Section He-C 6917.13 - Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Use of Safe Sleeping Practices(a) Providers shall consult with the parent of each child and observe children on an ongoing basis to determine each child's resting or napping needs.(b) To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), infants up to 12 months of age shall be placed on their backs to sleep in a crib or playpen, unless there are written medical orders from the infant's primary health practitioner requiring alternate positioning.(c) Infants up to 12 months of age shall not nap or sleep in a car safety seat, beanbag chair, bouncy seat, infant seat, swing, jumping chair, highchair, chair, futon, moses basket, or any other type of furniture or equipment that is not a playpen or crib that meets the requirements of (f) below.(d) There shall be an individual crib or playpen for each child 12 months of age and younger, except for siblings for whom co-sleeping is part of their family culture, and written authorization is given by the child's parent and the child's primary health care provider.(e) No crib shall be used unless manufactured on or after June 28, 2011 or, if manufactured prior to that date, has a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) or test report from a consumer product safety commission (CPSC) accepted third-party lab, provided by the manufacturer documenting the crib's compliance as required by 16 CFR 1219 and 1220.(f) All cribs and playpens required in (e) above shall: (1) Be free of cracked or peeling paint, splinters, and rough edges;(2) Have no more than 2(3/s) inches between slats;(3) Have no missing, loose, broken, or improperly installed parts, screws, brackets, baseboards, or other loose hardware, or damaged parts on the crib or mattress supports;(4) Not have corner posts which extend more than 1/16 of an inch above the end panels;(5) Not have holes or tears in the mesh walls or in the material that connects the walls to the bottom of the crib or playpen;(6) Have properly fitted sheets which do not have excess fabric or that compress the mattress; and(7) Have mattresses which: a. Are in good repair, and free of rips or tears; andb. Fit the crib or playpen so that the space between the mattress and crib or playpen is not more than 2 adult fingers wide and does not create a suffocation hazard.(g) Cribs or playpens used by infants up to 12 months of age shall not have bumper pads, blankets, flat sheets, pillows, quilts, comforters, sleep positioners, or any soft items or toys.(h) When the provider places an infant in a crib or playpen for sleep, the provider shall: (1) Check to ensure that the temperature in the room is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult;(2) Check the infant to ensure that the infant is comfortably clothed and not overheated or sweaty; and(3) Check to ensure that bibs and garments with ties or hoods are removed from the infant.(i) Children older than 3 months shall not be swaddled or placed in restrictive or weighted sleep suits or devices unless there are written medical orders from the child's primary health practitioner on file at the provider.(j) A provider may use electronic monitors to supervise sleeping children provided that:(1) The parent provides a signed and dated authorization stating that the parent is aware of and agreeable to the use of an electronic monitor as a means of supervising their child when their child is asleep;(2) Sounds from the monitor shall be easily heard by the provider;(3) Every 10 minutes the provider shall observe the sleeping children, in person, to ensure that the child is safe and comfortable; and(4) Video monitors shall not replace a physical check of the child by the provider.N.H. Code Admin. R. He-C 6917.13
Amended by Number 23, Filed June 8, 2023, Proposed by #13650, Effective 5/25/2023, Expires 5/25/2033.