Child care to rest and sleep in a safe manner
Your child will have their own individualized rest and sleep
routine at home, however, when you start using child care, you may find that
this routine is different from the practices used in the service. This is because
services and educators must comply with the SIDS and Kids' safe sleeping
recommendations for children aged from birth to two years, and your child’s
home routine may not be entirely consistent with these. Where there are
differences between what you do at home and what the service does, the
educators should work positively with you to develop a routine for use at the
service that is acceptable to both of you. The educators at your service should
also provide you with information and support to help you to adapt your child’s
home routine to ensure that you are using safe sleeping practices.
Why and discuss the relevant alternatives. They should work
sensitively and helpfully with you all times to ensure the best outcomes for
your child. Safe sleeping for toddlers and older children Although the evidence
suggests that the risk of SIDS occurs in the first two years of a child’s life,
NCAC encourages educators to maintain these practices for children of all ages.
Keep children always at a safe place to sleep, regardless of
their age, and the environment must be cigarette smoke-free. Your ideas safe
sleeping practices for toddlers may include that toddlers are placed on their
back to rest and are then allowed to roll over and find their sleeping position;
likewise, your policy may state that no child will have their face covered by
bed linen during rest and sleep time. NCAC has developed a Rest and Sleep Policy
Template, available on our website to help services develop their policy.
Safe sleep and rest in
child care
Safe sleeping for babies Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby from unknown causes. In Australia,
SIDS accounts for the deaths of more babies between the ages of one month and
one year than any other known cause. It is still not clear what causes SIDS,
however being aware of and implementing safe sleeping practices will reduce the
risk of SIDS.
NCAC recognizes SIDS and Kids as the expert authority on
safe sleeping practices for children aged 0 – 2 years. The following information
is taken from the expertise and Kids Infant Safe Sleeping Program, which is
based on scientific evidence. More information about SIDS and Kids safe
sleeping practices can be found on our website. All child care services should
be following these guidelines:
• Sleeping babies on their back, not on their tummies or
side. Placing babies on their backs means they have better airway protection
and are less likely to choke on vomit than babies sleeping on their tummies
• Ensuring babies’ faces are not covered with anything such
as doonas, pillows, soft toys or lamb’s wool
• Never exposing babies to cigarette smoke
• Arranging a safe sleeping environment which includes safe
cots, mattresses, and bedding
• Never sleeping babies on pillows, beanbags or couches
• Ensuring that cots and mattresses meet the relevant
Australian Standards.
For more tips go to the: http://littleangels9.blogspot.com