2.4        SELECTION & USE OF COTS, BEDS & BEDDING

 

DATED:             January, 2006

SOURCED:        The Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, 1998, Keeping Baby Safe: a Guide to Nursery Furniture; Commonwealth of Australia.

SOURCED:        Kidsafe: Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia, 2000, National Fact Sheet, Nursery Equipment

SOURCED:        SIDS & Kids: Safe Sleeping, booklet produced by Sids & Kids and endorsed by: Paediatrics & Child Health Division, and the Royal College of Physicians

SOURCED:        ABC’s: About Baby & Children’s Safety: Advice for parents from the Office of Fair Trading, September 2002, Queensland Government, Department of Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading

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POLICY

Nursery furniture and equipment used for children whilst in the care of Bayside Family Day Care must be safe and appropriate at all times.

PROCEDURE


Cots

  • All cots must meet Australian Standards (AS2172):
    • Spaces between the bars must be 50-85mm apart (spaces between bars narrower than 50mm or greater than 85mm can entrap babies)
    • The mattress must fit snugly all the way around (no gaps wider than index finger) as baby can be trapped facedown and suffocate
    • A minimum of 500mm between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot sides (preferably 600mm)
    • No knobs or protrusions to snag clothing
    • Drop-side mechanisms that are secure and easy for an adult to use but not a child
    • Where a cot has wheels/castors they must only be on two legs  or brakes on the wheels/castors
    • Remove plastic packaging from the mattress

 

  • Ensure the cot is well maintained. Wobbly or broken parts make the cot weak.
  • If the cot has an adjustable base, move it to the lowest setting once a child can sit unaided

 

Portable Cots

 

  • Bayside Family Day Care does not provide portable cots due to concerns about children’s health & safety.  There have been a small number of deaths where cots have collapsed, trapping babies.
  • Portable cots are designed for short term intermittent use, not everyday use. Mattresses and base are not sufficient to support a developing child on a long term basis.
  • Where a Carer uses a portable cot as a short term, temporary measure, the model must meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 2195:1999 for folding cots. When in use:
    • Ensure the sides are fully clicked into place and secure
    • Check mechanisms regularly for wear
    • Use the cot mattress provided as ill fitting mattresses may create a space where a small baby could be trapped

 

 Potential hazards

 

  • Do not place soft fluffy toys or products such as pillows, doonas, sheepskins cot bumpers, cushions in a cot as they are unnecessary and may cover a baby’s face making breathing difficult
  • Ensure a cot is positioned away from dangerous items such as heaters and curtain/blind cords
  • Do not put small objects that could cause chocking in the cot or anywhere within reach of a child (anything smaller than a 35mm film canister is a choking hazard for a child under 3 years)
  • Make sure the space above the cot is free of objects like pictures or mirrors that could fall on the child
  • Do not put mobiles or toys with elastic cords in cots
  • Do not use V or U shaped pillows for children under 2 years of age. Small children under two can become wedged in the pillow and suffocate. It is safer not to use pillows at all for children under 2 years of age.
  • Electric blankets and hot water bottles should never be used for babies and young children
  • Once a child can stand any items in a cot can help them climb out and should be removed
  • Do not put a baby or toddler on a waterbed or a bean bag. They are not safe for babies or toddlers.

 

Safe Sleeping for Babies

 

To reduce the risk of SIDS:

 

  • Put a baby to sleep on its back from birth
  • Put baby’s feet at the bottom of the cot
  • Tuck in bedclothes securely so bedding is not loose
  • Sleep the baby with its face uncovered
  • Ensure quilts, doonas, duvets, pillows and cot bumpers are not in the cot

 

Sleeping babies on adult beds is not recommended

 

  • Putting a baby into an adult bed may be unsafe as the baby may:
    • Get caught under adult bedding or pillows
    • Become trapped between the wall and the bed
    • Fall off the bed

 

Bunk Beds

 

Do not use bunk beds for children under six years of age. The most common and serious injuries are caused by young children falling from the bunk, head entrapment causing strangulation or limb entrapment. Although not always considered nursery furniture, bunk beds can be dangerous to children particularly to those under 6 years. When considering using bunk beds for children use the following guidelines:

 

  • Bunk beds must meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4220)

 

  • Any part of the bunk higher than 600 mm from the floor should not have gaps that could trap a child’s limbs or head. There should be no gaps in the top bunk, such as gaps in guard rails, between 75mm and 230mm (small bodies can fit through but heads can get stuck).

 

  • The bunk bed must have guardrails, The top of the guardrail should be at least 160mm above the top of the mattress

 

  • Metal tubular bunks should have the tube ends plugged

 

  • Check ladders and guardrails are permanent and stable

 

  • No protrusion from the bunk bed should be greater than 8mm – anything more than this means clothing can catch and create a strangling risk

 

  • Make all nuts, bolts and other fasteners are flush or recessed and do not create a sharp point, edge or snag hazard

 

  • Never place a bunk bed near a window and keep the bunk beds at lease 2 metres away from a ceiling fan

 

When using the bunk beds for children:

 

  • Never allow a child under 6 years on the top bunk

 

  • Do not let children use bunk beds as a play area

 

  • Check regularly for wear and tear – always undertake repairs immediately