Sleep and rest policy and procedure

Early Learning Victoria is committed to ensuring children receive adequate sleep and rest in a safe and comfortable environment.

Sleep is essential for children’s learning and development, as it gives their bodies time to rest and recuperate, ensuring they are ready to learn and play. Early Learning Victoria recognises that the supervision and safety of children during sleep and rest is paramount and ensures that safe sleep practices are adhered to.

1. Scope

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management and visitors of Early Learning Victoria centres. This includes volunteers, students on placement and contractors or labour hire employees of Early Learning Victoria.

2. Policy statement

This policy provides guidance to ensure:

children at Early Learning Victoria receive sufficient sleep, rest and relaxation to ensure their health, wellbeing and developmental needs are met
all sleep and rest practices take into consideration the individual needs, rights and autonomy of every child
centre staff build and maintain strong relationships with families to understand their child’s individual relaxation and sleep requirements
Early Learning Victoria complies with the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (the National Law), Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (the Regulations) and current best practice in all matters relating to sleep and rest.

2.1 Requirements

Under the National Law and Regulations, Early Learning Victoria must ensure:

all centres maintain well-defined policies on sleep and rest
that this policy is always available for inspection at the centre
centre staff take reasonable steps to ensure the sleep and rest needs of children at Early Learning Victoria are met, with regard to their age, developmental stages and individual needs
all centres comply with WorkSafe Victoria’s Children’s services occupational health and safety compliance kit
that the health, safety and overall wellbeing of children is prioritised, taking every reasonable precaution to safeguard them
that educational programs and routines provide adequate opportunities for each child to sleep, rest and engage in quiet play activities.

3. Actions and procedures

3.1 Responsibilities of families

Families are responsible for:

understanding and following this policy and Red Nose Australia’s guidelines for safe sleep practices
speaking with their child’s educator about their child’s rest and sleep patterns, including sleep times and length of sleep
communicating any concerns relating to sleep and rest to the centre as soon as practicable
providing information as requested by Early Learning Victoria (for example, a medical report relating to sleep arrangements if their baby or child is not to be placed on their back for sleep)
respecting the rights of educators to follow current best practice and guidelines, including recommendations by Red Nose Australia in relation to safe sleep practices
ensuring clothing is appropriate for sleep times and does not have any loose items that could get tangled and restrict breathing
providing any safe sleep supplies that their child requires for sleep and rest (for example, a safe sleeping bag) and ensuring that these are clean.

3.2 Responsibilities of staff

Safe sleep record

Continuous supervision is paramount in safeguarding infants and young children during sleep. During periods of sleep, educators must conduct a sleep check of all children using the safe sleep record (see Attachment 1) at 10-minute intervals to ensure that a safe and secure sleep environment is maintained.

Safe sleep and rest audit

The nominated supervisor should conduct the safe sleep and rest audit (see Attachment 2) every 6 months, or as soon as practicable after being informed of a circumstance that may affect the safety, health or wellbeing of children.

Risk assessment

The nominated supervisor is responsible for conducting a sleep and rest risk assessment at least once every 12 months, and as soon as practicable after becoming aware of any circumstances that may affect the safety, health or wellbeing of children during sleep and rest. The completed risk assessment must be stored with the centre records.

The risk assessment must consider:

the number, ages and developmental stages of the children
the sleep and rest needs of children, including health care needs, cultural preferences, individual needs and requests from families about a child’s sleep and rest
the suitability of staffing arrangements to adequately supervise and monitor children during sleep and rest periods
the level of knowledge and training of staff supervising children during sleep and rest periods
the location of sleep and rest areas, including the arrangement of cots and beds in the sleep and rest areas
the safety and suitability of any cots, beds and bedding equipment, having regard to the ages and developmental stages of the children who will use these
any potential hazards:
in sleep and rest areas
on a child during sleep and rest periods
the physical safety and suitability of sleep and rest environments, including temperature, lighting and ventilation.

