"First and foremost, we really like to hear about how sleeping is going at home," says pedagogical coach Lisette. "How does your baby show signs of being tired? Do you sing a lullaby? Does he have a favourite toy or pacifier? It is really helpful to know, because the sooner we respond to your child's signals effectively, the easier it is for him to fall asleep."
Every child learns to sleep in their own way, with their own rituals. Whenever possible, we replicate this routine at day care. Then your baby knows exactly when we expect him to sleep, making him feel safer and more secure.
Each child has their own bed
Every child has their own bed. When they start to get tired, we tuck the children into their own beds in the bedroom. Sometimes, we also have a special bed in the group for babies who are still getting used to it. We check in on them regularly, and of course, the baby monitor is on. As soon as one of the children wakes up, we attend to them.
Some of our day care locations also have outdoor beds. Did you know that sleeping outside is very healthy? Children often sleep longer and deeper. And with the daylight, they produce more vitamin D, which is good for their immune system, strong bones, and teeth. Research also shows that children who sleep a lot outdoors have fewer colds.
Fresh and familiar
At our day care your child always sleeps in the same bed and has its own bedding or sleeping bag. Safe, clean, and fresh. We make the beds short and tight so that the child's head cannot get trapped under the bedding. Alternatively, we use a sleeping bag. A stuffed animal and pacifier are allowed in bed. But nothing else, for safety reasons.
Because babies cannot regulate their body temperature as well, it is extra important that they are not too hot or too cold. That is why we ensure the right combination of temperature, ventilation, bedding, and clothing. The temperature in the bedroom is usually around 18 degrees Celsius. Even in summer, we try to keep the bedrooms as cool as possible, but we also ensure that the temperature difference with the outside is not too extreme.
Safe
We don't swaddle children and always place them in bed on their backs. Various studies have shown that this is the safest position. If your child prefers another position, we are happy to work with you to find a way to encourage your child to sleep on its back. Once your baby can roll over from his stomach to his back and vice versa, he can choose his favourite position himself.
When your baby sleeps well, he has enough energy to embark on adventures and learn new things. Ready for the next discovery!