of rule 5180:2-12-12 and rule 5180:2-12-13 of the Administrative Code. The following requirements shall also be met:
(1) Protective mats shall be placed under climbers.
(2) General-use trampolines, ball pits, and inflatable play equipment intended for climbing and bouncing, including but not limited to slides and bounce houses, shall not be permitted for use in the preschool program. Individual-use, personal-sized therapy trampolines no larger than forty-eight inches in diameter may be used by children under direct supervision.
(3) Space heaters shall not be used in any preschool program unless approved in writing by the building and/or fire official having jurisdiction in the area.
(4) If electrical fans are used, they shall have protective coverings; shall not be easily tipped over; and shall be placed so that they are not hazardous to children.
(5) Cleaning and sanitizing supplies shall be stored in a space that is inaccessible to children. Cleaning agents, aerosol cans and all other chemical substances are to be stored in a designated area in their original containers and/or clearly labeled.
(6) Safe handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio-contaminants comply with the following:
(a) Blood spills are treated cautiously and decontaminated promptly. Disposable gloves are to be worn during contact with blood or bodily fluids which contain blood, such as vomit or feces in which blood can be seen.
(b) Surfaces contaminated with blood or bodily fluids containing blood are first cleaned with hot, soapy water and then sanitized with an appropriate bleach solution which is prepared on a daily basis according to product guidelines, or other acceptable disinfectant solution which is environmental protection agency (EPA) rated as hospital disinfectant with a label claim for mycobactericidal activity.
(c) The disposal of materials that contain blood are done by the use of a sealable, leakproof plastic bag or by double bagging in plastic bags that are securely tied.
(d) Non-disposable items, such as clothing that contains blood, is placed in a sealable, leakproof plastic bag or are double bagged in plastic bags that are securely tied and sent home with the child.
(e) The disposal of sharp items used for procedures on children with special care needs, such as lancets for finger sticks or syringes, is done by way of a disposable container called a "sharps container." This is a container made out of durable, rigid material which safely stores the lancets or syringes until the parent can take them home for disposal. Sharps containers are to be stored out of the reach of children.
(C) How are preschool play equipment and materials to be arranged?
Play materials to be used in the preschool shall be arranged so that children may select, remove, and replace play materials with minimal assistance.
(D) What are the first-aid supply requirements for a preschool program?
Adequate and sufficient first-aid supplies shall be readily available at all times the preschool is in operation, including on field trips. This includes, at a minimum, band-aids, gauze squares, adhesive tape, an instant ice pack, disposable non-latex gloves, and a working digital thermometer. First-aid kit supplies are to be reviewed and replaced regularly by a staff member.
(E) What are the cot or mat requirements for children in the preschool?
One cot or mat shall be available for each child who remains more than five consecutive hours in the preschool program.
(1) Each cot or mat, with individual bedding, shall be labeled in some manner as to who is assigned to use the cot and shall be for the exclusive use of each child between sanitation procedures.
(2) Cots, mats, and individual bedding shall be thoroughly cleaned with an appropriate germicidal detergent and regularly sanitized before assignment for use by another child.
(3) Cots and mats are to comply with rule 5180:2-12-20 of the Administrative Code.
(F) What are the crib sleeping requirements for infants in a preschool program?
(1) Cribs shall be provided in accordance with all of the following:
(a) Cribs shall meet the United States consumer product safety commission (CPSC) safety standards in accordance with 16 C.F.R. 1219.1 to 1220.2 (June 2011, cpsc.gov).
(b) A crib shall be assigned only to children less than thirty-five inches tall. Children over thirty-five inches tall shall be assigned to use a cot. A child that can climb out of a crib is to be assigned to a cot or mat.
(c) Each infant shall be provided with a separate crib.
(i) There shall be one crib available which meets the requirements of this rule for each infant.
(ii) Each crib shall be labeled with each infant's name who is assigned to use the crib and shall be for the exclusive use of said child between sanitation procedures. Cribs shall be thoroughly cleaned with an appropriate germicidal detergent and regularly sanitized before assignment for use by another child.
(d) Cribs shall be spaced apart from each other by a minimum of two feet on all sides. A corner wall at the end of a crib may meet this requirement as long as staff have access to the infant on one side, at a minimum.
(e) Cribs are not stacked.
(f) The space between the mattress and the side of the crib or the end panels of the crib shall not exceed one and one-half inches.
(g) Each crib mattress shall:
(i) Be securely covered with a waterproof material which is not dangerous to children.
(ii) Have only a clean bottom crib sheet which is changed at least weekly or more often as necessary. The sheet shall be changed whenever another child uses the crib.
(2) The program shall promote safe infant sleep by ensuring the following:
(a) All preschool programs are to comply with the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY) infant safe sleep procedures.
(b) Infants shall be placed in their cribs for sleeping and shall not be allowed to sleep in car seats, swings, mesh cribs, playpens, bassinets of any type, or other equipment. If a medical condition exists where a child needs to sleep in equipment other than a crib, written permission shall be obtained and updated every six months from a physician and be kept on file for review.
(c) No blankets shall be in the crib for infants under twelve months old. A one-piece sleeper or wearable blanket is permitted. Only children who are not yet able to roll-over are permitted to be swaddled using a wearable swaddling blanket.
(d) Infants are not placed in cribs with bibs or any other items which could pose a strangulation or suffocation risk. This includes, but is not limited to, bumper pads, teething necklaces, pacifier ribbons, stuffed animals, and toys.
(e) Infants under twelve months old are placed on their backs to sleep unless the parent provides written authorization on the DCY 01235 "Sleep Position Waiver Statement for Child Care" or an equivalent document. Either format of this written authorization is to be signed by the child's physician. The DCY 01235 (or equivalent) is to be maintained on file for review and is valid for one year. Infants who are able to roll from back to front and front to back are to be placed initially on their back for sleeping but allowed to remain in a position they prefer.
(G) What are the potty chair requirements for children in the preschool program who are toilet learning?
Potty chairs shall be provided in accordance with all of the following:
(1) Potty chairs shall not be located in areas used for food preparation or serving or in areas not normally used for diaper changing or toileting.
(2) Potties shall be emptied, cleaned, disinfected, and rinsed with water after each use. The rinsing solution shall be disposed of into a toilet, not a sink.
(3) Disposable cloths used for cleaning potties shall be used once and disposed of in a plastic-lined covered receptacle. Reusable cloths shall be stored in an appropriate germicidal solution and held for laundering for no longer than one day.
Last updated July 1, 2026 at 8:55 AM
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