Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers
1. Children under 3 years of age shall be provided opportunities to rest regardless of the number of hours in care.
Young children benefit from scheduled periods of rest. This rest may take the form of actual napping or a quiet time.
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| Naptime or quiet time is required, even if not all children fall asleep. Give children quiet activities like looking at books or doing puzzles, during this time. |
It's a best practice to have an area where kids can do quiet activities away from sleeping children.
Centers may wish to have a naptime/quiet time policy and share it with parents.
2. A center shall permit children under 18 months of age to sleep on demand.
To ensure that the changing developmental and individual needs of each child are met.
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| Children under 18 months must be allowed to sleep when tired. Do not try to force children to stay awake to meet a classroom’s daily schedule or a parent’s request. |
3. Infants shall rest or sleep alone in cribs or porta-cribs.
Reduces the spread of disease.
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| If an infant has to sleep in something other than a crib or porta-crib (due to a health issue or special need), you must have a note from the health care provider first. The letter must include specific sleeping instructions and time frames for how long the infant needs to sleep in this manner. See also R 400.8219(7). |
- 4. Infants shall be placed on their backs for resting and sleeping.
- 5. Infants who can’t roll from stomach to back or from backs to stomachs must be placed on their backs when found face down.
- 6. When infants can easily turn over from their stomachs to their backs and from backs to stomachs, place them on their backs but let them sleep in whatever position they prefer.
Since 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that infants sleep on their backs. Placing infants to sleep on their backs instead of their stomachs has been associated with a dramatic decrease in infant deaths. Once infants develop motor skills to move from their back to the side or stomach it is safe to put them to sleep on their backs and allow them to adapt to whatever position makes them comfortable.
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Resources regarding infant safe sleep include the following:
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7. For an infant who cannot rest or sleep on her or his back due to disability or illness, written instructions, signed by the infant’s licensed health care provider, detailing an alternative safe sleep position or other special sleeping arrangements for the infant shall be followed and kept on file at the center. The instructions must include an end date.
To ensure an infant's special needs are being met and medical instructions are being followed.
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| Information from the health care provider must be on file prior to letting the infant sleep in the alternate position. This includes when a device, such as a wedge, is required to prop the crib mattress or the infant. The special written instructions from the health care provider must be kept in a location that is easy to access and must be shared with all the infant’s teachers. |
8. A sleeping infant’s breathing, sleep position, and bedding must be monitored frequently for possible signs of distress.
Supervision is basic to the prevention of harm. Infants who are presumed sleeping might be awake and in need of adult attention.
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| Infants must be watched at all times; this includes program staff periodically standing close enough to the infant to watch their breathing patterns, sleep position and any signs of distress or discomfort. Program Staff must approach each crib. Signs of distress or discomfort include but are not limited to turning pale, lips changing color, and chest not rising and falling or shallow breaths. |
9. An infant’s head must remain uncovered during sleep.
Ensures the safety and well-being of children by reducing the risk of infant death. According to Keeping Kids Alive, between 2010 and 2017, there were 136 sleep related infant deaths in Michigan. Infant sleeping requirements are based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations.
10. Toddlers shall rest or sleep alone in cribs, porta-cribs, or on mats or cots.
Reduces the spread of disease and ensures the safety of children.
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| If a child has to sleep in something other than a crib, porta-crib, cot, or mat due to a health issue or special need, a letter from the child's health care provider is required first. The letter must include specific sleeping instructions and time frames for how long the child needs to sleep in this manner. See also subrule (7) of this rule. |
11. Infants and toddlers who fall asleep in a space that is not approved for sleeping shall be moved to approved sleep equipment appropriate for their age and size.
Ensures the safety and well-being of children. According to Keeping Kids Alive, between 2010 and 2017, there were 136 sleep related infant deaths in Michigan. Infant sleeping requirements are based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations.
12. Naptime or quiet time must be provided when children under school-age are in attendance 5 or more continuous hours per day.
Preschool children benefit from scheduled periods of rest. This rest may take the form of actual napping or a quiet time.
Centers may wish to set a naptime/quiet time policy and share it with parents.
13. For children under school age who do not sleep at rest time, quiet activities must be provided such as reading books or putting puzzles together.
It's a best practice to have an area where kids can do quiet activities away from sleeping children.
14. Resting or sleeping areas must have adequate soft lighting to allow the child care staff member to assess children.
Facilitates supervision of resting or sleeping children.
15. Video surveillance equipment and baby monitors must not be used in place of subrule (8) of this rule and R 400.8213(1).
Supervision is basic to the prevention of harm. Electronic equipment is subject to malfunction or failure.
