Sydney childcare centre investigated after toddlers found with mouths taped shut during controversial activity

A Sydney childcare centre is under investigation after toddlers were found to have masking tape placed over their mouths during a so-called breathing exercise, an incident that has drawn swift condemnation from regulators and child safety experts.

The incident took place at Heritage House in Wahroonga, where an educator reportedly led a “baby yoga” session involving mouth taping to encourage nasal breathing and mindfulness.

The practice came to light after a prospective parent, who works in child protection, accessed the centre’s internal app and discovered a series of photos showing toddlers with their mouths taped shut.

“My toddlers started with 30-second tape mouth, look at them now. It is amazing, amazing,” the educator wrote alongside the images, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Described as a “unique lesson,” the yoga session was said to combine gentle poses, breathwork and “tape-mouth technique” to promote calmness and focus among children. But experts were far from impressed.

The mother immediately reported the incident to the centre and withdrew her child before he was due to start.

In response, Heritage House claimed the activity was a one-off and would not be repeated.

It was said that the session had been led by a qualified yoga instructor and initially received “positive feedback” from parents via the centre’s portal.

“We accept that the department issued a warning, and as a result, we took steps to ensure that the activity was not repeated,” the centre said in a statement, adding that it had self-reported the issue to the Department of Education.

A spokesperson for the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority confirmed that no children were physically harmed but labelled the mouth-taping practice “inappropriate” for any early learning environment.

The bizarre incident comes amid renewed scrutiny of the childcare sector, following the recent arrest of Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, who has been charged with more than 70 child abuse offences.

There is no suggestion that Brown has ever worked at Heritage House.

The use of mouth taping has gained popularity in recent years through social media wellness trends, with influencers claiming it improves sleep and breathing. However, experts warn the practice carries serious safety risks — especially for children —with potential for asphyxiation and no proven medical benefit.

Regulators say there is no place for such experimentation in childcare.