Educators are responsible for:
- always following this policy and procedure and ensuring it is available for families
- understanding and keeping up to date with current Red Nose Australia guidance for safe sleep practices for infants and children
- completing the Red Nose online training module on safe sleep annually
- complying with WorkSafe Victoria’s Children’s services occupational health and safety compliance kit, including in relation to lifting children into and out of cots
- taking reasonable steps to ensure the sleep and rest needs of children are met
- ensuring adequate supervision of children sleeping and resting, including being within sight and hearing distance of children and monitoring them through visual checks and completion of the safe sleep record (see Attachment 1) every 10 minutes
- providing information to families about the centre’s sleep and rest practices and educating families about evidence-based safe sleeping practices
- providing a range of opportunities for relaxation throughout the day
- documenting and communicating children’s rest and sleep times to co-workers during shift changes
- developing communication strategies to inform parents about their child’s rest and sleep patterns, including times and length of sleep
- ensuring adequate supervision and risk management to protect children from harm at all times, in accordance with each of the categories below.
Sleeping environments
Educators must be aware of risks in the centre’s sleeping environments and undertake checks of the environment to minimise hazards. Educators must:
- ensure the rooms used for sleep and relaxation are suitable for children’s rest, including in relation to temperature, lighting and ventilation, and that they are free from smoke
- maintain constant supervision of children sleeping, including being within sight and hearing distance and monitoring them through visual checks of sleeping position, skin and lip colour, breathing, body temperature, head position, airway and head and face – ensuring head and face remain uncovered. (If a child is sick, educators must supervise their symptoms closely and refer to the Incident, injury, trauma and illness policy.)
Educators must conduct regular checks to ensure the sleep environment is fit for purpose, including that:
- bassinets, hammocks, prams and strollers are not used for sleep practices, and bassinets are never at the centre (this means transferring a sleeping child upon arrival if they are brought in or with a bassinet)
- sleeping equipment is regularly checked
- any hazards in resting or sleep environments are removed and reported to the approved provider
- all cords, mobiles, curtains and blinds are inaccessible to sleeping or resting children
- artificial heating, such as hot water bottles, is not used during sleep
- children’s clothing is sleep appropriate and not restrictive.
Beds and linen
Educators have a responsibility to conduct regular workplace health and safety checks of the physical environment, furniture and resources. This includes ensuring:
- cots, beds, bedding and bedding equipment being used for sleep and rest are safe and appropriate for the ages and developmental stages of the children using them
- each child has their own bed linen, and cots, mattresses and linen are kept clean (see the Hygiene and cleaning policy) and stored properly
- bedding is stored in a hygienic manner.
Respecting the dignity and rights of children
Respect the dignity and rights of children by:
- providing independent and safe access to age-appropriate beds, bedding and comforters
- allowing children to choose not to rest on a bed, without any expectation or force
- encouraging children and giving them time to make and pack away their own bed and bedding independently
- avoiding patting, rocking to sleep, or physically closing children’s eyes
- not photographing or videoing children while they are sleeping, except for medical or health reasons with consent from both the child and parent.
The nominated supervisor is responsible for:
- providing educators with adequate induction training that includes an overview of this policy and procedure, and documenting completion
- ensuring all educators working with infants complete the Red Nose online training module:
  - within the first month of employment, for those working with infants under 6 months
  - within the first 3 months of employment, for those working with infants 6 to 12 months
- ensuring all responsible persons and at least one educator in each room working with infants has successfully completed the Red Nose online training module
- recording the successful completion of the Red Nose online training module in the educator’s staff record
- ensuring a system is in place for displaying the Red Nose certificates for educators who have completed the training
- providing resources available on the Red Nose website for families and educators
- monitoring educators to ensure compliance with this policy and proceduresand providing additional education or coaching as needed
- providing educators with the necessary checklists to monitor children’s wellbeing while sleeping and resting
- ensuring regular observation and documentation (every 10 minutes) of all children resting or sleeping, using the safe sleep record (see Attachment 1)
- informing families about safe sleep principles and expectations during tours, enrolment and orientation, and throughout their enrolment period
- assisting educators in conducting risk analyses if children choose to sleep in non-traditional ways (such as outdoors, on the floor or with pillows), prioritising child safety and wellbeing
- ensuring the educational program offers opportunities for each child to sleep, rest and relax as needed, based on individual requirements and preferences
- ensuring an adequate supply of cots, cot mattresses and bedding that meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS 2172 or any superseding standard), maintaining them in good repair and cleaning them regularly
- recognising that any temporary or permanent additions, fixtures or alterations to cots and mattresses may affect adherence to Red Nose Safe Sleep guidelines or the National Quality Standard
- regularly inspecting sleep and rest areas to ensure they are:
  - well ventilated
  - properly lit
  - maintained at an appropriate temperature
- ensuring that maintenance safety checks are completed on cots, mattresses and beds. This includes yearly checks that ensure:
  - a firm sleep surface that is compliant with the AS/NZS Voluntary Standard
  - Australian standards for beds and cots are correct
  and quarterly checks that ensure:
  - cot and bed frames are tightened and secured
  - wheels of cots are in working order.
The approved provider is responsible for:
- providing the centre director with adequate induction training, including an overview of this policy and procedure
- ensuring adequate numbers of cots, beds and bedding that meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS 2172 or any superseding standard) are available for children
- ensuring all educators, staff and volunteers comply with the Red Nose Australia recommendations for safe sleeping practices for children
- ensuring all Early Learning Victoria centres have well-ventilated areas with appropriate lighting and temperature settings conducive to sleep and rest
- ensuring cot rooms have supervision/viewing windows where possible, kept clear to maintain an unobstructed line of sight to sleeping children
- monitoring the implementation of this policy and associated procedures by Area Manager/s through reviewing compliance issues, complaints and incidents
- regularly updating this policy to align with current legislative requirements, research findings and advice from recognised authorities.

