Sleep and settling model of care

Sleep and settling concerns are common issues affecting families with children aged from birth to school age. Recognising the importance of sleep for a child's long-term development and for the wellbeing of families, the Victorian Government is making significant investments to provide additional support for Victorian families through the More help for new Victorian mums and dads' initiative.

To support parents and caregivers, the department developed an evidenced-informed sleep and settling model of care (the model).

This document provides guidance to Maternal Child Health (MCH) services and nurses on the application of the model of care including informing practice changes and highlighting available supports to assist with implementation.

The model should be read in conjunction with the MCH Service Guidelines (2019, reissued 2021) and the MCH Program Standards (2011, reissued 2019).

The sleep and settling information provided in the model replaces the sleep interventions in the MCH Practice Guidelines (2009, reissued 2019).