Jesmond Early Education Centre IncNQF-2

Sleep and Rest for Children Policy

OurRest and Sleep Policy is based on recommendations from SIDS & Kids. If a family’s beliefs and practices are in conflict with SIDS & Kids, then the service will not endorse an alternative practice, unless the service is provided with written advice from a medical practitioner. In meeting the service duty of care, it is a requirement that management and staff implement and adhere to the service’s Rest and Sleep Policy.

Our Service believes in a short period of rest each day for every child to ensure their growth and development.

Policies Related

Supervision Policy

Clothing Policy

Enrolment & orientation Policy

Positive Behaviour Guidance Policy

Student, Volunteer & Work Experience Policy

Infection Control Policy

Cleaning Procedure Policy

Child Protection Policy

Parent Hand Book

Who is affected by this policy?

Child

Staff

Families

Management

Implementation

Safe resting for babies (birth to 2.5 years)

To reduce the risks of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents

  1. Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side
  2. Sleep baby with head and face uncovered
  3. Keep baby smoke free before birth and after
  4. Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day
  5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first six to twelve months.
  6. Breastfeed baby
  7. Use a safe cot that meets the current Australian Standards AS2172
  8. Use a safe mattress: firm, clean, flat (not tilted or elevated), right size for cot
  9. Position baby’s feet at the bottom of the cot
  10. Tuck blankets in firmly or use a safe baby sleeping bag
  11. Do not use pillows, doonas, soft toys, cot bumpers, or lamb’s wool anywhere in the cot
  12. Do not put your baby to sleep on a water bed or bean bag
  13. Discontinue wrapping baby as soon as baby show signs of attempting to roll.
  14. If older babies turn over during their sleep, allow them to find their own sleeping position, but always lay them on their back when first placing them to rest.
  15. Sleeping bags with a fitted neck and armholes that is the right size for the baby’s weight. Clothing can be layered underneath the sleeping bag according to climate conditions.

Red Nose. National Scientific Advisory Group (NSAG).

  • If a medical condition exists that prevents a child from being placed on their back, the alternative resting practice must be directed in writing by the child’s medical practitioner.
  • Calm relaxing music will be played.
  • Staff will consult with families concerning appropriate amount of sleep-time, when and if the need arises.
  • Activities will be provided to encourage quiet restful times.

Note: If a family’s beliefs and requests are in conflict with current recommended evidence-based guidelines, the service will need to determine if there are exceptional circumstances that allow for alternate practices. For example, with some rare medical conditions, it may be necessary for a baby to sleep on his or her stomach or side, which is contrary to Red Nose recommendations. It is expected that in this scenario the service would only endorse the practice, with written support of the baby’s medical practitioner. The service may also consider undertaking a risk assessment and implementing risk minimisation plans for the baby.

In other circumstances, nominated supervisors and educators would not be expected to endorse practices requested by a family, if they differ with Red Nose recommendations. For example, a parent may request the service wrap or swaddle their baby while they are sleeping. However, according to Red Nose recommendations, this practice should be discontinued when a baby starts showing signs that they can begin to roll (usually around four to six months of age, but sometimes earlier). Nominated supervisors and educators should be confidenet to refer to the service’s Sleep and Rest Policies and Procedures if parent make requests that contrary to the safety of the child. Child safety should always be first priority.

Safe resting practices for toddlers (2years – 3 years).

  • Toddlers will be placed on their back to rest, unless otherwise directed in writing by the child’s medical practitioner.
  • If toddlers turn over during their sleep, allow them to find their own sleeping position, but always lay them on their back when first placing them to rest.
  • At no time will a toddler’s face be covered with bed linen.
  • Light bedding is the preferred option, which must be tucked in to prevent the toddler from pulling bed linen over their face.
  • Children have different sleep, rest and relaxation needs. Children of the same age can have different sleep patterns, which nominated supervisors and educators need to consider within the service. As per Standard 2.1 (element 2.1.2) of the National Quality Standard, each child’s comfort must be provided for and there must be appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s sleep, rest and relaxation needs.
  • Calm relaxing music will be played.
  • Activities will be provided to encourage quiet restful times.
  • Early Learners provide appropriate amounts of cot mattresses for children to use during rest/quiet time.
  • Adequate space is allowed between each mattress to enable staff and children to safely walk between them and beds to be used in a head/toe alternative position.

Safe resting practices for preschool children (3-5yrs)

  • Preschool children will be placed on their back to rest. If they turn over during their sleep, allow them to find their own sleeping position but always ask them to lay on their back when first placing them to rest.
  • At no time will a preschooler’s face be covered with bed linen when they are sleeping.
  • Light bedding is the preferred option.
  • Quiet experiences may be offered to preschoolers who do not fall asleep.
  • Calm relaxing music will be played.
  • Staff will consult with families concerning appropriate amount of sleep-time, when and if the need arises.
  • Activities will be provided to encourage quiet restful times.
  • Preschool Rooms provide appropriate amounts of cot mattresses for children to use during rest/quiet time. Adequate space is allowed between each mattress to enable staff and children to safely walk between them beds to be used in a head/toe alternative position.Quiet, relaxing music is played during rest time.
  • Children will be provided with choices for alternative resting if distressed by resting on a mat (Pre-school room) Quiet activities

Refer to the service’s Illness, First Aid policies for un-well children.

