Safe Sleeping

Updated 13 Oct 2020

Our Aim:

To provide a safe, comfortable environment in which children can rest during the day.  To promote the importance of sleep and its benefits to the well being and learning of children.

Key Worker to:

• Discuss with parents best sleep patterns for their child whilst in the setting
• Gather information on how child sleeps at home, any comforter or preferences they may have
• Inform parents/carers of all sleep a child has during the day by completing a daily sheet

To minimise the risk of SIDS the following procedures must be followed:

• Babies to always be placed on their backs to sleep, unless parent/carers provide medical evidence stating this is not best practice for their child
• Babies will be placed with their feet closest to the bottom of the cot without a blanket to minimise the risk of over heating during sleep
• Babies will never be put down to sleep with a bottle to self feed
• Sleeping babies and children will be visually monitored and checks recorded every 10 minutes

Providing a safe sleeping environment:

• Room temperatures are recorded daily and monitored throughout the day to ensure that the optimum temperature remains between 16-18C
• Ensure cot sides are securely raised after placing child in the cot
• Children will be appropriately dressed and light blankets (if comforter) used to avoid over heating
• At no time should mattresses be raised to aid coughing children.  Coughing  children should be supervised by staff at all times when sleeping
• Safety approved cots and sleep mats are compliant with British Standard Regulations, and mattress covers are used in conjunction with a fitted sheet
• Every child will be provided with clean bedding that is changed daily
• Toys and stuffed animals from home will only be used under supervision as a comforter and removed when the child is asleep
• All children must sleep in a cot or an approved sleep mat, they must not sleep in a nesting ring, car seat, pram or bean bag
• Should a child fall asleep in a practitioners arms they will be transferred to a safe sleeping surface (cot or sleep mat)
• Children arriving at nursery asleep in a car seat or pram must be transferred to a safe sleeping surface (cot or sleep mat)
• All bibs, neckerchiefs and dummy strings to be removed from sleeping children
• In compliance with our Smoking Policy all staff must ensure that their clothes, hair and breath do not smell of smoke whilst at work