Child Care Safety

Julia Wrigley & Joanna Dreby

Child care safety refers to children's safety from injury or death from accidents or acts of violence, or from emotional or sexual abuse, while in child care settings. Child care is defined as paid care provided by nonrelatives. Nearly 8 million children of employed mothers in the United States are in some form of child care provided by nonrelatives. Despite this large enrollment in child care, little has been known until recently about children's level of safety in care, as no national government or private agency collects data on injuries or fatalities in child care. Whereas extensive research exists on issues such as airline safety and risks posed in the nuclear or chemical industries, much less is known about safety issues in human services. The United States lacks a developed child care system, instead relying on a patchwork of arrangements differing in their level of formality and government oversight. Child ...

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