Thousands of licensed child care centers across Canada may be failing to ensure children get enough, healthy sleep due to inconsistent sleep regulations.

A new UBC study led by Dr. Wendy Hall, pediatric sleep expert and nursing professor emeritus, found that sleep regulations in licensed child care centers vary widely across Canadian provinces and territories to another, often leaving centers without clear guidelines for meeting children’s sleep needs.

We found significant disparities in sleep regulations between provinces and territories. For example, British Columbia’s regulations lack specific guidelines regarding general or daily sleep scheduling, instead focusing on maintaining a safe sleep environment through factors such as positioning, sleep safety. equipment and prohibited practices.

Dr. Wendy Hall, pediatric sleep expert and professor emeritus of nursing

Alberta’s regulatory requirements do not specify sleep programs or space, but do specify required staffing. In the Atlantic provinces, regulations vary regarding programs that incorporate rest or sleep time into the day. Ontario’s regulations specify daily sleep durations, age-specific sleep space and equipment, as well as personnel, positioning and sleep monitoring, and prohibited practices. Quebec regulations do not specify general or daily sleep scheduling, staffing during sleep/rest, sleep position, or sleep monitoring. There are operations manuals available to help licensees interpret the regulations, but many manuals have been years out of date.

Dr. Hall noted that nearly three-quarters of children in Canada are in child care – 56 per cent are in some form of child care and another 26 per cent are on waiting lists. “The lack of consistent regulations creates confusion about the appropriate number and duration of naps/rest periods for children, especially in different age groups. Although naps are crucial for development, many centers only prioritize one rest period per day, which may not suit infants’ needs or may exceed the needs of children aged three to four. “

The definition of an “infant” also varies by province – the age range can vary from 12 to 24 months – which affects guidelines for sleep space and equipment and children’s development.

The study also highlights that there are also equity issues. Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds who do not sleep as long at night may particularly benefit from access to daytime naps – but there are no consistent provisions for this across childcare services in Canada.

To ensure children get adequate, quality sleep and rest, Dr. Hall recommends looking at the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines as a good starting point for early childhood. These guidelines integrate children’s physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and sleep, recommending naps for infants and children under two years old, as well as nap options for three to four year olds.

Daycares should also emphasize safe sleep practices, monitoring children while they sleep to ensure their safety. Only British Columbia and Ontario regulations focus on sleeping position.

“It is important to understand that each province or territory sets its own child care regulations, making it difficult to create a consistent national approach,” added Dr. Hall. Many governments already struggle to provide adequate child care and staffing, making it difficult to improve sleep regulation. However, organizations like the Canadian Sleep Society and the Canadian Child Care Federation could advocate for better sleep regulation. Sleep should also be a key component of training for early childhood educators.

Parents can monitor their child’s sleep habits, talk to child care providers about their children’s needs, and become familiar with sleep guidelines. For example, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines are useful in the context of recommendations for a 24-hour period, but do not separate naps from nighttime sleep. The Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines provide specific recommendations for naps within the broader framework of sleep.