California Code § 102425(b): Safe Sleep Environment

California regulation 102425(b) requires that all cribs and play yards used for infant sleep be completely free from loose articles and objects. This means no blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads, or any other items that could pose a suffocation risk. The sleep surface must contain only a fitted sheet over a firm mattress - nothing else. This is a critical safe sleep requirement designed to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-related deaths in childcare settings.

As of November 23, 2025, 27 facilities have been cited for this violation across 12 counties in California. This represents approximately 0.36% of inspected facilities, or about 1 in every 280 facilities. The citations are geographically distributed, with Santa Clara (5 facilities), Riverside (5 facilities), and Los Angeles (4 facilities) counties showing the highest numbers. While this may seem like a small percentage, safe sleep violations are taken extremely seriously due to the life-threatening risks they pose to infants.

Inspectors cite this regulation when they observe any loose items in cribs or play yards during nap time or sleep periods. Common violations include: blankets or quilts placed over sleeping infants, positioning pillows or sleep wedges in cribs, stuffed animals or comfort toys left in sleep spaces, bumper pads or crib liners attached to railings, or bottles propped in cribs. Even seemingly harmless items like small toys, books, or extra clothing left in the crib during sleep time can trigger this citation. Inspectors are specifically trained to look for any objects that could obstruct an infant's airway or create an unsafe sleep environment.

Implement a strict 'bare is best' sleep policy for all infants. Before placing any infant in a crib or play yard for sleep, do a visual sweep to ensure the space contains only a firm mattress with a tightly fitted sheet - absolutely nothing else. Train all staff on safe sleep practices and the specific prohibition against loose items. Create a pre-nap checklist that staff must complete before sleep time. Walk your infant sleep areas regularly during nap periods to verify compliance. If parents request blankets or comfort items, politely explain California's safe sleep requirements and document your explanation. Consider posting safe sleep reminders near each crib as visual cues for staff.

Immediately remove all loose articles from every crib and play yard in your facility. Document this action with photos showing bare cribs with only fitted sheets. Conduct emergency staff training on regulation 102425(b) and safe sleep practices within 24-48 hours. Review and update your written safe sleep policies to explicitly prohibit loose items. Implement a daily inspection checklist for infant sleep areas. Submit your Plan of Correction to the licensing analyst within the required timeframe (typically 30 days), including evidence of staff training, policy updates, and your new inspection procedures. Consider scheduling a follow-up consultation with your licensing office to ensure your corrective actions meet their standards, as safe sleep violations often receive closer scrutiny in subsequent visits.