In an effort to make select subject areas more accessible to intended users for training and/or advocacy purposes, the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education (NRC) is developing smaller documents on specific subject areas from the larger
Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Program, 3rd Edition, 2011 (CFOC3).

Safe Sleep Practices and SIDS/Suffocation Risk Reduction is a compilation of 27 nationally recognized health and safety standards on safe sleep and reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)/suffocation in child care and early education settings from Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition, 2011 (CFOC3).

The NRC has a Facebook page where Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are offered to test caregiver knowledge. An example:

Question: Are Pack n’ Plays allowed under the new safe sleep guidelines?

Answer: Check your state’s regulations first. The NRC’s recommendation is that “playpens and play yards, bassinets, etc. are acceptable sleep areas for infants as long as the furniture/equipment meets the ASTM F406-11b Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs/Play Yards and that they meet all of the criteria that would be expected for a crib.”

Question: CFOC3 states that no monitors should be used. Does this mean no heart/breathing monitors should be used or no mirrors/videos/sound monitors?

Answer: CFOC3 states that no “heart/breathing” monitors should be used unless ordered by the child’s primary care provider.

Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs,
3rd edition, nrckids.org