Sleep and rest in early childhood services

Sleep can create additional risks to the health and wellbeing of young children. This applies to all services who educate and care for preschool aged children. The approved provider, nominated supervisor of an education and care service, and family day care educator must take reasonable steps to ensure that the sleep and rest needs of children in their care are met. In doing so, they must consider the ages, developmental stages, and individual needs of each child.

The sleep and rest policies and procedures required under regulation 168(2)(a)(v) must address:

how children will be protected from any risks identified in a risk assessment conducted under regulation 84C
how the sleep and rest needs of children being educated and cared for by the service are met, including how the ages, developmental stages and the sleep and rest needs of individual children are considered
how the health care needs of individual children being educated and cared for by the service are met
how requests from families about a child’s sleep and rest and cultural preferences are considered
supervision and monitoring during sleep and rest periods, including:

the method and frequency of checking the safety, health and wellbeing of children during sleep and rest periods; and
the documentation of sleep and rest periods

how the sleep and rest practices at the service are consistent with any current health guidelines on the best practices to adopt to ensure the safety of children during sleep and rest
the induction, training and knowledge of staff who educate and care for children at the service in relation to best practices for children’s sleep and rest
the location and arrangement of sleep and rest areas at the service and how this meets the sleep and rest needs of children being educated and cared for by the service
safety and suitability of cots, bedding and bedding equipment, having regard to the ages and developmental stages of children who will use the cots, bedding and bedding equipment
management of potential hazards:

in sleep and rest areas
on a child during sleep and rest periods

management of physical safety and suitability of sleep and rest environments (including temperature, lighting and ventilation)
in the case of a family day care service that provides overnight care, management of risks relating to overnight care at each family day care residence or approved family day care venue of the service
communication of the sleep and rest policies and procedures to a parent.

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

Legislative requirements relating to sleep and rest
Sleep and rest policies and procedures
Risk assessment
Prohibition of bassinets
Portacots
Prams and strollers with bassinet fittings
What can services do
Best practice guidance from recognised authorities (such as Red Nose Australia).

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

Download ACECQA’s policy guidelines on Sleep and rest for children (PDF, 232 KB) to help your service develop and review your own policies and procedures.

Education & training

Updated 27 March 2026

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Sleep and rest in early childhood services

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