Sleep and Rest Policy

POLICY CONTENT

All children have individual sleep and rest requirements. Our objective is to meet these needs 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 School.

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1	Health	Each child’s health and physical activity is supported and promoted
2.1.1	Wellbeing and comfort	Each child’s wellbeing and comfort is provided for, including appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s needs for sleep, rest and relaxation
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard

QUALITY AREA 3: Physical Environment

3.1	Design	The design of the facilities is appropriate for the operation of a school
3.1.2	Upkeep	Premises, furniture and equipment are safe, clean and well maintained

PURPOSE

The Education and Care Services National Regulations requires Approved Providers to ensure their Schools have policies and procedures in place for children’s sleep and rest. Our Sleep and Rest Policy will assist management and educators ensure that all children have appropriate opportunities to sleep, rest and relax in accordance with their individual needs.

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.

If a family’s beliefs and requests are against current recommended evidence-based guidelines, our School will need to determine if there are exceptional circumstances that allow for alternate practices. Our School will only approve an alternative practice if the school is provided with written advice from, and the contact details of a registered medical practitioner accompanied by a risk assessment and risk minimisation plan for individual children.

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 School’s duty of care, it is a requirement that all educators implement and adhere to this policy to ensure we respect and cater for each child’s specific needs.

SCOPE

This policy applies to children, families, educators, staff, management, Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor, students, volunteers and visitors of the School.

IMPLEMENTATION

‘Children have different sleep, rest and relaxation needs. Children of the same age can have different sleep patterns that Nominated Supervisors and educators need to consider within the School. As per Standard 2.1 (Element 2.1.1) 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.’ (ACECQA).

Our School defines ‘rest’ as a period of inactivity, solitude, calmness, or tranquility, and can include a child being in a state of sleep. Considering the busy and energetic nature of children’s day, we feel that it is important for children to participate in a quiet/rest period during the day in order to rest, relax, and recharge their body. Effective rest strategies are important factors in ensuring a child feels secure and safe in an early childhood environment.

Our School will consult with families about their child’s individual needs, ensuring all parties are aware of the different values, cultural, and parenting beliefs and practices, or opinions associated with sleep requirements.

Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor will ensure:

reasonable steps are taken to ensure that the needs for sleep and rest of children being educated and cared for by the School are met, having regard to the ages, developmental stages and individual needs of each child
all educators and new employees are provided with a copy of this policy as part of their induction program
Nominated Supervisors, educators, staff and volunteers follow the policy and procedures
there are adequate numbers of cots and bedding available to children that meet Australian Standards
all cots used in our School will meet the current mandatory Australian Standard for Cots (AS/NZS 2172) and will carry a label to indicate this.
all portable cots used in our School will meet the current mandatory Australian Standard for children’s portable folding cots, AS/NZS 2195, and will carry a label to indicate this
sleep and rest environments will be safe and free from hazards including cigarette and tobacco smoke
areas for sleep and rest are well ventilated and have natural lighting
the supervision window (or similar) will be kept clear to ensure safe supervision of sleeping infants
safe sleep practices are documented and shared with families. 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

A Nominated Supervisor/ Responsible Person will:

take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs for sleep and rest of children being educated and cared for by the School are met, having regard to the ages, development stages and individual needs of the children
ensure educators understand and follow the Sleep and Rest Policy
maintain up to date knowledge regarding safe sleeping practices and communicate this information to educators and families
provide opportunities for educators to participate in Red Nose professional training workshops
ensure there are appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s need for sleep, rest and relaxation including providing children with comfortable spaces away from the main activity area for relaxation and quiet activities
ensure that sleeping infants are closely monitored and that all sleeping children are within hearing range and observed. This involves physically checking/inspecting sleeping children at regular intervals and ensuring that they are always within sight and hearing distance of sleeping and resting children so they can easily monitor a child’s breathing and the colour of their skin.
provide children with safe sleeping equipment and environment, including adequate ventilation and adequate lighting to enable effective supervision
ensure they receive information and training to fulfil their role effectively, including being made aware of the sleep and rest policies, their responsibilities in implementing these, and any changes that are made over time
ensure the child’s safety is always the first priority
ensure children who are sleeping or resting have their face uncovered at all times
ensure the sleep and rest environment is free from cigarette, vape or tobacco smoke
provide information to parents and families about Safe Sleep practices. (see Red Nose)

