Criterion HS107
A procedure for monitoring children's sleep is displayed and implemented, and a record of children's sleep times is kept.
Documentation required (written or digital)
A procedure for monitoring children’s sleep. The procedure includes steps to ensure that children:
do not have access to food or liquids while in bed, and
are checked for warmth, breathing, and general wellbeing at least every 5 to 10 minutes, or more frequently according to individual needs.
A record of the time each child attending the service sleeps, and checks made by adults during that time.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
Your service must have a procedure for monitoring sleep.
This should explain what adults are responsible for when children sleep. It should say how adults check children’s warmth, breathing, and general wellbeing, and how often these checks are done. It should also outline situations where children need to be monitored more frequently.
This procedure must be displayed so all adults in the service providing education and care understand what to do, and parents know what to expect.
Recording keeping requirements
You must keep a record of each child’s sleep, and when adults checked them. These records must include:
the date
the names of all sleeping children
when each child went to sleep and woke up.
It’s useful to also record the name or signature of the adult who did each check.
Recording any relevant observations from sleep monitoring checks is not required. It can be helpful as reference points, especially if a child becomes unwell when sleeping or resting.
You can keep these records digitally or in writing – whatever works best for your service. Make sure they are easy to access when needed.
Keeping children safe when they sleep
Children should be safe while they sleep. This means some children will need to be monitored more frequently, depending on their age or individual health needs.
Children under the age of 1 are more at risk from sudden unexpected death of an infant (SUDI) than healthy older children. Sleep positioning is important.
Advice on safe sleeping to reduce risk of SUDI is available on the Ministry of Health website.
When assessing whether you comply with HS107
Questions we are likely to ask
How do you make sure children cannot access liquids or food when they are in bed?
How do you monitor that children are checked for warmth, breathing and general wellbeing at least every 5 to 10 minutes?
When would you monitor a child more frequently for warmth, breathing and wellbeing?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
Look at where you display your sleep monitoring procedure.
We may look at how you monitor children if children are asleep.
We are likely to request
Your sleep records and your procedure for monitoring sleeping children.
The tools below are here to support you. You do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
Advice on safe sleeping to reduce risk SUDI is on the Ministry of Health's website.
SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant) – Ministry of Health
Health New Zealand has a resource on safe sleep, including sleep positioning.
A documented sleep procedure allows for a consistent approach by adults at the service to monitor the safety and wellbeing of children while they sleep.
Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.
You may choose to have an adult present in the spaces used by resting and sleeping children. By being in the room, adults can respond quickly if a child wakes up. This is especially helpful when several children are sleeping at the same time.
Keeping sleep records for the current year plus 1 additional year can help you notice patterns in children’s sleep. It can also show whether changes in the environment, like lighting, noise, or temperature, are affecting how well children rest.
Ask yourself:
Does our procedure clearly explain how to check each child’s warmth, breathing, and wellbeing every 5 to 10 minutes?
When should you increase the frequency of sleep monitoring?
You may like to align with your centre’s child protection policy.
This might include:
clear guidelines for professional conduct, expectations and standards
responsive reporting procedures, a clear pathway for raising concerns helps maintain a culture of safety and trust
ongoing training, regular professional development in safe sleep practices and child protection protocols empowers staff to provide the best care possible.