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) – Ministry of Health

This Health NZ resource provides advice on safe sleep, including sleep positioning.

Keeping your baby safe during sleep – Health New Zealand 

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.