Educators will:

have a thorough understanding of the School’s policy and practices and embed practices to support safe sleep into everyday practice
If the family provides a sleep bag, ensure they provide a safe sleeping sleep bag that is not too big and appropriately fits the child
ensure that sleeping bags that store the child's bedding are kept underneath the child's bed whilst the child is on the bed (excluding Nursery where they are kept in a separate location)
consult with families about children’s sleep and rest needs, ensuring families are aware of the benefits of rest.
When sleep preferences for children are requested by families (e.g. no sleep), and the child independently falls asleep, an effort will be made to wake the child after a minimum of 30 minutes has passed
give bottle-fed children their bottles before going to bed
ensure children are not be put in cots or in beds with bottles as per the Dental Health Policy
ensure that cot rooms and sleep rooms have operational baby monitors on at all times
Regular checking of sleeping children (for example: each infant under two (2) is checked and recorded every 10 minutes by an educator: including a visual inspection of the child’s skin colour, breathing and sleeping position and/ or for overnight care, regular physical checks observe children at 10-minute intervals while they sleep in these rooms (as per Red Nose best practice guidelines).
Educators must go into the rooms and physically observe babies breathing and check the colour of their skin. The educator will then officially record this on a Safe Sleep Record every 10 minutes.
encourage the use of sleeping bags with fitted neck and armholes for babies as there is no risk of the infant’s face being covered
securely lock cots sides into place to ensure children’s safety
Cot rooms may be air conditioned and maintained at an appropriate temperature
be aware of manual handling practices when lifting babies in and out of cots
participate in staff development about safe sleeping practices
understand that bassinets, hammocks and prams/strollers do not carry safety codes for sleep. Babies should not be left in a bassinet, hammock, or pram/stroller to sleep, as these are not safe substitutes for a cot
ensure mattresses are kept in good condition; they should be clean, firm and flat, and fit the cot base with not more than a 20mm gap between the mattress sides and ends. A firm sleep surface that is compliant with the new AS/NZS Voluntary Standard (AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 Methods of testing infant products – Sleep surfaces – Test for firmness) should be used
not elevate or tilt mattresses
remove any plastic packaging from mattresses
ensure that waterproof mattress protectors are strong, not torn, and a tight fit
use firm, clean, and well-fitting mattresses on portable cots
remove pillows, doonas, loose bedding or fabric, lamb’s wool, bumpers
soft toys/ comforters will be removed from cots/beds for children under 12 months
record sleep and rest patterns to provide information to parents/families
be sensitive to each child’s needs so that sleep and rest times are a positive experience
ensure that beds/mattresses are clean and in good repair
ensure beds and mattresses are wiped over with an antibacterial solution between each use
ensure that bed linen is clean and in good repair
ensure bed linen is used by an individual child and is washed before used by another child
arrange children’s beds and cots to allow easy access for children and staff
ensure children rest/sleep with their beds/mattresses head to toe to minimise the risk of cross infection
create a relaxing environment for sleeping children by playing relaxation music, reading stories, cultural reflection, turning off lights, and ensuring children are comfortably clothed
ensure there are no loose aspects of clothing that could entangle the child during sleep/rest (including bibs, hoods and hairclips)
ensure the environment is tranquil and calm for both educators and children
sit near children who are resting and encourage them to relax and/or listen to music.
- Respect children preferences by providing options to help them settle/ sleep (e.g. patting, singing, cuddling) and providing a quiet, tranquil environment.
maintain adequate supervision and maintain educator ratios within the school throughout the sleep period
