NAC432A.416. Sleeping devices; napping.

     1. Each member of the staff of a facility that is necessary to meet the applicable requirement for the ratio of caregivers to children set forth in NAC 432A.526 for napping or sleeping children must be on the same floor in the same building where the children are napping or sleeping. Members of the staff of each facility must be readily accessible and available to be summoned to ensure the safety of the children in the facility.

     2. Areas provided for napping or sleeping in a facility must be sufficiently lighted to provide for visual supervision of the children at all times.

     3. The staff of each facility shall:

     (a) Ensure that each infant under 12 months of age is placed on his or her back on a firm mattress, mat or pad manufactured for use by an infant when the infant is napping or sleeping;

     (b) Use a safe, sturdy, well-constructed, single-level, free-standing crib, portable crib or playpen for children to nap or sleep in;

     (c) Equip any such sleeping device with a waterproof, firm-fitting mattress;

     (d) Ensure that each crib to be used by a child who is 6 months of age or younger is constructed with vertical slats that are not more than 2 3/8 inches apart;

     (e) Ensure that a child who is 18 months of age or younger naps or sleeps in a crib which is appropriate for his or her age or in another sleeping device which has been approved by the Division;

     (f) Ensure that a child who is older than 18 months of age naps or sleeps in an appropriate crib or on a cot or mat;

     (g) Ensure that each sleeping device has appropriate bedding and a waterproof and washable covering;

     (h) Wipe clean each sleeping device with a disinfectant not less than one time each week or more often if necessary;

     (i) Ensure that the bedding that each child uses is used only for that particular child;

     (j) Replace the bedding each time it is wet or soiled by a child or when the sleeping device is to be used by another child;

     (k) Within 15 minutes after a child in a crib has awakened from a nap or from sleeping, take the child out of the crib and engage him or her in an appropriate activity;

     (l) Ensure that each child takes a nap as needed;

     (m) Ensure that each napping or sleeping child is in an area from which the staff can readily hear and see the child; and

     (n) Ensure that each napping or sleeping child is checked by a caregiver not less than one time every 15 minutes.

     4. The staff of a facility shall not change the diaper of a child in a crib or other sleeping device.

     5. The staff of a facility shall not use a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow or any other soft surface as a surface on which to place an infant under 12 months of age to nap or sleep.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. for Child Care by R203-97, eff. 4-1-98; A by R047-98, 6-10-98; R112-06, 4-23-2009; R112-06, 4-23-2009, eff. 1-1-2010)