The Policy on Safe Sleep must specify the way safe and suitable sleeping arrangements are provided for children attending our service. Sleep is important for young children and it directly impacts on their wellbeing and development. Safe sleep is important for all children. In addition, adults caring for babies need to be aware of the risks of sudden unexpected death in infancy, commonly known as cot death, and what they need to do to reduce those risks. Having a safe rest/sleep policy: Helps to protect children and reduce risks. Helps to inform as well as reassure parents/guardians that the service will only implement procedures that are recommended in best practice guidelines. Gives clear guidance to all staff team members including new or trainee staff members, those who are providing emergency cover or those on work experience. Provides a clear plan of action in the event of a baby being found to be unresponsive or to have stopped breathing within the service.
Children need:
Parents/guardians need to:
All staff members need:
Management needs to:
| SIDS | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SUDI Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (commonly referred to as Cot Death) is the sudden death of an infant or young child which is unexpected by history and in which a thorough post mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause for death. |
| First Light | Formerly Irish Sudden Infant Death Association (ISIDA) provides support and information and promotes research into the sudden unexpected and often unexplained death of a child. |
3. Policy Statement All children are provided with clean, safe, and comfortable rest and/or sleep facilities as individually needed. We work in partnership with parents/guardians in relation to their child’s sleep needs and patterns as much as possible. All children under 2 years have access to a cot. Children aged 2– 3 years are provided with stackable camp beds and each child’s individual need for sleep or rest is facilitated appropriately. All cots and beds for children conform to recognized safety standards. Procedures and rotas are in place for supervising and regularly checking sleeping children. Sleeping children are always individually and frequently checked in person (not on screen). The sleep room is kept clean, calm, and comfortable so that babies can relax, rest and sleep. The recommended best practice guidance from First Light (formerly Irish Sudden Infant Death Association (ISIDA) and Safe Sleep for your Baby – Reduce the Risk of Cot Death (HSE 2017) is followed at all times. Staff members follow first aid procedures they have been taught, in the event a child/baby is found unresponsive and/or not breathing. Where a parent/guardian requests a sleep routine for their child that does not meet with good practice guidelines (for example, requesting that their child be denied sleep for the day; that they be put to sleep with a feeding bottle; requesting that the baby/child be put to sleep in a buggy or travel seat), the service remains responsible for our own practice and we will be happy to discuss with parents/guardians why any such practice cannot be implemented. In all decision-making the child’s best interests come first. As well as safe sleep provision, all children will be provided with opportunities to have quiet or rest periods, within the daily curriculum/programme, that meet their individual needs throughout the session/day. 4. Procedures & Practices When a parent/guardian requests a specific sleep routine for their child, two key questions must be considered:
If these questions cannot be answered satisfactorily, then a parent/guardian must be informed that the service cannot comply with their request and an explanation given or guidance must be sought from a qualified professional such as a public health nurse.
Babies under 12 months must be put to sleep on their back with their head uncovered and their feet to the foot of the cot. This includes babies with gastro-oesophageal reflux. If a registered medical practitioner has recommended a different sleep position then this must be clearly evidenced in a written note from that practitioner. If a baby is less than six months old and they have turned onto their tummy, they must be gently returned onto their back. When a baby is older and able to roll from back to front and back again, let them find their own position to sleep. However you should still place them on their back at the start of sleep time. Place babies near the foot of the cot with the covers below the shoulders. When a baby is placed in their cot to sleep, the following applies:
Sleep positioners are prohibited. Bottles must never be propped at any time, including during sleep positioning.
We ensure that the sleep room is adequately ventilated (either naturally or mechanically) but do not position a cot below an open window or adjacent to a hot radiator.
Control lighting in the sleep room with curtains/blinds and the dimmer switch so that the atmosphere is conducive to sleep but there is adequate visibility for supervision. A viewing panel to the sleep room must never be covered.
The sleep area must be maintained at between 16ºC and 20ºC. A wall-mounted thermometer is provided to monitor the temperature. Children will not be allowed to get too hot Indoors, babies over a month old do not need more clothes than adults. Bedding will depend on the room temperature. If a child seems hot, we will take some of the blankets off, if they seem cold, add an extra layer. Use lightweight blankets that you can add to and take away. Babies should not have their heads covered while sleeping. We will ensure that cots are not elevated and that no pillows are used for babies up to the age of 2 years.
