24-hour childcare operators told to manage shifts to prevent carer fatigue
Operators should avoid assigning staff who worked elsewhere during the day to night shifts, as fatigue can impair their judgment when caring for babies and children.
KUALA LUMPUR - Childcare centre operators, especially those running 24-hour centres, have been urged to manage shifts properly to ensure carers get adequate rest and maintain the quality of care for babies and children.
Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia (PPBM) president Norsheila Abdullah said the measure is vital to prevent carer fatigue that could lead to neglect or incidents.
"For 24-hour services, operators cannot have the same staff working the entire shift. Shifts must be clearly allocated, and baby areas kept safe,” speaking on Bernama TV’s Apa Khabar Malaysia today in the segment ‘Isu Dera Bayi di Taska: Antara Kepercayaan dan Keselamatan’ (Baby Abuse in Childcare: Between Trust and Safety).
She added that operators should avoid assigning staff who worked elsewhere during the day to night shifts, as fatigue can impair their judgment when caring for babies and children.
Norsheila said childcare operators must take full responsibility for enforcing all SOPs and ensure carers maintain strong work ethics and patience, even when well-trained.
"Even if carers have completed the PERMATA Childcare Course (KAP), problems arise if they lack the right attitude, work ethic, and sense of responsibility. Those caring for babies need experience and, crucially, must not sleep while the babies are asleep during their shift,” she said.
She also advised parents to be proactive, not just focus on price when choosing a childcare centre, but to visit in person to assess the environment and how carers interact with children.
Norsheila said all registered childcare centres now display a plaque with a QR code that, when scanned, reveals the operator’s details and the carer-to-child ratio.
"Parents should also check the children’s daily logbook. It helps them keep track of their child’s activities and lets operators know that parents are attentive to the quality of care," she added.
Recently, a four-month-old boy was found unconscious at a childcare centre within Seberang Jaya Hospital and later pronounced dead while receiving treatment. - BERNAMA
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