A day in the life: routines, sleep, nappies and screen time
An hour-by-hour picture of a long day care day, plus how sleep, rest, nappies and screens are handled.
🏡 Family life & routines · 6 min read
Key facts
- Educators follow safe sleep practice: babies placed on their back, in their own cot, face uncovered, with regular documented checks.
- Children who no longer sleep are offered quiet rest and relaxation, never forced to sleep.
- Nappies are changed on a routine schedule and whenever needed, and each change is recorded.
- Meraki centres are screen-light: technology is used purposefully, not as entertainment or a time filler.
A typical day at Meraki
- 6:30am – doors open, quiet experiences, breakfast served
- 8:00am – outdoor play while the morning is cool
- 9:30am – morning tea, then intentional teaching and group time
- 10:30am – indoor/outdoor program, projects, art, sensory and literacy experiences
- 12:00pm – hot lunch prepared on site by our chef
- 12:45pm – sleep, rest and relaxation for those who need it; quiet experiences for those who do not
- 2:30pm – afternoon tea, then back outside
- 4:30pm – late snack, family-style experiences and settling for pick-up
- 6:30pm – centre closes
Sleep and rest
Sleep follows national safe sleep guidance and Red Nose recommendations. Babies sleep on their back in their own cot with a firm, well-fitting mattress and no loose bedding, and educators complete and record regular physical checks.
Older children who have outgrown a day sleep are never made to lie down for long stretches. They are offered a genuine rest period with books, puzzles, music or quiet drawing. If your child's sleep pattern changes, tell us — we will adjust the routine rather than fight it.
Nappies and toilet training
Nappies and wipes are supplied and included in the daily fee. Changes happen on a routine schedule and whenever a child needs one, and each change is logged so you can see it in your daily updates.
Toilet training is led by your child's readiness, not their age, and it works best when home and the centre run the same approach. Let your room leader know when you are ready to start and they will build it into the daily rhythm with plenty of spare clothes and no shame about accidents.
Outdoor play and screens
Children spend a large part of the day outdoors, in line with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework's emphasis on active, nature-based play. Screens are not used as entertainment. Technology appears occasionally and purposefully — looking up a bird the children found, recording their own voices, or documenting a project.
Frequently asked questions
Will my baby's home sleep and feed routine be followed at childcare?+
Yes. For babies we follow your individual routine as closely as possible and record sleeps, bottles, meals and nappy changes so you can see the day at a glance. Routines are reviewed with you as your baby grows.
Are children forced to sleep during rest time?+
No. Children are never made to sleep. Those who no longer nap are offered quiet rest and calm experiences instead, which meets the regulatory requirement to provide opportunities for sleep, rest and relaxation.
Do I need to supply nappies?+
No. Nappies, wipes and SPF 50+ sunscreen are supplied and included in the daily fee at both Meraki centres. You just need spare clothes, a hat and a water bottle.
How much screen time do children get?+
Very little. Screens are not used for entertainment. Technology is only used with purpose, such as researching a question the children have asked or documenting their learning.
Keep reading
Settling your child into childcare: a week-by-week guide
Orientation, drop-off tears and the four-week rhythm most children settle into — plus what to do when it takes longer.
What to pack for childcare (and what to leave at home)
A room-by-room packing checklist, what Meraki already supplies, and the items best left at home.
Want to talk it through in person?
Book a tour of our Bayswater or Mooroolbark centre and ask us anything.