

Mat dividers and dual-colored mats can help keep napping spaces as sanitary as possible.Never stack cots or mats with sheets on them since it can promote the spread of germs. Cots and mats should always be cleaned and sanitized before putting them away. Set up an easy to remember cleaning regimen.For example, name tags ensure children use the same mat or cot each day to reduce the chance of germs spreading from child to child. Use a system for designating each child their own cot or mat.Store cots or mats in a location away from walkways and in a location where other learning areas can proceed without interference.Again, each state’s regulations are different, so it is imperative to know your state’s regulations. Provide each child with a cot or mat to nap on.Rest Time for Toddlers (18 months – 3 years) and Preschoolers (3-4 years) Woodland Rest Mats include plastic name tag holders so kiddos can be assigned their own mat to use each day. Place infants on their backs to sleep and follow all the Mayo Clinics’ recommendations for avoiding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.Therefore, when kids wake up, it’s time for childcare providers to return them to the play zone. If little ones wake up and start making noise, then the quiet, restful environment will be ruined for others who need to catch a few ZZZ’s. Keep sleeping and playing areas separate.(A blanket only applies to infants 12 months and older.) Wash crib sheets and blanket whenever soiled and at least once per week.Safe alternatives to blankets are sleepers, sleep sacks, and wearable blankets.

All these items pose a suffocation hazard. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), blankets should also be avoided till babies are at least 12 months old. Do not place pillows, stuffed animals, or soft toys in the crib when infants are sleeping.Make sure the mattress fits tightly in the crib and the crib sheet is snug on the mattress. To keep spaces safe and clean, infants should be placed in their own, individually labeled crib with a crib sheet.The first key to success is knowing your state’s childcare licensing regulations backwards and forwards. Some states will require separate napping rooms while others allow (or require) napping areas to be shared. Cribs should be placed an adequate distance from each other.Childcare providers should respond sensitively when infants need to nap. It would be convenient if there was a way to get all the infants in one childcare center on the same schedule, but this is probably not realistic. A napping area should be provided for infants with individually labeled cribs. Most infants will be on their own sleeping and waking rhythms. Addressing the unique needs for each age group is one of the pivotal elements to providing a safe and healthy sleep environment. Little ones of different ages will have different needs when it comes to the ideal sleeping environment. When childcare centers, preschools and other kinds of early education classrooms designate specific areas for children to nap, everyone wins. Clear Mat Dividers separate mats to ensure the floor side never touches the sleeping side.Ĭhildren are wired to respond positively to predictable routines.
