Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-6.4
Rest and Sleep Requirements for Early Childhood Programs

EC (a) For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:rest and sleep", the center shall provide opportunities for daily rest and sleep as follows:

I/T 1. For children 18 months of age and younger, the center shall:

i. Provide daily rest and sleepx "infant/toddler programs:sleep requirements"x "sleep:infant/toddler" according to the child's individual physical needs; and

ii. Ensure that each child is placed in a face-up sleeping positionx "sleeping position" unless the child's parent requests a different sleeping position.

EC 2. For children over the age of 18 months and under the age of five years, the center shall provide:

i. Daily rest and/or sleepx "sleep:early childhood" for each child who attends the center for four or more consecutive hours;

ii. Daily rest and/or sleep for each child who attends the center for fewer than four consecutive hours, but whose individual physical needs call for a rest period while the child is at the center; and

iii. An alternative quiet activity for each child who has rested or slept for 30 minutes and does not appear to need additional rest or sleep.

I/T 1. For children 12 months of age and younger, the center shall provide for each child a cribx "infant/toddler programs:sleeping equipment", playpen or other Bureau-approved sleeping equipmentx "sleeping equipment:safety standards"x "sleeping equipment:infant/toddler" that meets the following requirements:

i. Each crib or playpen shall be equipped with:

(1) A waterproof, snugly fitting mattress;

(2) A clean sheet or other covering and blanket;

(3) Top rails that are at least 19 inches above the mattress; and

(4) Slats that are not more than 2 3/8 inches apart.

ii. Locks and latches on the dropsides of cribs shall be safe and secure from accidental release.

EC 2. For children over the age of 12 months and under the age of five years, the center shall provide for each child a crib, playpen, cot, matx "mats" \t "See sleeping equipment" or other Bureau-approved sleeping equipmentx "sleeping equipment:early childhood" that meets the following requirements:

I/T i. Each cot used for children between 13 and 18 months of age shall not exceed 14 inches above the floor level.

EC ii. Each cot or mat used for rest and sleepx "bed linens" shall be covered with a sheet, blanket or other covering. An additional covering shall be provided for use as a covering for each child.

iii. Each matx "sleeping equipment:mats" used for rest and sleep shall be:

(1) Placed on a surface that is warm, dry, clean and draft-free;

(2) Water-repellent;

(3) At least one inch thick; and

(4) Stored so that there is no contact with the sleeping surface of another mat, or disinfected after each use, as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-7.7(a)1.

1. For children who attend the center for three hours or less after 7:00 p.m., the center shall not be required to comply with the requirements specified in (a)2 above.

2. For children who attend the center for more than three hours after 7:00 p.m., the center shall:

   i. Establish bedtime schedules for each child in consultation with parent(s);

   ii. Ensure that any Bureau-approved sleeping equipmentx "sleeping equipment:night care", other than a bed or mat, has been fitted with a minimum one-inch thick water-repellent mat or mattress; and

   iii. Ensure that each child is changed into sleeping garmentsx "sleeping garments".

(e) Sheets, blanketsx "bed linens:changing" and other coverings shall be:

1. Changed when wet, soiled or damaged; and

2. Changed before use by another child.

(g) When sheets, blankets and other coverings are not stored with sleeping equipmentx "bed linens", each of these items shall be:

1. Labeled for each child; and

2. Stored separately for each child.

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