Child Care Advise

Your lucky your boy sleeps that much. My son is almost 1 and has already stopped napping. He only takes about a 30 minute nap during the day. Maybe it is better that you look somewhere else for a child care. Most places know that every child is different and not all will nap at the same time.

Hi there, i don't want to sound rude, but your sitter is crazy. Every kid is different and they all have different sleeping patterns. My daughter took two two hour naps a day until she was 2, she never went to that 2 hour afternoon nap that a lot of kids do.....so don't let her make you worry about your little one. So he doesn't need that much sleep. As long as he does take at least one nap and its for an hour or so then that is all his body is telling him he needs. Trust your instincts, and your little guy, and find a new sitter!

It sounds to me like you needed to find a new sitter anyway. Every child is different. Some need more sleep and some need less. My 7 month old doesn't nap more than 30 minutes twice a day (if I'm lucky) on most days. Other children need two two hour naps a day and some only need one one hour nap. If your sitter can't understand that, then she is in the wrong business. I wouldn't worry about his sleeping or lack of being a problem at the church daycare. Anyone in childcare should already know that not all kids sleep the same.

my son doesnt take naps at all! when they get older they dont sleep as much durung the day! it sounds like the sitter just wanted a longer break or something!

Your babysitter is an idiot, no offense. MANY 2 year olds do not sleep exactly 2 hours at nap time and no day care facility would force a child to do that or turn the child away from their care because of it. They simply allow then to color or look at books quietly while the other children sleep. Makes you wonder what your sitter is doing while the children are napping that she is so bothered by the "inconvenience" of your child waking ahead of schedule....

My daughter just turned 4 years old and also does not take the full 2 hour nap that is scheduled at her preschool. They do not force her to sleep but they do make her lay down and rest quietly if she's not sleeping so she doesn't disturb the other kids. She doesn't give them any problems but I know with other kids in her class, if they disturb the other kids during nap time then after nap time they are not allowed to participate in the class activity (usually some sort of craft). Your babysitter might be more strict about it because she's watching him at her home (and possibly she has no help and needs quiet time herself?). I believe all daycares have the same rule for nap time (if no sleep you have to rest quietly) but I'm not sure. Hope that helps!

Hi M..
Although i never had that problem with my daughter who is now 6 years old, i do not believe it is appropriate for any daycare to turn away a child just because he doesn't take the required nap time hours.
No child is the same as the next, that's why we are human beings. I think you should voice your concerns to the director and explain to her that that is inappropraite.
If a child takes less nap, all they should do is just make the child lay down quietly until nap time is over.
Ask the daycare if he disrupts the other kids when he awakes and if not there is no reason to turn away your boy.
If you are in the Apopka area, there is a very good daycare- Learning Tree Academy. It is a very good daycare and run more like a school as far as their academic rules. My daughter went there for about a year (since we moved here a year ago) and her reading and math level is above grade level, she is only in kindergaten.
Let me know if you need more information on the daycare
Good Luck.
K.

I have a 3 year old little boy, who on most days takes no nap, but when he goes to the church day-care he sleeps with all the rest of the kids.Go figure! :) Your sitter needs to realize that all kids are different! I have been a nanny, day-care worker, preschool teacher and I just adjusted to the kids. I had some that would sleep maybe 15 min. and others that slept for 3-4 hours in the afternoon. Everyone is different. Tell you sitter to get over it!

Hi, that is just CRAZY. It sounds to me like your sitter has something else to do in the 2 hours that the children are napping. My daughter doesn't nap as long as the other kids - never has. And as everyone has said, all children are different. Be glad that you're able to take your little boy somewhere else. Good Luck and please, don't worry about what your current sitter says!

Hi , my daugther will be 3 in december and she don't take naps during the day, but she will go to bed at like 9pm and sleep until 8am.
She is fine without a nap.

Hi M.

I suggest to change baby sitter, Not all kids sleep that much. My daughter is 2 1/2 and is really rare when she takes naps. She's also really active, When we spend the day playing outside and riding her bike even just for an hour, I just gave her a bath and she will sleep for about 2 hrs tops. When you have kids that active, somehow you have to burn that energy, for them to take a nap that long. Find a place that give him all kinds of activities even 30 playtime outside. Also you should tell them ahead of time, so they know how to burn his energy. Hopefully between you and the new place can find a half way point on this situation. But Don't feel along, we're giving you company.

Good luck on your search!!

Regards,
M.

Hi M.,

I have a daughter that turned three in July who stopped the two naps a day at 12 months and stopped napping everyday at 2 1/2. My husband and I had the worst time with her from the time she was born until she was two years old with sleeping at night. She has never (ever) slept what is considered to be the norm for infants/toddlers. She has an over abundant amount of energy too. I wish I had a fraction of it! She is in preschool now and they have rest time from 12:30-1:30. She lies on her mat with her blanket and pillow and will either rest or usually she will fall asleep. She sleeps about 8-10 hours each night. If your son is eating enough and he sleeps at night I would not worry too much about his naps. Your sitter seems to want her free time while he is sleeping. I understand needing that time, but you are paying her to watch your son. Good luck!!

R.

Hi M.,
Childcare is such a pain isn't it? My little one's younger than yours, but we have the same issue. My daughter is almost 8 months old, and she'll only sleep for 20-30 minutes at a time. Sometimes, if I hold her she'll sleep for an hour or an hour and a half. But, rarely more than that. Our sitter makes the same comments, and I'm not sure how long she'll keep taking my daughter. I kind of get the feeling she wants her to sleep so she can get a break. Not the best thing in my opinion. My daughter gets most of her sleeping done at night. She'll sleep from 8:30 to 7:30, and then usually takes a nap when I get her home from daycare. Anyway, just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I think as long as they're happy and healthy, they don't need those long naps.

