PL T2.02Getting Ready to Rest
The adult reads the child's tired signs and follows the same short sequence before every sleep, so the child knows what is coming; infants under 12 months sleep on their back in a crib with nothing else in it.
Safety
- Infants under 12 months sleep on their back, in a safety-approved crib or bassinet with a firm flat mattress and fitted sheet, with no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or toys (AAP 2022).
- Move an infant who falls asleep anywhere else (arms, mat, car seat, swing, bouncer) to their crib on their back.
- Do not swaddle in child care (Caring for Our Children, Standard 3.1.4.2); at home, stop swaddling when the infant shows signs of trying to roll (AAP 2022). Do not use weighted sleep sacks or weighted blankets.
- Remove bibs, necklaces, hats, pacifier cords, and anything with a string before sleep.
- Check sleeping children as often as licensing requires, by sight and sound, and keep the room at a comfortable temperature so the child does not overheat.
- Floor beds are used only at home after 12 months, or where state licensing allows; the movement mat is for awake time only.
Where US guidance differs
The AAP (2022) says infants under 12 months sleep on their back in a safety-approved crib or bassinet with nothing else in it, and most state licensing rules for centers require the same. Montessori sources describe a floor bed from early infancy so the child can get in and out of bed on their own. This work follows the AAP for sleep under 12 months at school and at home; after 12 months, toddlers at school use the cot or mat their licensing allows, and at home a floor bed in a room checked for hazards (anchored furniture, covered outlets, no cords) is a family choice.
Presentation
- 1
Watch for tired signs: rubbing eyes, looking away, slowing down, fussing. Start the routine when you see them, not by the clock alone.
- 2
Tell the child: 'You are tired. It is time to rest.' Wait for them to look at you. With a walking child, invite them to walk to the sleep area with you.
- 3
Change the diaper if needed. With a toddler, invite them to take off their shoes and put them in their place.
- 4
Take off bibs, hats, necklaces, and anything with a cord.
- 5
For an infant under 12 months: lay them on their back in the crib. For a toddler: invite them to lie down on their own cot or mat. The child lying down in the same place every time is the point of interest.
- 6
Say the same words or sing the same short song every time. Stay nearby, where you can see and hear the child.
- 7
If an infant falls asleep in your arms, on the mat, or in a car seat or swing, move them to their crib, on their back.
- 8
When the child wakes, greet them by name and tell them: 'I am going to pick you up.' Wait a moment before lifting. With a toddler, wait for them to get up and come to you.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- The toddler walks to the sleep area when told it is rest time
- The toddler takes off their own shoes and lies down on their own
- The toddler puts their blanket on the shelf after waking
- At home after 12 months, the child climbs into and out of a floor bed by themselves
Control of error
None in the material; the adult watches the child's tired signs and how quickly they settle, and adjusts the timing of rest.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Calms when the familiar song or words start
- Lies down on their own cot or mat without being placed
- Tells or shows the adult when they are tired
- Gets up after resting and comes to the adult without crying for a long time