Parents

Child Care Checklist

  • Infants sleep in their own *safety-approved crib containing a firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet.
  • Infants are never allowed to sleep in car seats, swings, infant seats, or other equipment not designed for infant sleep.
  • Cribs are clear of bumper pads, blankets, pillows, burp cloths, toys, or other items in the crib or hanging on the crib.
  • Infants are always placed to sleep on their back for every sleep time. Once they can easily turn over from back to tummy and tummy to back, they can stay in that position after starting out on their back.
  • Infants wear footed sleeper or baby sleep sack/bag (see picture) to sleep, as safe alternatives to blankets. No bibs, hoods, hats, or clothing with a drawstring or tied around the neck should be worn for sleep.
  • Caregivers are alert and visually supervise children during every sleep time.
  • The facility has a written safe sleep policy that follows the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines ( ABCs of Safe Sleep). This policy is provided to all parents of infants.
  • All infant caregivers are required to be trained in safe sleep practices.
  • The facility and the facility grounds are smoke free.
  • Infants are not swaddled.
  • Pacifiers are permitted for sleep but are not attached by clips or strings to clothing or to the infant.
*Compliant with current US Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards

Safe Sleep in Child Care

Sleep-related deaths in infants ages 0-12 months also occur when the baby is in the care of someone other than a parent.

Many of these deaths occur when infants who are used to sleeping on their backs at home are placed on their tummies by another caregiver. Infants who are used to sleeping on their backs and then placed on their tummies, are 18 times more likely to die from a sleep-related death.

You can reduce this risk to your child by talking to all of their caregivers about placing your infant to sleep on their back and talking to them about other practices to keep your infant safe when they sleep. When looking for child care, baby-sitters, or even relatives to care for your infant, find out what they know about infant safe sleep.

Before leaving your infant with any caregiver, be sure they agree that the safe sleep practices you discuss with them will be followed.

Resources

Parents