New nursery sleep legislation

[Chattycatty32]

Help! My baby has always struggled to sleep at nursery but since the new law it's even harder for her to be settled and the nursery staff are struggling. Is anyone else having a similar issues? Are there any nursery staff or parents with any good suggestions?

What are they struggling with?
How do they nap usually?

I think we need more detail - what is being done that isn't working?

What’s the new legislation? How old is baby?

I’ve just looked at it and I don’t understand how it’s now different to what nurseries should already have been doing or what you’re doing at home? Babies at nursery should be put to sleep in cots, on their backs on a firm surface. Isn’t that what the safe sleep guidance says anyway? Or is there more to it then just that?

What about the new law is causing a problem?

What, practically, has actually changed for your baby?

We went though the new legislation today - honestly there’s nothing new in there that hasn’t been about for years - it’s just making it very very clear to everyone what should happen.

im curious and a bit concerned about what has changed that’s upsetting your child ?

Nurserys used to use prams to help a baby nap or hold them to sleep amongt other things. Now they can't use prams and can't hold them to sleep. No bottles or comfetors. Basically just plonk them down awake and expect them to sleep.

I know one poster mentioned safe sleep which I've always followed but I've always helped my baby to sleep first whether it be to breastfeed or rock them. Then I put them down. They can't do this, they need to put them down awake.

Basically my baby has always needed a lot of comforting to help them to sleep and she's getting hysterical because of the changes. I just wondered if anyone had any decent advice

She has got used to this because that’s what she has always had. This could be the chance to wean her off this level of dependence when falling asleep - can only be good for you in the long run, and her.

They don't need to put them down awake.
They can rock or pat them to sleep

Take your baby to a childminder this legislation is about bonkers, it should be about a child’s individual needs not a blanket set of rules. Each child’s needs should be met, surely ofsted would see that children’s needs are not being met.

You could definitely help by getting her used to going to sleep in a cot at home by rocking instead of feeding to sleep, and then putting her in the cot and pat her.

Childminders have to follow exactly the same rules, it's in the EYFS.

Surely they can still hold them to sleep? Have you got a list of the rules

My childminder is governed by this new change too as she had to tell her mindees families about it. Apparently my daughter was not fussed and fell asleep on the mat right away 😆

Proper carrycots are still certified for sleep but most babies have outgrown them before going to nursery.

There's nothing in the legislation to suggest that nursery workers aren't allowed to comfort a baby to get them to sleep. I'm not a nursery worker, but reading the guidance on the gov.uk website I would interpret it as being ok to hold or rock a baby to sleep and then put them down in a cot. Just not to hold them for the duration of their nap.
How old is your baby? When mine were tiny we had one of those travel system prams where you could clip a bassinet onto the pram base, but it was a proper bassinet that met all the safety regulations. Would the nursery be open to rocking your baby to sleep in a pram like that and then unclipping the bassinet so it functions as a standalone cot/moses basket?
It's normal and healthy for babies and small children to be dependent on their parents, and for them to need their parents for all sorts of things. Nobody expects an infant to wipe their own bum, or prepare their bottle, or walk or talk before they're ready. Sleep is similar. She'll sleep independently when she's ready.

For children under 2 years
• Children must be placed down on their back in their own separate sleep space on a firm flat surface such as a cot, bed or mattress on the floor. Babies aged 12 months and under must only be placed to sleep in a cot
• Sleep spaces must only contain a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and lightweight bedding which is firmly tucked in around the child below their shoulders to prevent head covering. Alternatively, a well fitted baby sleep bag may be used. Check the manufacturer recommendations before using a baby sleep bag.
• Where blankets are used, the child must be placed feet-to-foot at the bottom of the cot, with blankets tucked in.
• Cots must not contain extra items such as toys, pillows, extra blankets, bumpers, wedges or straps.
• Children should not get too hot or cold. The recommended room temperature for babies is 16 – 20˚C.
• Children’s heads must not be covered.
• 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 when sleeping.
• Children must always be within sight and hearing of staff when sleeping.

They can't rock to sleep or have them in their arms at all. They can only settle them in cot. I'm doing what I can at home but I wasn't aware of this until a week ago so haven't had time to prepare. I'm trying to wean my baby as pp's have suggested but she is hysterical. It seems like there's not much I can do other than keep trying

Have they said why they won't have them in their arms at all? Is it about protecting the staff's backs?
How close is your baby to 12 months? Maybe they will be better settled on a mat with an adult sitting next to them and rocking/jiggling them.

It doesn't seem to say that in the rules above? Are there other rules?

I think your nursery’s interpretation is out of line and not within those guidelines… My LO is 13 months and just started nursery, they cuddle her to sleep then place her in a cot. She’s doing well with it. But she wouldn’t go to sleep from awake without some kind of comfort/pat etc!

Thanks. So they could cuddle them to sleep -then put them down, reading that.