Phasing Out Patting/Rocking In Our Centre

[Rachael175]

Hey guys

I was wondering if anyone has ever been in a center where they don't 'pat' the children to sleep

Does anyone have any tips or experiences with this? Were trying to phase out patting/rocking

Its going to be fully implemented in about a month (manager decision not ours) id love to hear from yous

[Lorina]

At one of my previous centres we didn't pat the children to sleep during rest time. We played rest time music (the same each day) and when the children lay on their beds we sat with them until they fell asleep. For those children who were use to being patted, it took awhile to get use to not being patted to sleep. They'd roll and move around on their beds, sit up and down but we had to remain firm and consistent. We had to constantly remind the children "it's rest time now please lay down" but eventually the children fall asleep and got used to not being patted or rocked.

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

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Some kids don’t need it but others do and it’s a need of the individual child. the nurture and emotional connection between educator and child, a safe space to rest.

[Lorina]

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Make a list of the value of supportting sleep through safe touch.
Eg helps with self regulation
Teaches safe touch
Bonding with educator
Sence of safety
Keep it going

[Lorina]

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My sons fondest memory was having an educator sit with him and pat him to sleep.

[Lorina]

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Most of my babies can self sooth now. We pat if needed but I found when you teach self sooth they sleep better and my parents love it. I go from patting child, to pat the mattress to just sit there. I can have the whole cot room asleep in 10 mins this way as you know who needs help and who doesn't.

[Lorina]

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It is apart of the new safe sleeping legislative requirements that we are not to pat or hold children to sleep.

[Lorina]

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This boggles my mind... We are in Education & CARE !!! Where is the care and compassion to support a child to sleep by means necessary as they are accustomed to ? If it's a family or child request I don't see the issue....

[Lorina]

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Many of the times letting them self settle is the key as patting or rocking is considered forcing them to sleep unless they are babies and need to be comforted. Allow them to self settle for little bit but if any child struggle to fall asleep, gentle pat is ok. Slowly they learn to put themselves to sleep. Some children have dummies and some comfort blankie to help them self settle So depending on child's need it is fine.

[Lorina]

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What are the benefits of not patting/comforting children to sleep? Is this decision being made in their best interest or just to make the jobs of educators easier?

[Lorina]

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I agree with this. We have a number of children that happily settle themselves but others that like being pat. It also depends in my opinion what goes on at home and what do the parents want. If they rock or pat their children to sleep should this not be continued in care?

[Lorina]

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and babies or infants would benefit from having the physical comfort while they go to sleep, it helps to build connections and trust with their caregivers too

[Lorina]

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if our society wasn't as it is the babies would be at home with mum being comforted and hugged and loved all day. I think its important while they are in care they get that nurturing for their carers, although not the same but as much as we can its important for their development

[Lorina]

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If parents want it then how can it be phased out?

[Lorina]

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I have worked in a centre where we were encouraged not to pat children to sleep. We left the children who would go to sleep themselves and stayed close to the children who needed help to get to sleep. We went from four educators sitting with the children to one monitoring the children who needed it. We had quiet corners for the children to self settle and reminded them to lay down. It did take about a month to completely remove all educators from patting children but it was so good once we did it.

[Lorina]

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You shouldn’t really be deciding on behalf of the children if they have already become accustomed to this practice, so if the children ask or parents ask for this to help comfort them, then why not. The child or parent should be asked regardless.

[Lorina]

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This is ridiculous! Why on earth be in a centre if you’re not going to soothe a child and comfort them.
Management of your team needs education in development and everything to do with children.
So many running without a clue
SMH ‍♀️

[Lorina]

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Wow! Where has the compassion gone for our children? What sad detached institutions these so called "Care" settings have become 🤮 Shameful!!

[Jln77]

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I have worked in a centre where we were encouraged not to pat children to sleep. We left the children who would go to sleep themselves and stayed close to the children who needed help to get to sleep. We went from four educators sitting with the children to one monitoring the children who needed it. We had quiet corners for the children to self settle and reminded them to lay down. It did take about a month to completely remove all educators from patting children but it was so good once we did it.

I have been reading everyone’s thoughts on this, however I need clarification, i personally don’t want to hold down a child and rock them to sleep, even if it takes half an hour or an hour, I feel that is wrong, as I have bad memories of being forced to sleep when I was a child. I work at a centre where we are to make children have a nap when the children are tired, and even after an hour we are still to try and get them to sleep and have them in our lap or patting them to sleep. I would prefer to take them outside and do quiet activities however I don’t work with people who agree with that, they rather have these children held and crying around other children who are trying to relax, where do I stand and am I in the wrong for not wanting to force children to sleep? I am in a room of two to three year olds, and it’s hard when a few parents do not want their children during this time, so those children are doing quiet activities and other children won’t wind down because their friends don’t have to have a sleep, it’s a bit frustrating, especially after an hour