Center-Based Day Care or Pre-School Requirements

When outdoor temperatures are below 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.78 degrees Celsius), center-based day care or pre-school buildings must maintain indoor air temperatures between 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22.22 degrees Celsius) in all rooms occupied by children.

The facilities must also regulate the temperature, ventilation and humidity to prevent excessive heat, dust, fumes, vapors, gases, odors, and drafts.

Home-Based or After-School Child Care Requirements

Home-based or after-school child care programs must provide enough heat and ventilation to protect the children’s health.

All rooms occupied by children must have a temperature of at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius)

Bed bugs are not known to spread disease and do not present a public health risk. Therefore, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) does not accept or respond to complaints about bed bugs in child care facilities.

To report bed bugs, you should contact the manager or owner of the day care facility.

Information and guidance is available for parents and guardians of children in child care facilities where bed bugs have been found.

Where to Find More Information on Bed Bugs

To learn more about bed bugs, including how to prevent and get rid of bed bugs safely, go to the Bed Bug Prevention and Control page.

DOHMH Regulations

The NYC Health Code states that child care facilities should be kept free of rodents, insects and other pests, and free of any condition conducive to rodent, insect, and other pest life.

If a day care center or pre-school has bed bugs, the operator must hire an exterminator, unless:

• The day care is in a private home. The homeowner must hire the exterminator.
• The day care is in a private apartment building. The landlord must hire a licensed exterminator.
• The day care is in public housing. The operator should file a report by calling 311.

Parental Notification of Pesticide Use in Child Care Facilities

Parents must be notified about pesticide applications at least 48 hours before the application.

Should Children Be Kept Home or Go to the Doctor?

Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. You are not required to keep your children home from a day care that has a bed bug infestation. 

You do not have to take your child to a doctor simply because their day care center had bed bugs. However, if your child gets bitten and the bite gets infected, you should take them to a doctor.

What to Do with Clothing

If your child attends a day care with a bed bug infestation, check the child's clothes upon arrival at home. It is recommended that you immediately wash and dry the clothing on hot settings.