NQS

National Regulations

LO3

Aim

The education and care service will ensure that all children have appropriate opportunities to sleep, rest and relax in accordance with their individual needs, age and developmental stages according to Regulation 81. This policy is based on recommendations from Red Nose Australia. If a family’s beliefs and practices conflict with Red Nose Australia, the service will only endorse an alternative practice if the service is provided with written advice from a registered medical practitioner and the contact details of that practitioner. In meeting the Service’s duty of care, it is a requirement that all educators implement and adhere to this policy.

All children have individual sleep and rest requirements. Our objective is to meet each child’s need for sleep, rest and relaxation by providing a comfortable, relaxing and safe space to enable their bodies to rest. This environment will also be well supervised ensuring all children feel secure and safe at our Service.

Related Policies

• Additional Needs Policy

• Death of a Child Policy

• Medical Conditions Policy

• Physical Environment Policy

• Staffing Arrangement Policy

Purpose

Our Sleep and Rest Policy will assist management, educators and other staff to ensure that all children have appropriate opportunities to sleep, rest and relax in accordance with their individual needs whilst attending the Service.

The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for infants will be minimised by following practices and guidelines set out by the national authority on safe sleeping practice for infants and children- Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids). Our policy sets out quality practice and is informed by recognised and evidence-based principles. Safe sleep practices are informed by Red Nose and guidance from ACEQCA.

We have a duty of care to ensure children are provided with a high level of safety when sleeping and resting and every reasonable precaution is taken to protect them from harm and hazard. In meeting the Service’s duty of care, it is a requirement that all educators implement and adhere to this policy and associated procedures to ensure we respect and cater for each child’s specific needs and ensure all risks are appropriately addressed.

Responsibilities for the Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor

• Ensure there are adequate numbers of cots and bedding available to children that meet Australian Standards.

• Ensure a sleep and rest specific risk assessment is conducted at least annually to ensure all protentional hazards are controlled in sleep or rest areas in line with Red Nose and ACECQA guidelines

• Ensure every reasonable precaution has been taken to protect children from harm and from hazards likely to cause injury. Hazards posing a risk of suffocation, choking, crushing or strangulation risk to children must be removed from the sleep and rest environment. (S.167)

• to negotiate sleep and rest routines and practices with families to reach agreement on how these occur for each child at the Service

• nominated supervisors and educators are not expected to endorse practices requested by a family if they differ from Red Nose safe (formerly SIDS and Kids) sleeping recommendations.

• if any requirements differ from Red Nose sleeping recommendations, written authorisation from a medical practitioner will be required and shared with educators

• Ensure that mattresses are in good condition, clean, firm and flat.

• Ensure that all cots meet AS/NZS 2172:2003.

• All portable cots used in our Service will meet the current mandatory Australian Standard for children’s portable folding cots, AS/NZS 2195:2010, and will carry a label to indicate this.

• Ensure that areas for sleep and rest are well ventilated and have natural lighting.

• Ensure that supervision windows will be kept clear to ensure safe supervision of sleeping children.

• Maintain up to date knowledge regarding safe sleeping practice and communicate this information to educators and families.

• Ensure the temperature of each room is between 20-23 degrees Celsius depending on weather and what the child is wearing.

• Ensure that there is cot checks checklists for each cot room and that regular checks are happening. These are to be held at ten minute intervals, using a timer to ensure accountability. These are to be recorded on cot checks.

• Ensure that sleeping infants are closely monitored and that all sleeping children are within hearing range and observed.

• Ensure that there is no blinds, curtains, cords, or electrical appliances close enough to the cots for the babies to reach.

• No electrical heaters are to be used in a baby cot room

• 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.

• Ensure the child’s safety is always the first priority.

• Ensure families are advised that amber teething necklaces and bracelets are not to be worn by babies and young children at our Service- as per warnings by the Australian Government (2011)

Responsibilities for the Educators

• Recognise the differences between each child and family’s preferences in relation to routines for rest, sleep and clothing. These needs will be met, provided they are within the service’s requirements.

• Educators will be sensitive to each child’s needs so that sleep and rest times are a positive experience.

• Ensure that bed linen is clean and in good repair. Bed linen is for use by an individual child and will be washed before use by another child.

• Arrange children’s beds and cots to allow easy access for children and staff.

• Arrange children’s beds and cots to allow for appropriate air flow.

• Provide a quiet and restful environment for sleep and rest periods that is within hearing and observation range for educators, to closely monitor children.

• Create a relaxing atmosphere for resting children by playing relaxation music, reading stories, cultural reflection, turning off lights and ensuring children are comfortably clothed. The environment should be tranquil and calm for both educators and children. Educators will sit near resting children and support them by encouraging them to relax and listen to music or stories.              

• Encourage children to rest their bodies and minds for an appropriate window of time, in line with their age and developmental needs. If children are awake after this time, they will be provided quiet activities for the duration of rest time.

• Maintain adequate supervision, ensuring that ratios are met at all times.

• Assess each child’s circumstances and current health to determine whether higher supervision levels and checks may be required.

• We will communicate daily with parents about their child’s routines, that are in place at the service and at the child’s home.

• We ask that you, the parents, to discuss your child’s requirements for sleep with Educators and please understand that Educators will not forcefully keep a child awake or force a child to sleep.  This is not meeting the child’s physical needs.  Educators will work cooperatively with families to the best of our ability, while maintaining the rights of the child.

