California Code § 102425(j)(1): 15-Minute Infant Checks

📋Type B Violation🏢Affects: Family Child Care Homes

What Is California Code § 102425(j)(1): 15-Minute Infant Checks?

California Code § 102425(j)(1)

The provider shall physically check on sleeping infants every 15 minutes.

💡Insider's Tips

The 15-minute check isn't just peeking through a doorway. Inspectors expect you to be close enough to observe the infant's skin color and breathing pattern. During licensing visits, they time the gap between your checks, so if you're chatting with a parent at the front door for 20 minutes while infants sleep in the back room, that's a citation. Some inspectors will sit quietly in the infant area and watch whether staff actually approach each crib or just do a quick scan from across the room. Assign one specific person per shift to infant sleep checks and use a timer on your phone so nothing slips.

19
facilities cited recently
That's 1 in 2000 facilities
11
counties affected
17
most common citation
📉
Decreasing
Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days
19 facilities (was 35)16 facilities

Source: California CCLD inspection records | Data: last 90 days as of Feb 16, 2026

How to Avoid 15-Minute Infant Checks Citations

✓ Prevention Checklist

❌ Common Mistakes

  • Doing visual checks from the doorway instead of approaching each crib individually. Inspectors define 'physically check' as being close enough to observe breathing and skin color, not a glance from six feet away.
  • Relying on audio or video monitors as a substitute for in-person checks. Technology supplements the 15-minute physical checks but never replaces them. Inspectors cite providers who reference camera feeds instead of performing hands-on rounds.
  • Letting the 15-minute interval slide to 18 or 20 minutes during busy transitions like pickup time. Inspectors know transition periods are when checks get skipped, and they specifically observe during these windows.
  • Failing to check infants who fall asleep outside of scheduled nap time. The regulation applies whenever any infant is sleeping, not just during designated nap periods. An infant who dozes off in a bouncer still requires documented 15-minute checks.

What's Being Cited in Each Region Over the Past 90 Days

Based on facility inspection reports filed with California's Community Care Licensing Division, here's how this citation appears across different regions in the past 90 days.

Los Angeles County

5 citations

San Joaquin County

3 citations

Riverside County

2 citations

Santa Barbara County

2 citations

Glenn County

1 citations

Orange County

1 citations

Solano County

1 citations

Alameda County

1 citations

San Diego County

1 citations

San Mateo County

1 citations

Data updated weekly from CCLD public records. Last update: 2/16/2026

See California Code § 102425(j)(1): 15-Minute Infant Checks Citations in Your County

📊 Free County Intel

  • ✓ County-wide citation rates
  • ✓ Day-of-week patterns
  • ✓ Anonymous facility examples
  • ✓ Prevention checklists
⭐ PRO

Your Facility Intel

  • 🎯 YOUR days overdue + risk score
  • 📍 Named facilities near you cited
  • 🚨 Hot zone alerts for your area
  • ⚠️ Personalized action plan

Join providers across California who prepare with intelligence, not anxiety.

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. We never sell your data.

Privacy & your rights

• Weekly daycare compliance updates only

• Update preferences or delete data anytime

• California residents have additional CCPA rights

• Secure data handling & no third-party sharing

No credit card • Cancel anytime • Real patterns from real inspections

Want YOUR facility's risk score? Upgrade to Pro ($9.99/mo)

💡

This Checklist Is Generic. Your Situation Isn't.

FREE members see county-wide patterns. Pro members get their exact risk factors.

Pro members would see:

  • 🎯 "YOUR facility: 551 days overdue (longer than 0% of similar facilities)"
  • 🚨 "HOT ZONE: 13 nearby facilities visited LAST WEEK"
  • ⚠️ "URGENT: Prepare for inspection THIS WEEK (3 active risk factors)"
  • 📍 "48 overdue facilities in 3-mile radius (cluster risk)"
Get YOUR Facility Risk Score - $9.99/mo

Not ready? Get free county intel instead

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 15-Minute Infant Checks?
California Code 102425(j)(1) requires providers to physically check on every sleeping infant at least once every 15 minutes. A physical check means being close enough to each crib to observe the infant's breathing pattern and skin color. This isn't a glance from the doorway or a peek at a video monitor. For your facility, this means assigning dedicated staff to perform timed rounds whenever any infant is asleep, including babies who doze off outside of scheduled nap time.
How common is this citation?
According to California CCLD inspection records as of February 08, 2026, 26 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 10 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 1,538 inspected facilities. Los Angeles accounts for 6 of those citations, with Riverside close behind at 5. San Diego, San Mateo, and Orange each had 3 citations. Inspectors pay close attention to infant sleep safety, and this citation carries significant weight given the life-safety implications.
What triggers this citation during an inspection?
Inspectors time the gap between your checks during their visit. They may sit quietly in the infant area and watch whether staff actually approach each crib or just scan from across the room. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, the most common triggers are visual-only checks from the doorway, relying on audio or video monitors instead of in-person rounds, and letting checks slide past 15 minutes during busy transitions like parent pickup. An infant who falls asleep in a bouncer outside nap time still requires the same documented 15-minute cycle.
How can I prevent this citation?
Assign one specific person per shift to infant sleep checks and set a repeating 15-minute timer on their phone. That person should walk to each crib, observe the infant closely enough to confirm breathing and normal skin color, then immediately record the check. During transitions like pickup or mealtime, make sure the designated checker stays on schedule. Audio and video monitors are fine as extras but never replace the physical round.
What should I do if I receive this citation?
Implement a written infant sleep check policy immediately if you don't have one, or revise it if your current policy wasn't being followed. Assign named staff members to each check rotation and post the schedule in the sleep area. Start using timed check logs that require the actual time and staff initials at each crib. Include this corrected procedure in your Plan of Correction with specific staff training dates. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

Related Violations

This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed childcare compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.