South Carolina is about to update its child care regulations for the first time in more than a decade. The current rules were put in place in 1993.

Wednesday, the Senate General Committee approved new regulations that will now go to the full Senate and House for approval.

The main thing the new rules would do is lower the number of children that each adult can care for. For example, right now one adult can take care of up to 10 children who are two to three years old. Under the new regulations, that number would gradually be lowered to 7 children, dropping by one a year over four years.

The new rules also prohibit using a microwave oven to heat up breast milk. They discourage the use of a microwave for formula and other beverages, but don't prohibit it.

The regulations originally put new limits on the number of children and adults that could be in one room, but those rules have been removed from consideration.

The House and Senate could approve the regulations as early as next week.