Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
56.1 A licensee shall ensure the program includes times for rest or sleep appropriate to each child's individual physical needs.
56.1.1 A quiet activity must be provided for children who have rested or slept for 30 minutes and do not seem to need or want more rest.
56.1.2 Preschool children are not required to rest or sleep.
56.1.3 Full staff-to-child ratios must be maintained during quiet play when children do not nap/sleep.
56.2 Rest or sleep equipment must meet the safety standards required by CPSC or other recognized authority approved by OCCL and kept in a safe condition.
56.3 A licensee shall ensure each child, except children who do not sleep at the center, has clean, safe, age-appropriate rest equipment. This may be a crib, playpen, pack-and-play (without ripped mesh), cot, bed, or mat.
56.3.1 Each child under 18 months old who does not walk must sleep in a crib, playpen, or pack-and-play.
56.3.2 Each child between 12 and 18 months old who walks may sleep on a cot, bed, or mat with written permission from the child's parent or guardian.
56.3.3 Preschool-age and school-age children who do not nap at the center do not need sleep equipment.
56.4 A licensee shall ensure a child's rest equipment is labeled with the child's name or assigned chart number and used only by that child while attending the program.
56.4.1 A licensee shall ensure chart numbers and assignments are documented and kept current.
56.4.2 Children must use their assigned equipment while enrolled in the center.
56.4.3 A licensee may assign a crib or pack-and-play to two children who attend on different days if it is cleaned and sanitized each day.
56.5 Mattresses and sleep equipment must be non-absorbent and cleanable.
56.5.1 Cots, mats, and crib mattresses must be cleaned with soap and water and then sanitized weekly and when soiled or wet.
56.5.2 Mats must be stored so there is no contact with the sleep surface of another mat or cleaned and disinfected after each use.
56.5.3 Sleep equipment and bedding must be cleaned and sanitized before being assigned to another child.
56.6 Children over age one must be provided with top and bottom covers.
56.6.1 Sheets and blankets or other bedding must be cleaned at least weekly and when soiled or wet.
56.6.2 Bedding must be stored so there is no contact with another child's bedding.
56.7 A licensee shall ensure sleep equipment is placed at least 11/2 feet apart while in use.
56.8 The rest area must provide enough light to allow the children to be seen.
56.9 Safe Sleep Practices for Infants:
56.9.1 A licensee shall ensure cribs meet the current standards of CPSC or other safety authority recognized by OCCL.
56.9.2 Infants must sleep only in cribs, pack-and-plays, or playpens.
56.9.2.1 The use of soft surfaces, such as soft mattresses, pillows, sofas, and waterbeds, are prohibited as infant sleep surfaces.
56.9.2.2 A licensee shall ensure infants who fall asleep in car seats, swings, seats, or other equipment are immediately moved to cribs, pack-and-plays, or playpens.
56.9.3 Cribs may not be stacked while in use.
56.9.4 Cribs may not have gaps larger than 2 3/8 inches between the slats.
56.9.5 Cribs, pack-and-plays, and playpens must have top rails at least 20 inches above the mattresses.
56.9.5.1 The mattress must be set at its lowest position.
56.9.5.2 Latches on cribs, pack-and-plays, or playpens must be safe, secured, and hazard-free.
56.9.6 Crib mattresses must be firm and tight fitting to the frame with a tight-fitting bottom sheet only.
56.9.7 Pillows, bibs, blankets, bumper pads, cloth diapers other than those worn by an infant, comforters, top sheets, quilts, sheepskin, sleep positioning devices (except as described in subsection 56.9.9.1), stuffed toys, and other items, are prohibited in a crib, pack-and-play, and playpen.
56.9.7.1 Infants may use pacifiers in a crib.
56.9.7.2 Toys or objects attached to cribs, pack-and-plays, or playpens are prohibited.
56.9.8 Swaddling of infants requires written parent or guardian permission. Blankets are prohibited for swaddling when laying an infant down to sleep. However, swaddle-blanket sleepers may be used.
56.9.9 Infants must be placed on their backs when laid down to sleep as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
56.9.9.1 OCCL allows an exception if the infant's health care provider documents that a physical or medical condition requires a different sleeping position or use of a sleep-positioning device.
56.9.9.2 The health care provider must document the new sleeping position or the device and how to use it.
