In a bid to reduce cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, staff will ignore the wishes of parents who want their babies to sleep on their front or side, unless a valid medical reason is provided.
The most recent figures show 28 Queensland child deaths in 2015 were a result of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI), which includes SIDS.
That same year, 33 babies in NSW also died as a result of SUDI.
From 1989 to 2015, 4921 babies have died as a result of SUDI, although that rate has fallen by 80%.
The charity Red Nose, which aims to raise awareness of safe sleeping practices in order to prevent SIDS, came up with the guidelines.
They will be enforced from October 1 by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.
Parents who want staff to swaddle or wrap the arms of babies over three months old, or to wrap babies who are old enough to roll, will also be overruled unless they have a doctor's endorsement.
Always place baby on the back to sleep and not on the tummy or side. There is an increased risk of sudden unexpected death for babies when they sleep on their tummies and there is a danger of rolling to this position if they are slept on their sides.
It is important that babies are always placed on the back to sleep. Babies who are usually slept on the back and are placed on the tummy or side for the first time are at an increased risk of sudden unexpected death.
Once a baby has been observed to repeatedly roll from back to front and back again on their own for several weeks, they can be left to find their preferred sleep position (this is usually around 5-6 months).
At the critical time of starting to roll it is very important that the sleep environment remains safe
Babies that can roll should no longer be wrapped
Babies born preterm should be slept on the back as soon as they are medically stable (out of oxygen).
