Sleep is an essential part of children’s physical, mental, and emotional health, and many child care centres schedule nap or sleep time as part of their programming. Sleep equipment includes cribs, crib mattresses, sleeping cots, mats, and bedding/linens. To ensure these items are not a potential source of infection, it is important that child care centres take IPAC measures:

• Children must be placed in a sleeping arrangement that minimizes the spread of respiratory infections.
• Child care centres should arrange cots at least 46 centimeter (or 18 inches) apart, and children placed in an alternating head-to-toe or toe-to-toe arrangement so that there is greater than two meters between children’s heads.
• Sleep equipment and bedding/linens must be labelled and assigned to a single child.
• Sleep equipment must be made of material that can be cleaned and disinfected. Crib mattresses, cots and mats must be cleaned and disinfected weekly and when needed (e.g., when soiled).
• Launder bedding weekly or more frequently if required. Before being reassigned to another child, sleep equipment must be cleaned and disinfected.
• When not in use, sleeping equipment and bedding must be stored in a manner that prevents contamination. Crib mattresses, cots, mats, and bedding should be stored in a designated area, away from children’s play areas to prevent children from playing with or climbing on them.
• Blankets and stuffies may be brought from home for the individual child to use per centre policy. These are to be sent home to be laundered at least once per week. When they are returned to care, while they may be clean, they are to be stored separately to reduce risk of allergens and/or pests.