Safer Sleep - Ensuring the Safety of Your Children Whilst Sleeping at Nursery

From 1 September 2026, updated safer-sleep requirements have been incorporated into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.

As these guidelines can sometimes be confusing, we’ve put together an overview of the key updates, along with how we have amended our practice at Hassocks Day Nursery to ensure we continue to provide a safe and comfortable sleeping environment for the children in our care while they enjoy their much-needed naps.

These requirements apply to children under two years of age, but we follow the guidance for all children who sleep at nursery, regardless of age.

Key Safer Sleep Guidance Updates

Where should babies be laid down to sleep?

Children must be placed on their backs to sleep, in their own separate sleep space, on a clear, flat and firm surface, such as a cot, bed or suitable mattress on the floor.

Babies aged 12 months and under must only be placed to sleep in a cot. The term ‘cot’ includes carrycots, Moses baskets and travel cots.

How we meet the guidelines

We have travel cots which are used for all babies under 12 months old. As per the guidelines, for children over 12 months, we are able to use, and do use our coracles and/ or floor mats. 

What bedding should be used?

DfE guidance states that sleep spaces should only contain a firm, flat, waterproof mattress. A mattress with an integral waterproof PVC coating or a separate waterproof layer is acceptable, along with lightweight bedding that is firmly tucked in around the child and below their shoulders to help prevent head covering.

Sleep bags should be appropriate for the child’s age and weight to help prevent wriggling and head covering.

Sheets and sleep bags/blankets should be sent home at least weekly for washing if they are stored at nursery.

How we meet the guidelines

We have always only used lightweight bedding supplied by parents. This must include a fitted sheet and either a blanket or sleep bag. If staff feel that a sleep bag is not appropriate, they will discuss this with parents. Parents are responsible for ensuring that the sleeping attire they provide is suitable for their child.

If children arrive without their bedding, we will no longer be able to provide spare bedding. Parents will therefore need to be contacted to drop off the appropriate bedding before their child sleeps.

All bedding will be sent home weekly for washing.

Can we use comforters?

Cots must not contain extra items such as toys, pillows, extra blankets, bumpers, wedges or straps. However, small soft comforters that children use for reassurance may be used for babies and children aged over 12 months only.

How we meet the guidelines

We ensure that any comforters brought in for children under 12 months are not used while they are asleep.

None of our sleep spaces have ever contained pillows, bumpers, wedges or straps.

How should babies sleep?

Babies must be put to sleep with their feet at the bottom of the cot, with their blanket tucked securely under their shoulders to help prevent head covering.

Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep. Once a baby can move from their back to their front and back again independently, they can find their own comfortable sleeping position. However, they should always be placed on their back when being put down to sleep.

How we meet the guidelines

All children are placed to sleep in the correct position and on their backs. Our supervising staff ensure that babies are monitored and, where appropriate, gently repositioned if they roll into a different position.

Supervision whilst asleep

Babies under six months of age must always have an adult with them in the same room for every sleep. All children must be frequently checked while they are sleeping.

Children over six months of age must always be within sight and hearing of staff while sleeping. A baby monitor can be used for children over six months of age, provided it allows children to be seen and heard at all times.

How we meet the guidelines

We continue to ensure that children are never left unattended while asleep.

At Hassocks Day Nursery there is always at least one member of staff present in the sleep room at all times, while any child is sleeping, and staff frequently check on the children whilst they sleep.

Sleep room temperature

Children should not become too hot or too cold. The recommended room temperature for babies aged 12 months and under is 16–20°C.

What we do

We have air conditioning and underfloor heating to help us maintain the sleep room at the appropriate temperature.

Feeding to sleep

Babies under two years old must not be put to bed with a bottle for self-feeding while lying down. Staff must feed babies their bottle in a semi-upright position before putting them to bed.

What we do

Our staff ensure that all babies who receive a bottle before a nap are fed in an appropriate position.

Children falling asleep while travelling.

Babies aged 12 months and under who fall asleep while travelling must be transferred to their cot when they return to the setting. Children over 12 months should, where possible, be moved to their own separate sleep space on a clear, flat, firm surface. If a child falls asleep in a car seat, they must be transferred to their separate sleep space when they return.

What we do: 

We will not accept any children who arrive at the nursery already asleep. If they are asleep, parents must remain with them until they wake up. If a child falls asleep whilst we are out, we will transfer them to a cot as soon or appropriate safe sleep place as soon as possible.

Continuing to provide safe sleep at nursery

These changes will help us ensure that we continue to follow the appropriate guidance and maintain a safe, clean and comfortable sleeping environment for all children.

As safer sleep continues to be a prominent topic, we understand that parents may have questions about how these guidelines are implemented in nursery.

If you ever have any questions about our sleep policy or how we implement it at Hassocks Day Nursery, please do let us know. We’re always happy to talk it through with you. You can also find out more about safer sleep at The Lullaby Trust