15A NCAC 18A .2821      BEDS, COTS, MATS, AND LINENS

(a)  In child care centers, beds, cribs, cots, mats, and play pens shall be kept clean and in good repair, stored to prevent contamination, and cleaned and sanitized between users.

(b)  Cribs and play pens used for sleeping shall be kept clean and equipped with a firm, tight-fitting mattress made of waterproof, washable material at least two inches thick.

(c)  Beds, cots, and mats shall be assigned and labeled for use by an individual child and equipped with individual linens.

(d)  Mats shall be of a waterproof, washable material at least two inches thick and shall be stored so that the side of the mats that makes contact with the floor does not touch the side of a mat that any child sleeps on. The sleeping surface of one child's mat shall not come in contact with the sleeping surface of another child's mat during storage.

(e)  When in use, cribs, cots, mats and play pens shall be placed at least 18 inches apart or separated by partitions that prevent physical contact between children.

(f)  Linens shall be kept clean, in good repair, and stored with the mat or cot that the linens are assigned to or stored apart from the mattress or cot in a manner that keeps the linens used for each child separate from the linens belonging to other children. Linens shall be laundered between users, when soiled, and otherwise once per week. Linens used in rooms where the children in care are less than 12 months old shall be changed and laundered when soiled and otherwise at least daily. Linens shall be large enough to cover the bed, cot, or mat's sleeping surface.

(g)  Wash cloths, bibs, and burping cloths shall be laundered after each use. Each time a wash cloth, bib, or burping cloth is used, it shall be used for only one child.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-91;

Eff. July 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2006; January 1, 2006; February 1, 1995;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2023.