Hi M.

All children are different i have been a sitter/nanny for a long time and never heard of 2 children that are exactly alike. That makes no sense, if you are uncomfortable with daycare i am currently available.

M.,

That woman is not worth your time or your child's time. That is not true. It sounds like she wants to make easy money. Drop her and find someone who cares about your child. Most kids only sleep around what your child does during naps and a lot of day care people will wake them up even if they want to sleep longer because they want them to be able to go to bed at night when you get them. They need active play and other activities that will stimulate their need to learn and grow into a healthy person. There is nothing wrong with your child.

Hi M.,
I'm not sure where your sitter is coming from...but I have a 2 year old daughter. She can sleep anywhere from 45 mintues to 2 1/2 hours for a nap. It all depends on the day. I don't think nap time should be a reason she can't watch him anymore, but that is just my opinion.
S.

Well, first off, let me tell you that my daughter will be 3 next month and for almost a year, she generally takes a nap that is only 1 - 1½ hours as well. And there are days where she doesn't nap at all. It is hard to tell a parent that their child should be sleeping a certain amount of time. Each child is different. It almost sounds like the sitter wants time to herself. But that is what being a sitter is - caring for children the entire time they are there. I really don't see that a church daycare would give you a problem about your son only sleeping the amount that he does. Hope this puts you at ease a bit.

Take care,
G.

I am so sorry. Child care is stressful all around.
Just remember: EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT!

Children not necessary sleep 1-2 sleep that long, you should be happy that she told you that because of that, she cant take care of your little treasure. She might not have the patience to take care of him and its best that she doent take care of him under those circumstances. There is a great childcare place in pembroke pines is called Nob-hill academy.

Hi M.
I think its time to change your childcare provider. My name is Jeanette and I have a home daycare in the East Orlando area I have my CDA and have been teaching for over 8 yrs ages ranging from 6wks to 12 yrs I also was an Asst Director of a very large Childcare Center my fees are very affordable and flexible I am a mother of three children their ages are 18, 16 and 4 also a grandmother of 2 twin boys. Meals are included I also do a Parents Night Out every 2nd Friday of the month from 6:30 to 11pm that is separate from the childcare services. If you are interested please email me at ____@____.com and I can give you my number so we can talk further or make an appointment.

Sincerely:
Jeanette

I have never heard that before! I know many children around your childs age that don't even nap daily. I'm sure you won't have this issue with a day care facility.

Hey there M.,
Get rid of the sitter. That is horrible for her to even say. You are paying her to watch your child whether he is sleeping or awake. She sounds a little weird to me. The church day care will certainly not have a problem with your little ones nap schedule.

I am at home all day in South Miami with my two little ones if you need anything.

L.

M.,

I think the best thing for you and your child is a new sitter. I dont think that his 1 to 1 1/2 hour nap is going to bother a true child care professional. They will know that all children are different, and some dont require as much sleep as others. My 2 and half year old daughter takes about an hour and a half to an hour and forty five minute nap. Somedays more or less. I think it is ridiculous that your current sitter even said this to you. Good luck with the church daycare.

Amanda

M.,

Tell the sitter to jump in a lake!!!! All kids are different. I have one son, at 24, who still needs 10 hours of sleep a night, or a nap during the day. The other one, BEFORE he was a year old, had to be pushed to sleep 8 hours a night, and took absolutely NO NAPS!!! He is a perfectly healthy 20 year old now.

As long as your son eats properly, and most of all, is healthy, he is not the one with the problem, the sitter is. Sounds like she just wants to watch soaps and talk shows in the afternoon.

Hi M. I have worked in child care centers before and yes they do have them nape for about two hours after lunch. It depends on the center on how they will handle him not napping, the center I worked for would continue to put the child who wouldn't sleep back on the mat if they tried to get up to play. If your little guy is very active and not a napper I would be very pickey about the center you let watch him, you should find a center that will let him look at books while he is awake. You should find a relaxed day care center.

Hope this helps you with your finding a center, sounds like you need to look for a patient nanny who is not so stuck on scedules.

B.

A close girlfriend of mine also has a 2yr old little boy who doesn't take very long naps. She has him at a church school who takes children from 1 year. The school loves him and has no problem at all with his sleeping habits or lack of.

Hello M.,

You are not alone. Both of my daughters, stopped taking naps around the age of 2. And if you were able to get them to take a nap it was usually only for about 30 minutes. If she feels this way, maybe it would be better to look elsewhere for childcare. Have you ever looked on craigslist.org? If I was in your area, maybe I could assist you.

Take Care,

J. W.

I just wanted to let you know that your son is completely normal. I have twin 2 year old girls and I would love for them to sleep for 30min. I have worked in day care for years and every child is different some need more sleep than others. So relax and don't worry =)

Well, having experience with my two kids, I think there' s not any problem with your kid is just that every kids is different, my 2 years old is the same thing, he is so hiper that he don't want to sleep more than 1 h or 2 so don't worry to much about this maybe the problem really exist in that particular daycare, so there is so many options out there, and remember they have the TERRIBLE TWO years old, so don't worry to much, they are going to change eventually, Good Luck.
B. Lubian.

My son when he was younger and in daycare he never slept and that was never a problem , but then again it was in miami and his teachers had patience. If you live in the PSL area close by the turnpike and in need of a sitter , I am available , you can contact me via email ____@____.com .