PF29 Design of sleep provisions

Criteria

§ Furniture and items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) are of a size that allows children using them to lie flat and are of a design to ensure their safety.

Guidance

This guidance should be read in conjunction with the guidance for the other criteria relating to sleep in Premises and facilities 30 to 38 (on this page) and Health and safety 9 to 11.

Sleep – HS9 to HS11

Furniture and items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) must:

• be large enough to allow all children to lie flat on their backs
• be of a design that ensures children’s safety.

In addition, they must:

• allow children, who are able to, sit or stand safely when they wake (HS10)

  HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

• allow adults to easily get children out in the case of an emergency evacuation (HS7).

  HS7 Emergency plan and supplies

If furniture and items do not meet these requirements they cannot be used.

When assessing the safety of sleep furniture and items, the following need to be considered:

• The development of the child (mobile or non-mobile)
• The height of the furniture in terms of falling risk – beds must be less than 700mm above the floor
• The ability for clothing, bedding or the child’s head becoming caught presenting a strangulation hazard
• The presence of any small parts that could be a choking hazard
• The ability for fingers or limbs to become trapped

Cots

A cot is designed for infants and is enclosed on all four sides so the infant cannot fall out. A cot is only suitable for infants who are able to be lifted out.

Cots must have no gaps or protrusions that could trap an infant or catch their clothing and have no sharp edges. The sides must be high enough to stop an infant climbing out and there should be no footholds.

Where cots are used, these should be sturdy, easily washable (PF30, below) and allow good airflow (HS10).

HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

Mattresses need to fit firmly inside the cot to avoid gaps that an infant could get wedged in. Mattresses should not be too soft, as this is a risk factor for infant suffocation.

Multi-level cots, bunk cots and stacker cots

Multi-level cots (also known as bunk cots or stacker cots) are those where (usually) 2 cots are fixed on top of each other.

Multi-level cots are only acceptable if the following can be assured:

• The area situated around each cot is well ventilated to allow sufficient fresh air to circulate and there is no build-up of carbon dioxide, moisture and heat (HS10)

  HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

• Regional Public Health have no concerns about the air flow through and around the cots (HS10)

  HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

• Cots are easily accessible by staff and sufficiently separated to avoid cross infection (HS10)

  HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

• The cots must be secured to the wall so that the cots cannot fall in any event (HS6)

  HS6 Securing furniture

• There is a specific evacuation plan for the sleep room where there are multi-level cots (HS7)

  HS7 Emergency plan and supplies

• Fire and Emergency NZ has no concerns about the use of the multi-level cot (HS4)

  HS4 Fire evacuation scheme

• Children, who can sit, are able to safely sit up in the lower level of the cots (HS10).

  HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

Multi-level cots must only be able to be opened from the outside by an adult to place a child in or remove a child.

Multi-level cots must have no gaps or protrusions that could trap an infant or catch their clothing and have no sharp edges. The sides must be high enough to stop an infant climbing out and there should be no footholds.

Mattresses need to fit firmly inside the multi-level cot to avoid gaps that an infant could get wedged in. Mattresses should not be too soft, as this is a risk factor for infant suffocation.

Children who are able to sit or stand up are not to be placed in the upper level of multi-level cots, as they could be injured or fall from the cot when attempting to get up. Once children are too large or mobile for the multi-level cots, they are to be moved either to a single level cot or to a stretcher or a bed.

Portable cots

Portable cots cannot be used in a centre-based setting. As portable cots are made with a textile or mesh that allows for breathable air zones, they cannot be easily cleaned when used for multiple children (PF30, below).

Stretchers and mattresses

Stretchers or mattresses must not pose a suffocation hazard. Inflatable mattresses cannot be used as they allow a child’s face to be smothered, so cannot ensure a child’s safety.

Stretcher fabric must be taut and its wear monitored to ensure the stretcher does not sag with use over time.

Beds

Beds are single level sleep furniture where the upper surface of the mattress is less than 700mm above the floor. Children are able to get in and out of a bed without adult assistance.

