SLEEP POLICY
Sleep Policy
At The Crown Nursery we aim to ensure that all children have enough sleep to support their development and sense of well-being. We also do our best to maintain natural sleeping patterns and routines in a safe, comforting, calm environment. We will not force children to sleep, attempt to keep tired children awake or wake children from their sleep.
When a child starts nursery we ask parents to provide information on their child’s sleeping routine. This is recorded by their key worker on our sleep forms, which are reviewed and updated at timely intervals. If a baby has an unusual sleeping routine or a position that we do not use in the nursery i.e. babies sleeping on their tummies, we will explain our policy to the parents and ask them to sign to say they have requested we adopt a different position or pattern on their sleep form.
Staff will discuss any changes in sleep routines with parents/carers and will share observations and information about children’s behaviour.
Safe Sleeping
The safety of babies’ sleeping is paramount. Our policy follows the advice provided by The Cot Death Society to minimise the risk of Sudden Infant Death. We ensure that:
- Babies are placed on their backs to sleep with feet touching the foot of the pod/cot until babies can easily turn over from the back to the stomach, following this they can adopt whatever position they prefer to sleep
- Babies/toddlers are never put down to sleep with a bottle to self-feed
- Babies/toddlers are never left unsupervised when sleeping
- Babies/toddlers are monitored visually when sleeping to check sleep position and for rise and fall of the chest
- Checks and sleep routines are recorded
- As good practice we monitor babies under six months or a new baby sleeping during the first few weeks closely every five minutes until we are familiar with the child and their sleeping routines
We provide a safe sleeping environment by:
- Monitoring the room temperature to prevent it getting too hot
- Dressing babies appropriately for sleeping
- Using clean, light bed sheets and mattress protectors
- Only using safety-approved sleeping equipment that are compliant with British Standard regulations
- Not using cot bumpers or cluttering cots with soft toys, although comforters will be given where required
- Keeping all spaces around cots and beds clear from hanging objects i.e. hanging cords, blind cords, drawstring bags
- Transferring any baby who falls asleep whilst being fed by a practitioner to a safe sleeping place to complete their rest
- Having a no smoking policy.
We help children develop healthy, sleep habits by:
- Providing a consistent calm and comfortable place to sleep
- Managing the light and playing quiet, calming music as sleep associations and cues
- Matching their existing sleeping rituals and routines as best we can
- Offering familiar comforters, toys or blankets to cuddle
- Engaging in positive discussions around sleep, allowing children to share information about their bedrooms etc.
- Supporting children to self-settle
Sleeping twins
We follow the advice from The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) regarding sleeping twins and will not put them together in the same cot to sleep. Further information can be found at:
http://fsid.org.uk/page.aspx?pid=426 http://www.healthychildcare.org/pdf/sidschildcaresafesleep.pdf