ensure they are not engaged in other duties (e.g., administrative duties) that will take their attention away from actively supervising sleeping and resting children
physically check that the child is breathing by checking the rise and fall of the child’s chest and the child’s lip and skin colour from the side of the cot (or floor mattress/toddler bed)
ensure physical checks of a sleeping child occur at least every 10 minutes and recorded individually by each staff member
If the child's face/body appears blue and the child is not breathing, initiate first aid immediately including calling an ambulance and beginning resuscitation
ensure a record is maintained recording the time and observation of each physical check immediately after checks are made if the sleeping children are placed in a separate sleeping room
ensure sleeping spaces are not too dark - there needs to be sufficient light to allow supervision and to physically check children’s breathing, lip and skin colour
ensure sleeping infants are closely monitored and that all sleeping children are within hearing range and observed
assess each child’s circumstances and current health to determine whether higher supervision levels and checks may be required
communicate with families about their child’s sleeping or rest times and the School policy regarding sleep and rest times
Respect family preferences regarding sleep and rest and consider these daily while ensuring children feel safe and secure in the environment. Conversations with families may be necessary to remind families that children will neither be forced to sleep nor prevented from sleeping. Sleep and rest patterns will be recorded daily for families
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
monitor the room temperature to ensure maximum comfort for the children
ensure that children who do not wish to sleep are provided with alternative quiet activities and experiences, 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
consider a vast range of strategies to meet children’s individual sleep and rest needs
respond to children’s individual cues for sleep (yawning, rubbing eyes, disengagement from activities, crying, etc.)
acknowledge children’s emotions, feelings and fears in regard to sleep/rest time
develop positive relationships with children to assist in settling children confidently when sleeping and resting
record sleep and rest patterns to provide information to parents/families
give bottle-fed children their bottles before going to bed
ensure children are not be put in cots or in beds with bottles as per the Dental Health Policy
ensure that cot rooms and sleep rooms have operational baby monitors on at all times
observe children at 10-minute intervals while they sleep in these rooms. Educators must go into the rooms and physically observe babies breathing and check the colour of their skin. The educator will then officially record this on a Safe Sleep Record
encourage the use of sleeping bags with fitted neck and armholes for babies as there is no risk of the infant’s face being covered
securely lock cots sides into place to ensure children’s safety
Cot rooms may be air conditioned and maintained at an appropriate temperature
be aware of manual handling practices when lifting babies in and out of cots
participate in staff development about safe sleeping practices
understand that bassinets, hammocks and prams/strollers do not carry safety codes for sleep. Babies should not be left in a bassinet, hammock, or pram/stroller to sleep, as these are not safe substitutes for a cot
ensure mattresses are kept in good condition; they should be clean, firm and flat, and fit the cot base with not more than a 20mm gap between the mattress sides and ends. A firm sleep surface that is compliant with the new AS/NZS Voluntary Standard (AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 Methods of testing infant products – Sleep surfaces – Test for firmness) should be used
not elevate or tilt mattresses
remove any plastic packaging from mattresses
ensure that waterproof mattress protectors are strong, not torn, and a tight fit
use firm, clean, and well-fitting mattresses on portable cots
remove pillows, blankets, loose bedding or fabric, lamb’s wool, bumpers
Soft toys/ comforters will be removed from cots/ beds for children under 12 months
record sleep and rest patterns to provide information to parents/families.

