Matthews Country Day Infant Toddler Safe Sleep Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2Matthews Country Day
Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy
Date Adopted: September 20, 2005
Revised: June 23, 2011, March 10, 2014
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected death of a seemingly healthy baby for whom no cause of death can be determined based
on an autopsy, an investigation of the place where the infant died, and a review of the infant’s medical history.
We believe that a safe environment for infants helps lower the chances of an infant dying from SIDS, and that parents and child care providers
can work together to provide a safe sleep environment. According to N.C. Law G.S. 100-91(15), child care providers caring for infants 12
months of age or younger, are required to implement a safe sleep policy, share the safe sleep policy with parents/guardians, and participate in the
Infant-Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care training. Matthews Country Day will implement the following safe sl eep
practice.
Safe Sleep Practices
1.All child care staff caring for infants and child care staff that may potentially care for infants will receive training on how to
implement our infant Safe Sleep Policy.
2.Infants will always be placed on their backs to sleep, unless there is a signed Alternate Sleep Position Waiver-Health Care
Professional Recommendation in the infant’s file. A waiver notice will be posted at the infant’s crib. This facility does not
accept Alternate Sleep Position Waiver-Parent Request. Waivers will be retained in the children’s record as long as they are
enrolled.
3.When babies can easily turn over from back to their stomach, they will be placed to sleep on their backs and then allowed to
adopt the sleep position they prefer. This is in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations.
Child care staff can further discuss with parents how to address circumstances when the baby turns onto their stomach or side.
4.Sleeping infant will be visually checked daily, every 15 minutes, by assigned staff. The sleep information will be recorded on
a Sleep Chart. The Sleep Chart will be kept on file for one month after the reporting month. We will be especially alert to
monitoring a sleeping infant during the first weeks the infant is in child care. We will check the infant for:
* Normal skin color
* Normal breathing by watching the rise and fall of chest
* His or her level of sleep
* Signs of overheating: flushed skin color, increase in body temperature (touch the skin), and restlessness
5.
Staff will reduce the risk of overheating by not over-dressing or over-wrapping the infants.
6.
All parents/guardians of infants cared for in the facility will receive a written copy of our Infant/Toddler Safe Slee p Policy
before enrollment, will review the policy with staff, and sign a statement saying they received and reviewed the policy.
7.
The temperature in the room where the infant(s) sleep will be kept between 68-75 degrees F and monitored by the thermometer
kept in the
infant sleeping room.
8.
To promote healthy development, awake infants will be given supervised “tummy time” for exercise and for play.
Safe Sleep Environment
5.Infants’ heads will not be covered with blankets or bedding. Infants’ cribs will not be covered with blankets or bedding. We
may use a sleep sack instead of a blanket.
6.No loose bedding, pillows, bumper pads, etc. will be used in cribs. We will tuck any infant blankets in at the foot of the crib
and along the sides of the crib mattress.
7.Toys and stuffed animals will be removed from the crib when the infant is sleeping.
8.Pacifiers will be allowed in infants’ cribs while they sleep. When the pacifier falls out of the sleeping infants’ mouth, it will
not be reinserted into the infants’ mouth. The pacifier is the only object we will allow in a crib.
9.A safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and tight fitting sheet will be used.
10.Each infant will sleep in his or her own crib. Only one infant will be in a crib at a time, unless we are evacuating infants in
an emergency.
11.NO SMOKING is permitted in the infant room or on the premises.
Distribution: Parents and staff will review the policy and be informed of changes 14 days before the effective date. One copy signed
by parent(s)/guardian(s) will be given to parent(s)/guardian(s) and one copy will be kept in child’s facility record.
References: N.C. Law G.S. 100-91 (15), N.C. Child Care Rules .0606 and .1724,
I, the undersigned parent or guardian of __________________________________________________(child’s full name), do hereby state that I
have read and received a copy of the Matthews Country Day Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy and that the facility’s director/assistant
director/program coordinator has discussed the facility’s Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy with me.
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
