Criterion PF120
# There are safe and stable nappy changing facilities that can be kept hygienically clean. These facilities are located in a designated area near to handwashing facilities and are adequately separated from areas of the service used for play or food preparation to prevent the spread of infection.
The design, construction, and location of the facilities ensure that:
they are safe and appropriate for the age/weight and number of children needing to use them;
children’s independence can be fostered as appropriate
children’s dignity and right to privacy is respected and
some visibility from another area of the service is possible.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
You must have a nappy changing area that is safe, easy to clean, and suitable for the age and weight of the children who use it.
Your nappy changing facilities should be designed to suit the ages and number of children in your care. You should consider the specific needs of children in your care, including their weight.
Location of nappy change facilities
Your nappy change facilities should:
be in a designated space, not shared with other activities (as required by the National Public Health Service)
be separate from food preparation and play areas to prevent the spread of germs
be close to handwashing facilities with warm water (no hotter than 40°C). This will allow for quick access and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
The nappy change area must be smooth, waterproof, and easy to clean and sanitise.
Visibility and privacy
You need to position the nappy change facility to support privacy for the child, in an area that is visible from another area of the centre. This should help keep children safe and enable support for adults where needed. Depending on your layout, a viewing window or open doorway can provide visibility without compromising children’s privacy.
Hygiene
Hygienic nappy change facilities must:
be smooth, waterproof surfaces that can be easily cleaned and sanitised
have disposable, or non-porous change mats that can be cleaned between each use.
Supporting independence
There are different ways to support children’s independence. For example, you could:
encourage children to climb onto the changing table with adult support
add safe steps or a small platform for children to walk onto the nappy changing facilities – this can help build confidence and their sense of independence
make nappies and supplies easy to reach, so that children can grab their own items when appropriate.
When assessing whether you comply with PF120
Questions we are likely to ask
What ages of children have you designed the nappy change facility or facilities for?
What would you do if a child who was smaller or larger or older required a nappy change?
How do you support children’s independence during nappy changing?
How do you support children’s privacy and dignity when changing their nappy?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
Look at the nappy change facilities you have and their location.
Look at how visible nappy change facilities are from another area of the centre.
Look at how the nappy change facilities protect children’s privacy and independence.
Look how the facilities provided are appropriate for the age of the children using them, size, independence, ease of access.
We are likely to request
The hash symbol # indicates that we might ask for a report from a National Public Health Service, under Regulation 55 of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. This report would help check if the nappy change facilities are safe, suitable and able to be hygienically cleaned to help prevent the spread of illness.
The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
A National Public Health Service can help by giving advice on nappy change facilities, how to keep things clean and stop infections from spreading.
Contact public health services – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
A well-designed nappy changing area helps keep children safe, clean, and comfortable, while also making it easier for adults to work safely and confidently. It’s an important part of providing quality care and meeting health and safety requirements.
Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.
Health and safety of adults
Adults in some services can spend a large proportion of their time changing children’s nappies. A well-planned area can help prevent injuries and contributes to a safe, healthy work environment. See the ACC website for more information on preventing injuries at work.