Sleep.
What an intense conversation topic, particularly amongst new parents whose group gatherings often sound like this: “Who sleeps through the night? When do you transition from three naps to two? From two to one? Who has used a sleep consultant? Did they help? Is your baby self settling? Have you tried the RiffRaff? White noise? Brown noise? Pink noise? How about a Lulladoll?”
For educators, particularly those working with babies and infants, new children arrive with very individual routines. Often those routines include extremely specific sleep requests, often including a request for a pitch-black room. What if we were to tell you that pitch black cot rooms are not supporting safe sleep and may be a factor in entirely preventable deaths in early learning settings?.
All too often when we question practices in early childhood that contradict what we know to be in children's bests interests or in alignment with contemporary research, we are met with the justification of “but the parents want it”. This is often used to justify a range of inappropriate pedagogical decisions, but when this reasoning is applied to sleep environments, it becomes something far more serious. When a practice requested by families increases the risk of harm or death, it is no longer a preference. It is a safety issue. Parent education is not optional here. Child safety needs to be paramount.
Imagine a team that has decided child safety is non-negotiable. The blackout blinds in the cot rooms are non-existent. Educators ensure they can clearly see the colour of every child’s skin, their breathing and their position while they sleep. Parents notice the change and begin to worry that their child will not sleep.
These are the 4 conversations we must be ready for, armed with current legislative information.
1. Our National Quality Standard
Standard 2.2.1 requires that at all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard. Supervision during sleep means educators must be physically present and able to see children clearly. We must be able to see skin colour, chest movement and head position. This cannot be done in pitch black rooms or through a camera screen.
2. National Regulations and sleep policies
Regulation 168 requires every service to have a Sleep and Rest Policy and Procedure that reflects current safety guidance and includes how sleep is supervised and how risks are managed. Regulation 84B and 84C require that the safety and suitability of all sleep equipment is assessed through regular safe sleep risk assessments. This includes lighting, room layout, supervision and the type of equipment used.
3. Light, ventilation and visibility
Regulation 110 requires indoor spaces used by children to be well ventilated and have adequate natural light. Adequate light means educators can easily see children’s faces, their bedding and their breathing. A darkened room that prevents this is not compliant with safe supervision.
4. 2026 mandatory infant sleep product standards
From 19 January 2026, new mandatory safety standards apply to all infant sleep products and inclined non sleep products used in early learning services. This includes cots, mattresses, rockers, bouncers and any product an infant may fall asleep in. These products must meet strict design and construction requirements and must have safety and warning labels attached for their entire lifecycle at the service.
Inclined sleep products must have an incline of no more than 7 degrees to reduce the risk of airway collapse. If a product states it is not for sleep, it cannot be used for sleep. Bassinets remain prohibited on ECEC premises at all times under Regulation 84D.
Services must ensure all sleep equipment is safe, clean and in good repair under Regulation 103 and must update their policies and risk assessments to reflect these new standards. Authorised officers may request evidence such as purchase dates, warning labels and risk assessments.
Finally, Our image of children reminds us that above all, children are capable. They can learn that sleep at home and sleep at centre are different. At home they usually sleep alone. At centre they may be sharing a room with several other children. The environment is already different. Our responsibility is not to recreate home but to create and nurture a space that is comfortable, nurturing and the safest possible environment for group care.
We hold an enormous responsibility. To care. To educate. And above all else to return every child to their family in the same state they arrived. Children have the right to sleep environments that are visible, well ventilated, carefully supervised and free from unsafe equipment. That is not a preference. That is the law and it is our duty.
Further research
ACECQA: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/supporting-materials/infosheet/safe-sleep-and-rest-practices
National Regulations: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2011-065
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13158-015-0143-z
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15402002.2015.1120199