Spaces built for the youngest children
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory illness that CDC says can make young infants and some older adults very sick. Daycares, church nurseries and play areas, pediatric waiting rooms and family homes, including rentals, are full of shared toys and surfaces that small hands and mouths reach constantly.
Our work in these settings is careful and deliberate. The goal is to disinfect thoroughly while making sure nothing is left on a surface a child might put in their mouth.
Product choice and rinsing
Many EPA-registered disinfectants list respiratory syncytial virus on their labels. We select one suited to the materials in the room and follow its dilution and contact time.
Some labels require that food-contact surfaces, and items such as toys that may go in a child's mouth, be rinsed with potable water after the contact time. We follow those directions closely and allow surfaces to dry before children return.
Typical items and surfaces
We review the room with your staff so we know which items are shared and which belong to individual children.
Before we begin, staff can help by moving children's personal belongings, such as backpacks, bottles and comfort items, into a separate area so they are not mixed in with shared toys. We also ask about any surfaces children use for eating, because those follow the rinse directions on the label. Keeping that separation clear makes the work faster and keeps individual items out of the shared cleaning process. If your program keeps its own cleaning log, we can note our visit in a format that fits it, and we can provide a plain summary for staff to share with parents.
- Crib rails, mattress covers and changing tables
- Hard plastic toys, blocks and activity tables
- High chairs, feeding tables and sippy-cup shelves
- Door handles, cubbies, light switches and sign-in counters
- Waiting-room chairs, check-in tablets and exam-room counters
- Bathroom sinks, step stools and diaper pails
How we protect infants and older adults during the visit
Because RSV can be most serious for babies and older adults, we plan visits so no one in those groups is present while products are applied. In a home with a newborn or a frail grandparent, that usually means scheduling while the family is out, or treating one room at a time while everyone stays elsewhere.
We tell you which product we are using and how long the room should be left before people return, based on its label. Rinsing food-contact surfaces and mouthable items comes before anyone re-enters.
In senior living communities, we coordinate with staff on resident movement and follow the community's own infection-control procedures.
Fabrics and soft toys
Washable blankets, nap mats with fabric covers and plush toys are usually better laundered according to their care labels rather than sprayed. Items that cannot be washed can be set aside or discarded at your discretion.
We work after hours so a program can reopen the next morning, and we leave a written record that directors can share with staff or parents if they choose.
Cloth-covered furniture in reading corners and nursing rooms is treated only with products labeled for soft surfaces, or laundered if covers come off.
What stays with your health advisers
We do not provide medical guidance, decide which children may attend or advise on vaccination. Those decisions belong to families, pediatric providers, program leadership and the health department.
Related services include influenza decontamination and school and university cleanup. We serve programs and families in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee.