Babies’ sleep, wellbeing the loser in Gov decision

Media Release July 2 2009
From NZEI Te Riu Roa For immediate use

Babies’ sleep and wellbeing the loser in Government decision

The Government’s decision yesterday to axe a proposed requirement for all-day ECE centres to have separate sleep rooms for babies has been condemned by NZEI Te Riu Roa, the union representing early childhood teachers.

NZEI Te Riu Roa National Executive member and ECE teacher Hayley Whitaker says the government has failed in its responsibility to ensure that babies and young children in all-day ECE centres have a quiet, dark room to sleep in.

“This decision is a short-sighted attack on our youngest citizens. Making babies sleep in a large noisy space with four year old children is not sound practice. How many adults would be able to sleep in such an environment?”

She says it appears the Government had listened to lesser quality services arguing against sleep rooms purely because of cost.

Under draft regulations proposed last year, services with all day licenses would have had to provide children under two with a separate sleeping room. This move was widely supported by quality community and private services and by parents as being essential to the wellbeing of babies and young children.

“There has been a lot of research lately on infant brain development and the effects of the stress hormone, cortisol. Excessive stress can inhibit long-term brain development, and a quiet separate sleeping place is essential to minimise stress.“

The new regulations are being phased in over a period of years and services would have had time to budget and adapt for sleep rooms, she says. NZEI will continue to lobby decision-makers and the Government to adopt best practices to support the health and well-being of babies and children.

ENDS

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