complaint·October 26, 2022

Pepper stated that infants are constantly supervised and under direct visual observation and supervision while in their classroom. Pepper stated that infants are placed on their backs to sleep and not allowed to nap on the floor unless they are old enough or developmentally ready to transition to a cot or floor mat. Pepper stated that infants that fall asleep while playing on the ground during “tummy time” are immediately transferred to their crib. During the investigation, interviews were conducted with the facility’s staff members S2-S6 on 09/06/22. Staff members that were interviewed corroborated the center director’s statements regarding providing a safe sleep environment and visual supervision and observation but acknowledged that they were not consistently documenting the times of each 15-minute check during nap time and/or including their initials on the log after a check has been completed. The LPA asked staff members to describe the center’s infant sleep policies and practices. All staff members who were interviewed were able to provide a correct explanation of the infant safe sleep regulations to the LPA. The LPA discussed the safe sleep regulations with Director Pepper and discussed the Child Care Licensing Safe Sleep web page at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/public-information-and-resources/safe-sleep as an additional resource. LPA also informed Pepper of the importance of checking for recalled infant devices on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website at https://www.cpsc.gov/ and recommended the center register all infant devices with the CPSC to be notified of any recalls on their purchased equipment. During the LPA’s facility visits on 09/06/22, 10/07/22, and 10/26/22, the LPA observed that infant safe sleep practices were being followed at the center. No infants in the infant classroom were observed napping on the floor. The LPA inspected the infant napping area and infant cribs and did not observe any loose articles and objects such as blankets, pillows, or bumper pads in the cribs. Each crib was occupied by one infant at a time. Although the LPA was unable to corroborate that the facility did not provide a safe sleep environment for infants in care, the LPA was able to corroborate that the facility was not following Title 22 infant safe sleep regulations in its entirety. The facility was not properly documenting infant 15-minute nap checks by including the time of each 15-minute check and the initials of each staff person who conducted the check. Based on available information, the center director’s own admission, the LPA’s observations, and the information obtained from staff members, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D. An exit interview was conducted, and this report was read and discussed with the facility’s acting assistant director, Hannah Sumpter. Appeal rights were provided. The Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days.