Nursery sleep policy

At The University of Dundee Day Nursery Ltd we aim to ensure that all children have enough sleep to support their development and natural sleeping rhythms in a safe environment.

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 make sure that:

• Babies are placed on their backs to sleep, but when babies can easily turn over from the back to the stomach, they are allowed to adopt whatever position they prefer to sleep
• Babies/toddlers are never put down to sleep with a bottle to self-feed
• Babies/toddlers are monitored visually when sleeping. Checks are recorded every 5 minutes and babies are never always left in a separate sleep room without staff supervision
• When monitoring, the staff member looks for the rise and fall of the chest and if the sleep position has changed

We provide a safe sleeping environment by:

• Monitoring the room temperature
• Using clean, light bedding/blankets and ensuring babies are appropriately dressed for sleep to avoid overheating
• Only using safety-approved cots or other suitable sleeping equipment (i.e. pods or mats) that are compliant with British Standard regulations, and mattress covers are used in conjunction with a clean fitted sheet
• Only letting babies sleep in prams if they lie flat and we have parents’ written permission
• 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
• Ensuring every baby/toddler is provided with clean bedding
• Transferring any baby who falls asleep while being nursed by an early learning and childcare practitioner to a safe sleeping surface to complete their rest
• Having a no smoking policy.

We ask parents to complete Care Plan and with the child’s key person discuss sleeping routine when the child starts at nursery, and these are reviewed and updated at timely intervals. If a baby has an unusual sleeping routine or a position, we will use in the nursery i.e. babies sleeping on their tummies, however 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 the sleeping babies – Care Plan.

We recognise parents’ knowledge of their child regarding sleep routines and will, where possible, work together to ensure each child’s individual sleep routines and well-being continues to be met. However, staff will not force a child to sleep or keep them awake against his or her will. They will also not usually wake children from their sleep.

Staff will discuss any changes in sleep routines at the end of the day and share observations and information about children’s behaviour when they do not receive enough sleep.

Sleeping twins

We follow the advice from The Lullaby Trust regarding sleeping twins.

Further information can be found on the Lullaby Trust website.

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