California Code § 102425(c): Individual Infant Sleep Plans

This regulation requires you to complete a specific state form (LIC 9227) for every baby under 12 months old in your care, documenting their individual sleep plan and safe sleep practices. This isn't a generic 'we follow safe sleep' statement - it's a personalized plan for each infant that addresses their specific developmental stage, any medical considerations, and coordination with parents about sleep preferences within safe sleep guidelines. The completed form must be kept in each infant's file at your facility.

As of November 23, 2025, 34 facilities have been cited for missing individual infant sleep plans in the past 90 days. This represents approximately 1 in 1,176 California childcare facilities (0.45% of the 7,551 facilities inspected). Citations occurred across 13 counties, with Riverside County having the most at 8 citations, Los Angeles County with 6, Santa Barbara County with 5, San Diego County with 4, and San Bernardino County with 2.

Inspectors check infant files during visits and cite immediately when the LIC 9227 form is missing or incomplete. Common violations include not having the form at all, having a generic form instead of individualized plans for each baby, forgetting to update the form as infants grow past 12 months, or having unsigned forms. Some providers think verbal agreements with parents about sleep are enough, but the state requires the specific written documentation on the official form. Even if you're following perfect safe sleep practices, you'll be cited if the paperwork isn't in the file.

Download form LIC 9227 from the California Department of Social Services website and make it a required part of your infant enrollment packet. Complete the form with parents during intake, discussing safe sleep practices and their baby's specific needs. File it immediately in the infant's folder in a section clearly labeled 'Sleep Plan' so inspectors can find it easily. Set a reminder to review and update the form every 3 months or when sleep patterns change significantly. When a baby turns 12 months, note on the form that they've aged out of the infant sleep plan requirement. Keep blank forms on hand so you're never caught without one when enrolling a new infant.

Immediately complete LIC 9227 forms for every infant currently in your care under 12 months. Contact parents to review and sign the forms, explaining this is a state requirement you're correcting. Organize your files so each infant has their sleep plan in an obvious location. Create a new enrollment procedure that includes the sleep plan form as a mandatory item before an infant's first day. In your Plan of Correction, include copies of completed forms (with personal info redacted) showing you now have plans for all current infants, and explain your new system for ensuring all future infants will have forms completed at intake. Document how you'll track when infants age out of the requirement at 12 months.