Soothers will not have any string, cord or clips attached. They will be stored in separate clean containers labelled with each child’s name when not in use. We always ensure that soothers used are the right size for the age of the child and in good condition. Soothers decorated with beads, gems or other such decorations are prohibited.
The sleep room light should be dimmed to create a calm atmosphere while allowing enough light for adequate supervision. Children in the sleep room must be within sight or hearing of at least one staff member at all times, especially when staff members are actively engaged with children who are awake. The Manager is responsible for the sleep monitoring Rota. The Rota must clearly identify:
Checks will be made of each sleeping child in the room, in person, at least every 10 minutes. A sleep log for each child is maintained. This records when physical checks are made of each of the sleeping children. It must record:
A separate sleep log is maintained for each child and is retained by the service in each child’s own file. Each child’s Key Person or another staff member who has taken over cate of the child throughout the day, is responsible for sharing information with the child’s parents or guardians. At all times, the relevant adult /child ratio outlined in the Early Years Regulations 2016 will be adhered to. Cots and Beds An adequate number of safe cots and child beds are provided to ensure that all children have access to a suitable cot or bed as appropriate for their needs. Documentary evidence that our beds meet the required safety standards is maintained on file.We provide enough cots for at least ½ of the children aged 18 months – 2 years. Children aged 2–3 years are each provided with individual sleep stackable bed.Equipment prohibited for sleeping children The following are not suitable for sleeping children under 2 years:
Children over 2 years may be offered a pillow for use at sleep time. Sleep bags are not allowed for children who can stand up/walk.
Hygiene Individual bed linen is provided for each child – it is hygienic, easily accessed, labelled for each child and must be reserved for that child’s sole use. Each child’s bed linen is laundered weekly and when soiled. Separate storage is provided for clean linen and linen that is due for washing. Clean and dirty linen must be kept separate.
Ensure that no cot is adjacent to a hot heater, an open window or a door, to curtains or anything that may help a child to climb out, or to any blind cords or other cords. Items that are hanging from the cot or the ceiling above the cot are prohibited for all babies under 12 months.
The maintenance of cots and all equipment in the service is the responsibility of the registered provider. Cots will be maintained in a proper state of repair; be in good condition; be of good design; be solid and stable; and have a recognised safety standard. Cot barriers will be of sufficient height to prevent a child from falling out. In addition, the cot mattress will have a well-fitting safety mattress; be clean, firm and correct size for cot; be covered with waterproof material; easy to clean and disinfect; well aired and dry; and the gap between the mattress and the sides of the cot should be less than 2.5cm. Bars on cots will be no more than 6cm apart for round bars/7.5cm apart for flat bars.] We ensure that no cords or strings of any kind (including those attached to things such as toys or nappy bags) are in or near cots. We ensure there is enough space between each cot/bed/ to allow easy access to and around each one. All beds will be used in the intended manner. Cots must be checked to ensure that the sides are up and secured in place. Baby monitors will not be placed in cots. Where there are children who climb out of cots, an individual risk assessment for each of those children will need to be carried out. A floor bed or mat may be safer. Bed guards are prohibited.
Record and record keeping All records relating to safe sleep and any incidents are stored safely.
All staff members will receive induction training on this Safe Rest/Sleep policy. This includes precautions to be taken to prevent Sudden Infant Death, guidelines on what to do in the event of a baby being found to be unresponsive and not breathing and a step-by-step guide to resuscitation of a child who is not breathing Parents/guardians are also made aware of the Safe Rest/Sleep policy and are involved in decisions relating to meeting their child’s individual needs. A copy of all policies will be available during all hours of operation to staff members and parents/guardians in the Policy Folder located in ……………………………………... Parents/guardians may receive a copy of the policy at any time upon request. Parents/guardians and all members of the staff team will receive notification of any updates to this policy.
7. References/Supporting Documents/Related Legislation [List of any relevant Legislation and Practice Guides referred to in drafting the Policy]
This policy must be observed by all managers and all staff members.
Contact Information If you need more information about this policy, contact:
| Name | Lorraine Casey |
| Phone number or email | 094 93 90833 glornanog@gmail.com |
| Date this policy was created | 27/08/2024 |
| Name and position | Signature | |
| Approved by | Regina Doyle (Administrator) | |
| Approved by | Lorraine Casey (Manager) |
| Date this policy will be reviewed | May 2026 |