PF125 Mattress coverings and bedding

Clean individual bedding (such as blankets, sheets, sleeping bags, and pillowcases) is provided so that children have adequate warmth while sleeping or resting.

# Sleep furniture and items (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) shared between children are securely covered with or made of a non-porous material (a material that does not allow liquid to pass through it) that:

• protects the item from becoming soiled

• allows for easy cleaning (or is disposable) and

• does not present a suffocation hazard to children.

How to show you are complying

You must provide clean bedding for each child during sleep or rest times, and it should never be shared between children. After use, bedding must either be washed or stored separately, like in a named bag, to make sure it stays with the same child. Choose blankets and linen that are warm, comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

Non-porous material

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

To keep children safe and healthy, furniture and sleep items including mattresses should have a smooth, waterproof surface that’s easy to clean and doesn’t pose a risk of suffocation.

Stretchers

Stretchers must be made of a non-porous material are securely covered with a waterproof layer to prevent any fluid leakage. Stretchers with loose or woven plastic materials, even if the material itself is waterproof, are not suitable, as fluids can pass through the weave and leak onto the floor below.

Mattresses

Mattresses used alone or in cots or beds are to be covered with protective cover. A protective cover is a non-porous, waterproof layer that does not absorb body fluid and can be cleaned and sanitised. In general, nylon fabrics are not acceptable as they are not waterproof.

The waterproof layer must cover the entire upper surface and all sides of the mattress. Any protective covers must be securely attached to mattresses.

It is recommended that these are held in place with elastic or other such device. Any ripped plastic mattress protective covers must be replaced immediately.

It is essential that mattresses are firm and kept flat to keep a child’s airway open, and there are no gaps between the bed frame and the mattress that could trap or wedge a child.

Inflatable mattresses cannot be used as they allow a child’s face to be smothered, so cannot ensure a child’s safety.

Mattresses must have a smooth surface that is easily cleaned and impervious to moisture. They must be firm so the mattress does not present a suffocation risk to infants.

Portable cots

Portable cots cannot be used in a centre-based setting. Portable cots made with a textile or mesh that allows for breathable air zones cannot be easily cleaned when used for multiple children.