2026 Minnesota Statutes

142I.18 INFANT SLEEP AND CRIB REQUIREMENTS.

Subdivision 1.Safety.

All caregivers must follow the crib safety requirements in section 142B.45 and the requirements to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant deaths in section 142B.46. During routine licensing inspections and when investigating complaints regarding alleged violations of this section, the commissioner must review the license holder's documentation required under section 142B.45.

Subd. 2.Monitoring sleeping newborns and infants.

(a) Caregivers must directly supervise newborns once they are placed in a crib or portable crib.

(b) License holders of programs that serve infants are encouraged to monitor sleeping infants by conducting in-person checks on each infant in the license holder's care every 30 minutes.

(c) Upon enrollment of an infant, the license holder is encouraged to conduct in-person checks on the sleeping infant every 15 minutes during the first four months of care.

(d) When an infant has an upper respiratory infection, the license holder is encouraged to conduct in-person checks on the sleeping infant every 15 minutes throughout the hours of sleep.

(e) Monitors may be used to supervise infants when the infants are sleeping. However, the use of monitors does not replace the in-person checks encouraged under paragraphs (b) to (d). When in use, monitors must meet the following conditions:

(1) the sound monitoring equipment must be able to pick up the sounds of all infants in the separate room;

(2) the receiver of the sound monitoring equipment must be actively monitored by the adult caregiver at all times; and

(3) sound monitoring equipment must be checked daily prior to use to ensure it is working correctly. If the sound equipment is not functioning, infants must sleep in the same room as the adult caregiver.

(f) If music or other sounds are played in the infant sleep area, the music or other sound equipment must not be played at a volume that would prevent infants from being heard by the adult caregiver. This paragraph applies to fans used to create sound.

History:

2013 c 108 art 3 s 18; 2024 c 80 art 2 s 62,74; 2024 c 115 art 16 s 41; 2026 c 127 art 13 s 19

NOTE: This chapter, as added by Laws 2026, chapter 127, article 13, sections 1 to 23, is effective July 1, 2027. Laws 2026, chapter 127, article 13, section 26.