Criterion HS206
A procedure for monitoring children's sleep is implemented, and information is communicated to parents about their child’s daily sleep patterns.
Documentation required
A procedure for monitoring children’s sleep. The procedure ensures that children:
do not have access to food or liquids while in bed and
are checked for warmth, breathing, and general well-being at least every 10-15 minutes (during day-time sleep), or more frequently according to individual needs.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
You need a written procedure about how educators monitor children sleeping for each home in the service.
This should explain educator’s responsibilities when children sleep. It should say how the educator should check children’s warmth, breathing, and general well-being, and how often these checks are done. It should also outline situations where children need to be monitored more frequently.
The person responsible (also known as the visiting teacher or coordinator) should check educators in each home implement the procedure.
Keeping children safe when they sleep
Children should be safe while they sleep, this means that 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 SUDI than healthy older children. Sleep positioning is important.
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) – Te Whatu Ora
The use of technology does not reduce the requirement to physically enter the room and check on the sleeping child at least 10 to 15 minutes.
When assessing whether you comply with HS206
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 check children for warmth, breathing and general wellbeing at least every 10-15 minutes?
When would you monitor a child more frequently for warmth, breathing and wellbeing?
Do you record this information? If not, how do you communicate to parents about their child’s sleep patterns?
We are likely to look at/measure or count
Look for evidence of how you have communicated with parents and whānau about their children’s sleep patterns.
If children are asleep, we may look at how children are monitored at least every 10-15 minutes.
We are likely to request
Your procedure for monitoring children’s sleep and your sleep records.
We may also ask for information about how you communicate with parents about their children’s sleep patterns.
Advice on safe sleeping to reduce risk of Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant (SUDI) is available from the Ministry of Health.
SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant) – Te Whatu Ora
This Health NZ resource provides advice on safe sleep, including sleep positioning.
A documented sleep procedure ensures educators at each home where care is provided, understand what they need to do 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.
Educators could keep records of children’s sleep, which may help you identify patterns and changes in children’s sleep. Sleep records may also show whether changes in the environment, like lighting, noise, or temperature, affect children’s sleep.
This may help educators to communicate effectively with parents and whānau.