4. Resources

Legislation and standards

Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012
Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Regulations 2012
Australian/New Zealand Standard – Cots for household use – Safety Requirements (AS/NZS 2172:2010)
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
National Quality Standard, Quality area 2: Children’s health and safety
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017

Emergency management and evacuation policy
Enrolment and orientation policy
Hygiene and cleaning policy
Incident, injury, trauma and illness policy
Protecting children policy
Supervision of children policy

Links

Attachments

Definitions

Infant: A baby under 12 months of age. Infants are more vulnerable during sleep compared to older children and adults because they have:

smaller, more easily compressed airways. An infant’s airway has a similar diameter to a drinking straw
large, heavy heads relative to body size
a protruding back of the head, which causes their head to tip forward even when lying on their back on a flat surface
more easily compressed chest wall
less respiratory stamina
reduced temperature control
reduced sleep arousal to elevations in carbon dioxide
if lying prone (on their tummy), a reduced ability to lift their face away from any obstruction, such as a mattress.

Red Nose Australia (formerly SIDS and Kids): Recognised national authority on safe sleeping practices for infants and children.

Relaxation: Relaxation or other activity for bringing about a feeling of calm in your body and mind.

Rest: A period of inactivity, solitude, calmness or tranquillity, which can include a child in a state of sleep.

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome): The sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age with an onset of a fatal episode occurring during sleep and that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy and review of the circumstances of death and the clinical history.

Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI): A broad term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for which the cause is not immediately obvious.

5. Authorisations and review

This policy is the responsibility of Early Learning Victoria. Contact: ELV@education.vic.gov.au

It was approved by the CEO, Early Learning Victoria on 29 November 2024.

Early Learning Victoria regularly reviews its policies and procedures. This policy is due for review on 20 November 2026 unless changes in legislation or Department of Education policy require it to be reviewed sooner.

Reviewed by Director, Strategy and Planning, Early Learning Victoria

Education

Updated 20 June 2025