Infants must not be placed in a bed as they may roll off the bed.

Bunk beds and elevated beds

Bunk beds are those where multiple beds are stacked on top of each other and the upper surface of the mattress is 700mm or more above the floor.

Elevated beds are those where the upper surface of the mattress is 700mm or more above the floor.

Bunk beds and elevated beds cannot be used as beds as this height poses a falling risk and they are not of a design that ensures a child’s safety.

Risk mitigations such as increasing supervision or the use of safety matting do not meet the requirements of this criterion.

Slings, backpacks, prams, buggies and car capsules

Items whose primary purpose is transportation such as slings, backpacks, prams, buggies and car capsules cannot be provided by the centre as an item intended for children to sleep on as they are not intended for that purpose or allow children to lie flat.

PF30 Mattress coverings

Criteria

§ Furniture and items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) that will be used by more than one child over time are securely covered with or made of a non-porous material (that is, a material that does not allow liquid to pass through it) that:

• protects them from becoming soiled
• allows for easy cleaning (or is disposable); and
• does not present a suffocation hazard to children.

Guidance

Children sometimes sweat when they sleep, and bed-wetting accidents do occur from time to time. Damp or soiled mattresses can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Mattresses must have a surface that is smooth, easily cleaned and impervious to moisture and does not present a suffocation hazard to children. The waterproof layer must cover at least the whole of the upper surface and all sides of the mattress.

It is essential plastic mattress covers are securely attached to mattresses. It is recommended that these waterproof covers are held in place with elastic or other such device. Any ripped mattress covers must be replaced immediately.

PF31 Bedding

Criteria

Clean individual bedding (such as blankets, sheets, sleeping bags and pillowslips) is provided for sleeping or resting children that is sufficient to keep them warm.

Guidance

Linen must never be shared between children. It must either be washed after every use or stored separately with the child’s name on it. Refer to the guidance for HS11 Storage of sleep furniture and bedding.

HS11 Storage of sleep furniture and bedding

As well as being warm, children should be safe while they sleep. Advice on safe sleeping to reduce risk of Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant (SUDI) is available here:

SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant) – Ministry of Health

PF32 Sessional over 2 sleep space

Criteria

Sessional services only

A safe and comfortable place to sleep (such as a bed, stretcher, mattress or couch) is available for children aged 2 and older that require sleep or rest during a session.

Guidance

At a sessional service, there may be occasions when an older child needs to rest or sleep. Services need adequate facilities to cater for these times. How a service provides these facilities depends on what suits their particular centre layout and operation.

Possibilities include:

• a comfortable couch that is used for other purposes at other times
• a bed permanently set up in a convenient place, such as the office (this option can double as an area for isolating sick children as well)
• a stretcher or mattress that can be pulled out and set up as required in a quiet area of the service.

Any sleeping child must be monitored as required by HS9 Sleep monitoring.

HS9 Sleep monitoring

PF33 All-day over 2 sleep space

Criteria

All-day services only

Space is available for children aged 2 and older to sleep or rest for a reasonable period of time each day. If the space used for sleeping or resting is part of the activity space, there are alternative activity spaces for other children not sleeping or resting as necessary.

Guidance

All-day services with only children over the age of 2 attending have a level of choice about the space they provide for sleep. Centres may choose to manage this differently according to their operation or philosophy.

If the centre chooses to have a scheduled rest or sleep time during the day for all children, then they may choose to turn some of the activity space into a 'sleep/rest area' during that time. However, children who do not wish to sleep or rest must have somewhere to play.

If the centre prefers to allow children to self-regulate when they need a sleep or rest, they may decide a separate sleep room is a better option for them. Or (if only one or 2 children choose to sleep at a time, and not very frequently) they may provide a quiet area within the activity space that children can go when they want to rest or sleep.

PF34 All-day over 2 sleep provisions

Criteria

All-day services only

Furniture or items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) are available for the sleep or rest of children aged 2 and older.

Guidance

Centres need adequate facilities to cater for occasions when an older child needs to rest or sleep. How a service provides these facilities depends on what suits their particular centre layout and operation.

