A Child's Place maintains written policies that guide our approach to major issues
and provide a common understanding of many practical and safety related
issues. Our policies reflect current state and federal regulations as well as best
practices in early childhood educaiton. We suggest that all parents become familiar with our policies
and we encourage you to contact your child's head teacher or the Executive
Director if you have any questions. Our programs and policies reflect the
contributions of all involved and are updated regularly to reflect parent
feedback as well as changes in state and federal regulations and best
professional practices.
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)
A Child’s Place has established the following list of procedures to be followed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Infants under 12 months of age shall be placed on their backs on a firm tight-fitting mattress for sleep in a crib.
- Waterbeds, sofas, soft mattresses, pillows, and other soft surfaces shall be prohibited as infant sleeping surfaces.
- All pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products shall be removed from the crib.
- If a blanket is used, the infant shall be placed at the foot of the crib with a thin blanket tucked around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the infant’s chest.
- The infant’s head shall remain uncovered during sleep.
- Unless the child has a note from a physician specifying otherwise, infants shall be placed in the back position for sleeping to lower the risk of SIDS.
- When infants can easily turn over from the supine (back position) to the prone position (stomach), they shall be put down to sleep on their backs, but allowed to adopt whatever position they prefer to sleep.
- Unless a doctor specifies the need for a positioning device that restricts movement within the child’s crib, such devices shall not be used.
In situations where the parent would like their baby to be placed in a position other than the back, we must have a written statement signed by both the pediatrician and parents.