Supervision of resting children

  • All children who are resting will be supervised by staff.
  • All children who have fallen asleep in the service will be monitored regularly with specific attention to breathing patterns. All babies will be monitored on a regular basis.

First aid for a non-breathing child will be administered by staff as per training and procedure displayed in the room. All qualified staff has current first aidqualification as per maintaining qualifications for the job.

Settling children for rest – Carers willcomfort children when required. We discourage rocking children to sleep as this will form an unworkable habit with families at home.

Beds, Cot and Sleeping Areas Checks - Every 2 months the service will conduct a safety check of the resting environments, equipment and/or aids by following the Bedding and Cot room Audit.

Cots- All cots meet Australian Standards for Cots and be labelled AS2172. As per Education & Care Services National Regulation.Cot mattresses should be in good condition, clean, firm, flat and must fit the cot base with no more than a 20mm gap between the mattress and the sides of the cot.

Hygiene practices, please refer to our cleaning schedules

  • Cots and mattresses protective covers are cleaned with hard track and water are visibly soiled and as per cleaning schedule which is displayed in rooms. If mattress covers are damaged/torn-please see Director ASAP.
  • Each child has their own bed linen (fitted sheet & flat sheet).Children’s bed linen will be washed at home at the end of care during the week or at the end of week, whichever comes first.
  • All sheets will be removed each day and child’s sheets will be placed in their lockers.
  • All bed sheets must go home if infectious disease breaks out

Rest environment - Room temperature, airflow and lighting during rest periods will met the Education & Care Services National Regulation 2011. Relaxation/rest time to not exceed 20-30 minutes (if children not asleep)

Rest and sleep times of the day - Our routine involves a rest time everyday but we also provide rest time outside this time if required by children.

Please see attached permission slip in regards to sleep/Rest Restrictions

Sleepwear - Staff monitor the temperature of the rest environment and address children’s clothing needs.Children will not have hoods and cords from clothing as per our clothing policy.

Communicating with families - Rest strategies and practices are outlined in the Family Handbook, enrolment forms, newsletters, poster and brochures. Information regarding Red Nose Sleeping Practices will be provided in the Early Development Room and given to all new enrolments.Our service will consult with families about their child’s individual needs and be sensitive to different values and parenting beliefs, cultural or otherwise, associated with sleep and rest.

Educators

Nominated supervisors and educators should receive information and training to fulfil their roles effectively, including being made of the sleep and rest policies, their responsibilities in implementing these, and any changes that are made over time.

Child Protection

  1. No child will sleep in the same room as an adult.
  2. Staff ratios will be met at all times.
  3. Mattresses will be arranged to allow for easy exit, access and to reduce cross infection (as per Regulation).

Sources

Red Nose “Safe and rest practices”

Red Nose “Wrapping or swaddling babies”

Red Nose “second hand mattresses”

Red Nose “making up baby’s cot”

Red Nose “bedding amount recommended for safe sleeping”

Red Nose “soft toys in the cot”

Red Nose “using a dummy or pacifier”

Red Nose “Baby’s head shape”

Safe Sleep and rest practices from October 2017 (ACECQA)

Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2172:2010,Cots for household use—Safety requirements

Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2195:2010, Folding cots—Safety requirements

UNICEF (n.d.).Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved March 1, 2010, current as 1st March 2010 from

United Nations Conventions on the Rights of a Child

National Quality Standards

Health and Safety Regulations Act 2011

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998

Education & care Services National Regulation 2011

ACECQA

Staying Healthy in Childcare 2013 5th Edition

Cot and nursery furniture safety

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). (2006). Keeping baby safe: A guide to nursery furniture. Retrieved 21 February, 2007, current as 1st March 2010 from

Last reviewed:February 2018Date for next review: February 2019

SLEEP/REST RESTRICTION LETTER

Rest Time is a daily activity at Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc in every room and is available to every child.

Education and Care National Services Regulations 2011

Part 4.2-Children’s health & safety-

Division 81-Sleep and rest states that:

The approved provider/the nominated provider of an education and care service must take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs for sleep and rest of children being educated and cared for by the service are met, having regard to the ages, development stages and individual needs of the children.

Penalty: $1000

Families at times request that their children only have a “Rest Time” and “No Sleep”, or “if their child falls asleep” ask educators to wake their child up after a certain amount of time for varying reasons.

As per Regulations, educators will assist families in requests to limit sleep time with appropriate action, but under no circumstances will they force a child to wake up or sleep. They will attempt to wake children after the time requested by families, but will not be held accountable if the child goes to sleep/does not wake or falls back to sleep.

If you would like educators to try to limit the amount of sleep your child has at our service, you will need to write a dated letter to the service with your request stating your name and address, your child’s name and class, and the amount of sleep you would like your child to have.

You will also need to write that; you request the educators of Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc to try to wake up your child after approx 1.5 hours sleep (for example) and that you acknowledge that if your child does sleep longer than requested that your child must have needed that sleep and that educators are not responsible for allowing your child to sleep longer than your written request.