JavaScript is required

Sleep and rest in early childhood services

Sleep can create additional risks to the health and wellbeing of young children.

Sleep can create additional risks to the health and wellbeing of young children. This applies in all services who educate and care for preschool aged children.

Educators must make sure that:

  • children are in sight and hearing of educators at all times.
  • staff are close enough to supervise carefully and respond to children’s needs.

Read the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) information about safe sleep and rest:

  • safe sleep and rest practices
  • safe environments and equipment - including meeting children’s sleep, rest and relaxation needs.

This guidance is based on evidence, and is currently updated with practical information.

Download ACECQA’s policy guidelines on Sleep and rest for children (PDF) to help your service develop and review your own policies and procedures.

Updated