What Parents Must Know About Nap Time at Daycare
As a parent, you know that your child needs to take daily naps – it’s an important part of their development. When your child naps at home, they’re in a safe environment. But what about naptime at daycare? What safety standards are daycares required to follow to make sure kids are safe during nap time?
Let’s start with the basics. Daycares must provide a supervised sleep or rest period after the lunchtime meal for children 18 months or older, unless the child’s physical needs are different. The naps are not to exceed three hours in length, and the caregivers are not allowed to force children to take a nap – whether that’s by giving them unapproved medications, like Benadryl, or physically forcing the child to lie down and sleep.
If a child refuses to sleep, the minimum safety standards require that the daycare finds a different, quiet activity for the child to do.
Safety Standards Texas Daycares Should Follow
When it comes to how daycares should configure the room for naptime, they’re required to follow these safety standards:
- First, napping equipment like nap mats, cots, and cribs are not allowed to block entrances or exits to the area.
- Second, nap equipment should not be set up during other activities.
- And third, the nap mats should be arranged so that caregivers and children have access to the walkway without having to climb over other kids.
All these rules were put in place by the state for the safety of the kids. We’ve represented many families whose kids have been injured, neglected, and abused during naptime.
What to Do If Your Child Was Injured During Nap Time at a Texas Daycare
If you or someone you know has a child who was seriously injured during nap time at daycare, be sure to reach out to us. And if you have more questions about nap time rules for daycares or any daycare safety questions in general, contact our team. We’re here as a resource, to help parents after their child was seriously injured at daycare.
And if you want to learn more about finding the right daycare for your child, be sure to download our free guide, 10 Tips for Finding a Safe Daycare – linked here.