The Remembering Nicholas Foundation Founder on the Importance of Childcare Education and Infant Safety

Few things are as vital as education on infant safety in parenting and caregiving. Unfortunately, it’s usually overlooked. A parent’s worst nightmare can unfold in mere moments due to circumstances that could have been prevented with the proper knowledge, preparation, and vigilance. Racheal Wasniewski aims to address this sobering truth. As a mother who experienced the unthinkable loss of her infant son, she has become an advocate for education in childcare.

Racheal’s story is one no parent ever wants to tell. In August 2020, she gave birth to Nicholas Miles, a healthy baby boy. However, only six months later, she received a call that her child had stopped breathing while under someone else’s care and was rushed to the hospital. Lamentably, there was nothing more the doctor could do despite emergency efforts.

The aftermath revealed that Nicholas had been swaddled incorrectly, with his arms pinned. When he rolled over in his sleep, he suffocated. The grief of losing her beautiful baby boy was made more unbearable by the knowledge that his death could have been prevented with proper childcare knowledge and safety protocols.

This tragedy birthed the Remembering Nicholas Foundation, a nonprofit that supports families dealing with infant loss and works to prevent such accidents from happening again. The foundation initially focused on alleviating the financial burden of losing a child by helping with hospital bills, funeral expenses, and burial costs. Its services grew over time, with Racheal including grief counseling and partnerships with local hospitals and funeral homes.

The nonprofit has also stood out for its commitment to childcare education. Through the Driving for Change initiative, the Remembering Nicholas Foundation offers free CPR and first aid certification for childcare providers. Racheal teaches these classes herself. The curriculum includes hands-on training in infant and child CPR, how to respond to choking, and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), a potentially life-saving device not commonly found in daycare centers due to high costs.

Attendees of Rachel’s CPR Training

The Remembering Nicholas Foundation partnered with Child Care Aware of Northwest Arkansas (NWA), a nonprofit that offers childcare provider education, among many other services. Racheal utilizes Child Care Aware’s facilities to host CPR training sessions, ensuring broader access to these life-saving skills. The training, running from early morning until noon on Saturdays, involves participants engaging with educational videos and simulations, practicing on child and infant mannequins, and running through full emergency reenactments. These include calling 911, checking the scene for safety, using an AED, and administering CPR until professional help arrives.

Racheal also teaches pediatric first aid, which involves responding to allergic reactions with EpiPens, wound care, managing drownings, and recognizing signs of distress. Knowing the importance of safe sleep practices, a topic close to her heart after Nicholas’ accident, Racheal educates parents and caregivers on the correct way to swaddle infants. She also teaches them how to use monitoring devices like the Owlet Smart Sock, which tracks heart rate and oxygen levels. It’s worth mentioning that daycare centers that complete CPR training are eligible to receive these devices as part of the Driving for Change initiative.

These education-focused initiatives stem from Racheal’s belief that knowledge saves lives. She’s not wrong. In 2020, the United States had an infant mortality rate of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. Racheal notes that some US states have higher rates than others due to factors like limited access to healthcare, fewer childcare regulations, and shorter maternity leaves.

The founder emphasizes that this education isn’t only for professional caregivers. “This is important for everyone: parents, grandparents, anyone who’s going to be watching your child,” she says. She also encourages regular refresher training, noting how easily panic can erase learned skills in an actual emergency. “Even certified caregivers can forget crucial steps if they’re not revisiting and practicing them regularly,” Racheal states.

Racheal Conducting CPR Training

Moreover, education must not stop at a single training session. She urges parents and caregivers to utilize available resources and do their due diligence when choosing a childcare provider. Racheal recalls how she didn’t know the right questions to ask as a young, first-time mom. Now, she advises other parents to demand proof of up-to-date CPR certifications, confirm state regulation compliance, and check inspection records on websites like the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) My Child Care DC.

In her advocacy, Racheal Wasniewski promotes empowerment. She has turned tragedy into purpose, helping families prevent similar heartbreak by providing them with life-saving knowledge through hands-on education.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.