Tennessee Daycare Safe Sleep Requirements

Safe sleep is the area with the least flexibility in Tennessee daycare regulations. A single violation during an unannounced inspection — a blanket in a crib, a missed check log entry — can generate an immediate corrective action and put your license at risk.

The Core Rules

Infants under 12 months must sleep on their backs in free-standing, CPSC-compliant cribs or approved play yards with a firm sleep surface and fitted sheet. Any exception to the safe-sleep procedures requires written authorization from a physician and should be documented for your Licensing Consultant.

What Must Be in the Crib or Play Yard

A firm sleep surface with a fitted sheet. Nothing else.

Prohibited items:

• Soft bedding (quilts, comforters, blankets)
• Bumper pads
• Pillows
• Stuffed animals or toys
• Sleep positioners or wedges
• Tight swaddling (any exception to these safe-sleep procedures requires written authorization from a physician)

The 15-Minute Check Requirement

Providers must physically check each sleeping infant every 15 minutes. This is not a visual glance from across the room — it requires a physical touch to verify breathing and body temperature. Each check must be documented on a safe sleep log with the time and the provider's signature.

Inspectors review safe sleep logs during every visit. Gaps in documentation — missing entries, unsigned rows, checks at 20- or 30-minute intervals instead of 15 — are flagged immediately.

Sleep Space Placement

Sleep spaces must be positioned away from:

• Windows and window coverings with cords
• Heating sources and radiators
• Electrical outlets and extension cords
• Wall hangings or shelves that could fall into the crib

Each infant needs an approved individual sleep space. Shared sleep spaces and car seats used for napping are not compliant. A play yard is allowed only if it has a firm sleep surface and fitted sheet.

Transition from Cribs

Once a child turns 12 months, the provider may transition them to a cot or mat for nap time. The 15-minute physical check requirement applies only to infants under 12 months, but all napping children should still be supervised.

How to Set Up Your Safe Sleep Station

Designate a specific area of your home for infant sleep. The space should be quiet, away from active play areas, and have controlled temperature. Keep a clipboard with the safe sleep log at the station so documentation happens at the point of care, not retroactively at the end of the day.

Label each crib with the assigned child's name. Keep extra fitted sheets available so you can change them immediately if soiled. Have a wall clock visible from the sleep area so 15-minute intervals are easy to track.

What Inspectors Actually Check

During the walk-through (Steps 9 and 10) and subsequent unannounced inspections, TDHS licensing consultants will:

• Physically inspect each crib or play yard for prohibited items
• Verify cribs or play yards are CPSC-compliant and in good condition (no broken hardware, no drop sides)
• Review the safe sleep log for completeness and consistency
• Check sleep-space placement relative to hazards
• Ask the provider to describe their sleep placement procedure

Safe sleep is also a component of the Critical Safety Observation Tool that inspectors use during monitoring visits after licensure.

The Tennessee Home Daycare Licensing Guide includes a printable safe sleep log template formatted for 15-minute intervals and a crib setup checklist you can run through before every inspection.

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