Monitoring of Sleeping Children Policy

Purpose

We are committed to ensuring that all children have a safe, peaceful, and comfortable sleep in a warm environment. We are committed to ensuring we follow all Regulatory requirements of our sleep area and review this policy on a regular basis.

Policy

Ventilation will be switched on first thing in the morning and then switched off at the end of the day.

All children have their own cot/stretcher and bedding. This will be stored in a named, waterproof bedding bag when not in use. All linen bags will be stored appropriately when not in use. Linen will be washed weekly or sooner if required. All stretcher beds will be cleaned with a 0.5% activated solution each day and stored securely when not in use.

Children 6 months and younger will be placed in cots so that they sleep at the foot of the cot. Bedding will be made up so that covers are short and will not cover the Childs’ head when they are in the cot. Children will always be placed in their cots on their backs.

Infants who need to be wrapped will be wrapped in muslin or cotton wraps. Polar fleece blankets will not be used.
All children will be checked for warmth, breathing and general wellbeing every 5-10 minutes or more frequently according to individual needs.

All cots and beds will be spaced so that adults have clear access to at least one side (full length) and the area surrounding each child allows sufficient air movement to minimise the risk of spreading illness.

Children will be able to sit and stand safely when they wake.

To respect tikanga Māori, children are not to be placed in their stretcher/cot feet to head.

Children will be invited to bring a blanket or favourite toy from home – if this will support them in settling for a sleep.

As a team we will discuss with families/whānau the wearing of items around the neck, wrists or body and align this with cultural and Health and safety best practice. Written permission must be provided by parents/guardians in order to leave these on their child while sleeping.

Music in the sleep room will be kept at a reasonable level and appropriate sleep time music/sounds.

No child will have access to food or liquids while in bed and regulation ratios will be maintained at all times.

All sleep rooms used by children are kept at a comfortable temperature no lower than 18ºC. The thermometer is to be placed 500mm above the floor. Staff will record the temperature of the sleep room when the first child is placed in their cot and when the last child wakes up as well as specific checking times as stated on the “Record of sleeping template”. Staff will sign the sleep chart as evidence of physically checking each child for warmth, breathing and general wellbeing.

Parent / Whānau involvement – this policy will be available at enrolment times as well as within our whānau policy pack. We will review this policy annually as a team and with whānau.

Archiving Requirements Keep the sleep records for the current year plus one additional year.