BABIES AND TODDLERS

Recommendations sourced from ACECQA

Babies should be placed on their back to sleep when first being settled. Once a baby has been observed to repeatedly roll from back to front and back again on their own, they can be left to find their own preferred sleep or rest position (this is usually around 5–6 months of age). Babies aged younger than 5–6 months, and who have not been observed to repeatedly roll from back to front and back again on their own, should be re-positioned onto their back when they roll onto their front or side
If a medical condition exists that prevents a baby from being placed on their back, the alternative practice should be confirmed in writing with the School, by the child’s medical practitioner
Babies over four months of age can generally turn over in a cot but may not always be able to roll back again. When a baby is placed to sleep, Educators should check that any bedding is tucked in securely and is not loose. Babies of this age may be placed in a safe baby sleeping bag (i.e., with fitted neck and arm holes, but no hood). At no time should a baby’s face or head be covered (i.e., with linen). To prevent a baby from wriggling down under bed linen, they should be positioned with their feet at the bottom of the cot
Ensure any bed linen is securely tucked underneath the mattress so it cannot ride up and cover the baby’s chest of cover his/her head
If a baby is wrapped when sleeping, consider the baby’s stage of development. Leave their arms free once the startle reflex disappears at around three months of age and discontinue the use of a wrap when the baby can roll from back to tummy to back again (usually four to six months of age). Use only lightweight wraps such as cotton or muslin
Ensure there is no soft bedding in baby’s sleep environment (pillows, doonas, loose bedding, lambswool or soft toys)
If being used, a dummy should be offered for all sleep periods. Dummy use should be phased out by the end of the first year of a baby’s life (in consultation with parents). If a dummy falls out of a baby’s mouth during sleep, it should not be re-inserted
Babies or young children should not be moved out of a cot into a bed too early; they should also not be kept in a cot for too long. When a young child is observed attempting to climb out of a cot, and looking like they might succeed, it is time to move them out of a cot. This usually occurs when a toddler is between 2 and 3 ½ years of age but could be as early as 18 months

PRE-SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

Educators will:

be respectful for children’s individual sleep and rest requirements
discuss children’s sleep and rest needs with families and include children in decision making
provide a tranquil and calm environment (not too over stimulating) for children to rest by turning off lights, playing relaxing music, reading stories, cultural reflection
ensure children are comfortably clothed
encourage children to rest their bodies and minds for a minimum of 20-30 minutes
introduce relaxation techniques into rest routine- use of a relaxation/mindfulness exercise
ensure children sleep with their face uncovered
closely monitor sleeping and resting children
provide quiet activities for children- puzzles, books, drawing if they do not fall asleep
record sleep and rest patterns to provide information to parents/families
Provide children (over 24 months) with a pillow for rest time should they need/request one.

Parents/Families:
Our School requests parents/families provide educators with regular updates on their child’s sleeping routines and patterns, especially for infants.
Families may be required to provide specific bedding for their child each day (as detailed in enrolment information).

KEY TERMS

Term	Meaning

ACECQA- Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority	The independent national authority that works with all regulatory authorities to administer the National Quality Framework, including the provision of guidance, resources and services to support the sector to improve outcomes for children.
Infant	A young child between the ages of birth and 12 months
Rest	A period of inactivity solitude, calmness or tranquility and can include a child being in a state of sleep.
Relaxation	Relaxation or other activity for bringing about a feeling of calm in your body and mind.
Red Nose	Red Nose is Australia’s leading authority on safe sleep and safe pregnancy advice.
Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)	A broad term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for which the cause is not immediately obvious.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)	The sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age with an onset of a fatal episode occurring during sleep, that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation including performance of a complete autopsy and review of the circumstances of death and the clinical history.

SOURCE

ACECQA. (n.d.). Safe sleep and rest practices: acecqa.gov.au/resources/information-sheets/...
Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). (2013). Find out more: Keeping baby safe: accc.gov.au/system/files/639_Keeping%20Ba...
Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016).
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010. (Amended 2018).
Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2011)
Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2017).
Guide to the National Quality Framework. (2018). (Amended 2020).
NSW Department of Education. (2021). Sleep and rest for children-Policy guidelines for early childhood education and care services.
Red Nose: rednose.com.au/section/safe-practices
Red Nose: rednose.com.au/section/safe-sleeping
Red nose pillow use: rednose.org.au/downloads/Pillow_Information_...
Revised National Quality Standard. (2018).
Standards Australia – standards.org.au

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