Sleep and Rest for Children Policy

Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc NQF-2

Sleep and Rest For Children Policy Our Rest 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?

Families

Management Implementation

Safe resting for babies (birth to 24 months)

 Babies will be placed on their back to rest.  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.  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.  At no time will a baby’s face be covered with bed linen. Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc NQF-2

 To prevent a baby from wriggling down under bed linen, they will be placed with their feet closest to the bottom end of the cot.  Quilts and duvets will not be used as bed linen. Pillows, soft toys, lamb’s wool and cot bumpers will not be used.  Light bedding is the preferred option, which must be tucked in to prevent the baby from pulling bed linen over their head.  Sleeping bags with a fitted neck and arm holes are an alternative option to bed linen and encourage a baby to rest on their back. Sleeping bags should not have a hood.  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.

Safe resting practices for toddlers (18month – 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.  If using a cot, toddlers will be placed with their feet closest to the bottom end of the cot to prevent them from wriggling down under bed linen.  Quilts and duvets will not be used to cover toddlers in a cot or on a mattress. Pillows, soft toys, lambs wool and cot bumpers will not be used.  Light bedding is the preferred option, which must be tucked in to prevent the toddler from pulling bed linen over their face.  Sleeping bags with a fitted neck and arm holes are an alternative option to bed linen and encourage a toddler to rest on their back. If parents request to continue using the sleeping bag option when the toddler rests on a mattress, then the service will comply.  Quiet experiences may be offered to those toddlers 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.  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. Quiet, relaxing music is played during rest time.  Children will be provided with choices for alternative resting if distressed by resting on a mat/in a cot-- (Early Learners Room) Looking at a book on their mattress or quiet activities t

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. Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc NQF-2

 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/in a cot-_ (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 have current first aidqualification as per maintaining qualifications for the job.

Settling children for rest – Carers will comfort 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 AS/NZS 2172:2010 or AS/NZS 2195:2010. 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 25mm 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.  Each child has their own bed linen. 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.  the base of the a mattress without sheets are placed in between a mattress with sheets on them. To prevent cross infection  All bed sheets must go home if infectious disease breaks out Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc NQF-2

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 SIDS & Kids Safe Sleeping Practices will be displayed on noticeboards and given to all new enrolments.

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

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2003). SIDS in Australia 1981-2000: A statistical overview. Retrieved 14 February, 2007, Link current as 1st March 2010 from http://www.sidsandkids.org/documents/finalsidspaper2003_002.pdf

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

SIDS & Kids. Wrapping babies Retrieved 1st March 2010, http://www.sidsandkidsvic.org/safe- sleeping-education

SIDS & Kids. (2005a). Fast facts: Past, present & future. Retrieved 1 March, 2010, current as 1st March 2010 from http://www.sidsandkids.org/documents/11504%20SIDSKids%20FastFacts.pdf

SIDS & Kids. (2005b). SIDS & Kids: Safe sleeping in child care kit. NSW: Author.

SIDS & Kids. (2005c). SIDS & Kids: Safe sleeping – Lullabies aren’t the only things you’ll need to know to put you baby to sleep. [Brochure]. NSW: Author.

SIDS & Kids. (2005e). Wrapping infants. Retrieved February 13, 2007, current as 1st March 2010 from http://www.sidsandkids.org/documents/nov05WrappingSTATEMENT1.pdf

SIDS & Kids (2006a). Information statement: Baby’s head shape. Retrieved 1 March, 2010, current as 1st March 2010 from http://www.sidsandkids.org/documents/Plagiocephaly %20January%202006.pdf

SIDS & Kids. (2006b). Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (SUDI) frequently asked questions: SIDS & Kids: Safe sleeping in child care kit. NSW: Author. Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc NQF-2

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 http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

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 www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml? itemId=655340&nodeId=ba3a5efb470b90c180697e724de2b782&fn=Keeping%20baby%20safe %E2%80%94July%202006.pdf

Last reviewed: February 2016 Date for next review: February 2017 Jesmond Early Education Centre Inc NQF-2

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.