If the service decides to allow children to rest or sleep as and when they need to throughout the day, possibilities include:

• a comfortable couch that is used for other purposes at other times
• a bed permanently set up in a convenient place, such as the office (this option can double as an area for isolating sick children as well)
• a stretcher or mattress that can be pulled out and set up as required in a quiet area of the service.

If a scheduled sleep or rest time is part of the service's daily routine, then the service will need enough beds, mattresses, stretchers or mats for every child attending.

PF35 Sessional under 2 sleep space

Criteria

Sessional services only

A designated space is available to support the provision of restful sleep for children under the age of 2 at any time they are attending. This space is located and designed to:

• minimise fluctuations in temperature, noise and lighting levels
• allow adequate supervision; and
• accommodate at least the requirements of criterion PF36, when arranged in accordance with criterion HS10.

HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

Guidance

A separate sleep room is not required to meet this criterion, although some services may consider this is preferable for their infants and toddlers.

A quiet area of the activity space needs to be set aside for use whenever children under the age of 2 need to sleep during a session. The sleeping space should preferably be somewhere that is not a 'high traffic' area of the centre. You can arrange furniture such as couches or shelving to control movement into the area by children, and to provide some barrier against sound.

Although the area needs to be 'designated' as a sleep space, it can be used by children for play when no children require sleep.

PF36 Sessional under 2 cot:child ratio

Criteria

Sessional services only

Furniture or items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) are provided at a ratio of at least 1 to every 5 children under the age of 2.

Guidance

Centres need adequate facilities to cater for occasions when an older child needs to rest or sleep. How a service provides these facilities depends on what suits their particular centre layout and operation.

If the centre decides to allow children to rest or sleep as and when they need to throughout the day (either in a separate room or in a quiet area of the service) then the stated ratio of 1 to 5 needs to be met. It is important that children have something to lie down on when they want to sleep or rest, and do not have to wait.

If a scheduled sleep or rest time is part of the centre’s daily routine, then 1 cot, bed, stretcher or mattress will be needed for each child attending.

PF37 All-day under 2 sleep space

Criteria

All-day services only

A designated space is available to support the provision of restful sleep for children under the age of 2 at any time they are attending.

This space is located and designed to:

• minimise fluctuations in temperature, noise and lighting levels
• allow adequate supervision; and
• accommodate at least the requirements of criterion PF38, when arranged in accordance with criterion HS10.

HS10 Sleep furniture spacing

Guidance

Services are required to provide children under 2 years with the opportunity to have restful sleep at any time they are attending the centre.

The opportunity for restful sleep is provided by the centre having a designated space where fluctuations in temperature, noise and lighting levels can be minimised. Adequate supervision of sleeping children is required.

Services could have more than one designated sleeping space. All criteria must be met for any and all designated sleep spaces. In mixed age settings, many services choose to use their designated space(s) for children of all ages (not just under 2s), because they find supervision easier when all children sleep in the same place.

The designated space for sleeping children under 2 years, and any storage space for furniture and items not permanently set up, will be excluded from the measurement of the indoor activity area (as per Schedule 4 in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008).

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, Schedule 4 – New Zealand Legislation

Things to consider

Children require sufficient restful sleep to become self-managing, be effective learners and to make the most of the learning opportunities provided by ECE. Services are encouraged to actively engage in discussions with parents for guidance on the sleep requirements for their child and how these can best be met in a manner consistent with the regulations. The designated space(s) should recognise cultural practices of the communities.

PF38 All-day under 2 child:cot ratio

Criteria

All-day services only

Furniture or items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) are provided at a ratio of at least 1 to every 2 children under the age of 2.

Guidance

If the service decides to allow children to rest or sleep as and when they need to throughout the day (either in a separate room or in a quiet area of the service) then the stated ratio of 1 to 2 needs to be met. It is important that children have something to lie down on when they want to sleep or rest, and do not have to wait.

If a scheduled sleep or rest time is part of the centre’s daily routine, then 1 cot, bed, stretcher or mattress will be needed for each child attending.