USE OF COMFORTERS POLICY

Use Of Comforters Policy

At The Crown Nursery we recognise that a comforter can be a source of comfort for a child.  This is particularly true when they are settling in to their new surroundings or if they feel upset.  Comforters can include teddies, blankets and dummies and they often form part of a child’s sleep routine. 

Teddies/Blankets

We are very happy for children to bring their comforters to nursery. Over time we will encourage children to find a safe place to keep their comforter whilst they play and learn and eventually they will feel secure enough to leave them at home.

Dummies

Whilst a dummy can be a huge comfort to a child, we also recognise that overuse of dummies may affect a child’s language development as it may restrict the mouth movements needed for speech. As babies get older they need to learn to move their mouths in different ways, to smile, to blow bubbles, to make sounds, to chew food and eventually to talk. As babies move their mouths and experiment with babbling sounds they are learning to make the quick mouth movements needed for speech. The more practice they get the better their awareness of their mouths and the better their speech will be.

Our nursery will:

  • Discuss the use of dummies with parents as part of babies’ individual care plans 
  • Allow dummies for comfort if a child is really upset (for example, if they are new to the setting or going through a transition) and/or as part of their sleep routine
  • Store dummies in individual hygienic dummy boxes labelled with the child’s name to prevent cross-contamination with other children
  • Clean or sterilise any dummy or bottle that falls on the floor or is picked up by another child.

When discouraging the dummy staff will: 

  • Make each child aware of a designated place where the dummy is safely stored
  • Comfort the child and, if age/stage appropriate, explain in a sensitive and appropriate manner why they do not need their dummy
  • Reassure to the child they can have their dummy when they go home or at sleep time.
  • Distract the child with other activities and ensure they are settled before leaving them to play
  • Offer other methods of comfort such as a toy, teddy or blanket