• We do understand some parents prefer their child not to sleep or to be woken up after a short nap and our Educators will assist as best they can. We welcome parents at any time to come in to wake up their child.

• Develop positive relationships with children to help them settle confidently when sleeping and resting.

• We respect the need for rest, sleep and clothing requirements to be aligned with each child’s social and cultural background and personal preferences.

• Encourage children to dress appropriately for the room temperature when resting or sleeping. Lighter clothing is preferable, with children encouraged to remove shoes, jumpers, jackets and bulky clothing as well as jewellery included amber necklaces and other dangling items around the neck. The room temperature will be considered to ensure maximum comfort for the children.

• Ensure that children who do not wish to sleep are provided with alternative quiet activities and experiences after a short respite period, whilst those children who do wish to sleep are allowed to do so, without being disrupted. If a child requests a rest, or if they are showing clear signs of tiredness, regardless of the time of day, there should be a comfortable, safe area available for them to rest. It is important that opportunities for rest and relaxation, as well as sleep, are provided.

• Ensure children rest/sleep with their beds/mattresses head to toe to minimise the risk of cross infection.

• Acknowledge children’s emotions, feelings and fears in regard to sleep/rest time.

• Educators will work with children to help them learn about their need for rest and comfort. Children will be encouraged to communicate their needs where possible

Safe resting practices for babies (birth to 24 months)

• Give bottle-fed children their bottles before going to bed. Children will not be put in cots or in beds with bottles for dental hygiene purposes.

• Ensure that cot rooms and sleep rooms must have operational baby monitors on at all times and conduct daily safety check of cot monitors.

• Observe children at 10 intervals while they sleep in these rooms. Educators must go into the rooms and physically see babies breathing. The educator will then officially record this. Educators will physically check that the infant/child from the side of the cot (or floor mattress/toddler bed) to include:

  • breathing- rise and fall of child’s chest

  • skin and lip colour

  • head position

  • body temperature

  • airway

  • head and face- ensure they remain uncovered

• Ensure that cot mattresses are clean, firm and the correct size for the cot frame.

• Do not elevate or tilt mattresses.

• Remove any plastic packaging from mattresses.

• Babies or children should not share cots or beds at any time.

  • 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 registered 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.

  • 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 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.

  • Dummies may be provided but they will not be attached to chains.

• Securely lock cots sides into place to ensure children’s safety.

• Cot rooms will be air conditioned and maintained at an appropriate temperature.

• Be aware of manual handling practices when lifting babies in and out of cots.

 Safe resting practices for toddlers (18months – 3 years)

• Toddlers will be placed on their back to rest. 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..

• Quilts will not be used to cover toddlers. 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 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.

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

• Preschool children will be encouraged to rest on their back. 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 will be offered to preschoolers who do not fall asleep.

• Calm relaxing music will be played.

Supervision of resting children

• All children who are resting will be supervised by educators, ensuring ratios are upheld at all times.

• All children who fall asleep during the service will be monitored regularly, with special attention paid to their breathing patterns. The child’s period of rest will be recorded on the nutrition and respite chart.

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

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 must meet Australian Standards and be labelled AS/NZS 2172:2010 or AS/NZS 2195:2010 (folding cots).

• 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.

• The distance between slats must be at least 50 mm.

• For cots in the lowest base position the distance between the top of the mattress base and the top edge of the lowest cot side or end must be a minimum of:

• 600 mm when the access is closed

• 250 mm when the access is open.

• For cots in the upper base position the distance between the top of the mattress base and the top edge of the lowest cot side or end must be a minimum of:

• 400 mm when the access is closed

• 250 mm when the access is open.

Refer www.productsafety.gov.au for more information.

Bassinets, hammocks prams and strollers are not to be used for children to sleep or rest in.

Hygiene practices, please refer to cleaning schedules

• Cots and mattresses protective covers are cleaned with soap and water when visibly soiled or needed.

• Children’s bed linen will be stored in zip locked plastic bags, with the child’s name clearly written on it, when not in use; for a period no longer than two weeks; unless required sooner due to soiling, excess drool or outbreak of any form of illness.

  
  

Sleepwear

Educators 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.

Sources

• Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011

• Early Years Learning Framework

• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000

• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2001

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2003). SIDS in Australia 1981-2000: A statistical overview. 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.

• SIDS & Kids. (2005a). Fast facts: Past, present & future.

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

• SIDS & Kids. (2005c). SIDS & Kids: Safe sleeping – Lullabies aren’t the only things you’ll need to know to put your baby to sleep.

• SIDS & Kids. (2005e). Wrapping infants.

• SIDS & Kids (2006a). Information statement: Baby’s head shape.

• SIDS & Kids. (2006b). Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (SUDI) frequently asked questions: SIDS & Kids: Safe sleeping in child care kit.

• United Nations Conventions on the Rights of a Child

  
  

Related Statutory Obligations & Considerations

• Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

• Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW) No 104a

• Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

• Department of Education

• Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

• Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011

• National Quality Framework (NQF)

• Red Nose

• Red Nose

Related Telephone Numbers

• Early Childhood Directorate -1800 619 113

• Department of Health - 1800 020 103 

• Kidsafe – 02 9845 0890

• Rednose - 1300 998 698

Review

The policy will be reviewed annually. The review will be conducted by:

• Management

• Employees

• Families

• Interested Parties

Last Reviewed:

April 2025           

Next Review:

April 2026