A safe environment that promotes health is the baseline expectation for a child care home. There are many policies and procedures to ensure that you, your family, and the children you care for remain healthy and safe year-round.
List of resources for baby sleep safely and ways to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death. Vital information for all that care for babies.
- Tips for Creating a Safe Sleep Environment for Infants in Child Care
- Infant Safe Sleep Policy Template
470 IAC 3-1.2 Infant and Toddler Care
- Change positions of infants
- Each child shall have their own crib, playpen, or mat (requires a variance) to sleep on. Each child younger than 24 months has a crib, portacrib, playpen, or bassinet. If a bassinet is used, determine if the parent has either provided or consented to the use of the bassinet.
- Infants must be held during bottle feedings until they can hold their own bottle.
- Bottles shall not be propped.
- Safe Sleep practices shall be followed
- Infants must be placed on their back to sleep.
- Slats of the crib can be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
- Mattresses must fit snugly with no more than one inch between the mattress and the side of the crib.
- Infant Safe Sleep Policy Template