Napping Issues at Daycare

Please don't let the babysitter bully you into following her schedule. Whatever schedule is best for your child is what the babysitter needs to abide by. You are the employer and you set the rules! If she can't cooperate with you on this issue, what else is she doing that you don't agree with.

Most kids by that age only take one nap, although I think my son continued with two naps for a few months after that. However, if she is only getting one nap then usually it is best to have them in the afternoon. Having a schedule for a provider is important, however, I don't see how keeping her up during the morning nap and just putting her down in the afternoon for the second nap and perhaps letting her sleep a little longer than some of the other kids would be that big of a deal unless she just has things she does while they nap during the morning.....but as she gets older this will be a bigger and bigger issue, so she needs to adjust. If she is THAT resistant about something that would truly be of little inconvienence you might look elsewhere. I would have a heart to heart with her and find out what her resistance is and what your concern is. Like I said, most kids by this age only take one nap and they take it in the afternoon.

Your daughter is probally ready for one nap. I also run a home daycare and when the kids are ready I put them down for only one nap in the afternoon. Morning time is when we do all our activities so I am happy when they out grow the morning nap.
AS for following your wishes, it is not as easy as that. We have schedules we follow to help the day run smoothly. I watch children from 6 different families, just imagine how crazy it would be if I let every family make their own schedule! I try to work with the families as much as I can, but in the end is up to me because I am the one that is responsible for ALL the children in my care. Talk to your provider maybe you can come up with a solution together. I have one child that does not nap at all anymore. During nap time she does quiet activities on her cot, reading books, puzzles, coloring etc...

Cheryl

Dear Sara,

I just wanted to let you know that I am also a home daycare provider. I do have a routine. But as for a two year old taking two naps a day, that is insane. I agree with you that at her age it should be one nap in the afternoon. I have babies and older kids. I have a baby that takes a couple of naps during the day. All the other kids take a nap or quite time in the afternoon. Something that you should think about is that not every provider is right for every child and every child is not right for every provider. A provider may be better with a certain age group. Sometimes you need to evaluate the situation and decide if it is time to look for someone who is just fits yours and your childs needs. Like I said before, I do have a schedule, but I do also try to work with the parents. I have had only one issue with nap time and that is because the parent wants me to put the child down for a nap at 3:pm. I keep the child until 11:30pm. If I put the child down that late she doesn't go to sleep until her mom comes. She cries the whole night. I have had a talk with the mom and explained why I don't put her down that late. I also told her that maybe she should find a provider that accomadates her schedule. She is still here and we have agreed to put her to sleep at 2pm when the get here. I know that kind of messes up the other kids because they are just getting up from their naps. But it seems to be working out. I do think that you and the daycare provider should try and work things and find a compromise. If that can't work then give her a notice and find a new one. I hate to sound harsh when I say that but, it may be time to find a new provider. I would talk to her one more time. I don't see why your daughter can't read a book or watch a movie while the little ones are napping. Good luck.
B.

Sara,

I'm an in home daycare provider and I ALWAYS make sure the needs of the child/family comes first. She should really be working with you, not against you. If she is not or has not been receptive to your requests, I'd definitely be a bit concerned with her ability to care for your child! Good Luck!!

I am a co-teacher in a daycare center. I work Monday-Friday 9-6
and take care of 20 kids in my class and help out in all the other age groups as well. Your daycare provider has to follow your directions. Not the other way around. She should not be making your daughter follow that napping schedule. She should only be napping for 2 hours in the afternoon for her age. You should deffinately tell her again.

I am a lic provider..... my nap schedule is in the afternoon after lunch. I feel it is odd to have 2 scheduled nap times relatively close together. the little ones here, if they still take more than 1 nap, are on their own terms. I try, as they get older, to get them into the afternoon nap. at 2 yr old, they should just be on the afternoon one. depending of course, what time you get them up in the morning and drop off at daycare. I have a 18 mo.that if she comes at a 6:30 drop off, she is ready for a nap around 9 but isnt too willing to b in the afternoon nap time. so, bye the time pickup is here, she is exhausted. In my prof. opinion, if your provider is not willing to work with you regarding this, i would look for someone else. Parents and providers work side by side to nurture our/their children, it is so important to have an open communication and on the same page... for the 100% benefit of the child. Good luck

Hi!
Maybe you can ask the daycare provider to let her do "quiet" things while the other children nap in the morning. I also do home daycare and at 1 year of age I start to transition all my kids to 1 nap. I understand they all need to nap at the same time, but the older ones should just do the afternoon nap while the younger ones that need it do the 2 naps. I would not expect her to put her down right after lunch, but at 2:00 like everyone else naps. Maybe you can start just putting her down at 2:00 at home too so she gets used to it. In daycare you need to both be flexible to have the children all on the same schedule so the day runs smoothly--having everyone sleep at different times is unrealistic, but just adjusting to 1 nap on the providers time schedule should work!
Talk it over with her!
L.

That's a rough one because I can understand the daycare provider having her schedule but what it comes down to is you are the mom and you decided what is best for your child. She should really respect your wishes and if she doesn't I would consider finding someone who does. Our daycare provider is always very receptive when we ask about something or have a request. All in all if she isn't getting enough sleep it not only affects her but it affects you. Your schedule is important too!

I run a small daycare in home, I have my younger ones who nap when they get dropped off in the morning @ 6:00 a.m., my older one gets dropped off a bit later about 8:45, by 10:30 11:00 they are all exhusted, then they are all down for at least
2 hours, they older one who is one & half will nap about 3 hrs.
For the most part they are all napping at the same time. It IS NOT unrealistic for the daycare provider to expect them to all nap at or about the same time, there are things that need to be done while they are napping, lunches, etc... if they were in a Sandbox, or other type of daycare they all would go down at the sametime usauslly 2 hours.
Although I try my best to work with my parents, sometimes schedules can be messed up from the weekends and it makes it harder to get them back, usually about 2-3 days. It really is best to work together after all it is for the children. If she just refuses to work with you (I think at the age of 2 they should be down to 1 nap aday at least 2 hours) I would start to look else where.You have to also keep in mind a daycare provider with small kids around does need sometimes to regroup, you do not want anyone over stressed and with your child.
Wishing you the best, KRis

Both of my children go to daycare. When they were in the infant room, ages 3 months-14 months they are on their own schedule, but would usually do 2 naps per day. One in the early afternoon 10:30 and one in the late afternoon around 2:00 or so. Once they transition into the toddler room they go down to 1 nap. Nap time is from 12:30-3:00pm. It seems as though most of the kids nap the whole time. From what I have read that seems pretty normal for most children as they get older to go down to 1 long nap as opposed to 2 shorter naps. If I were you I would look for some articles to support that and give that to your daycare provider. They should be looking to do what is best for the child, not what is best for them.

I would insist that your provider stick w/ your schedule to keep consistency in your daughter's day with your home schedule. The parents I've worked with -- I stick w/ their naptimes and they also work with me with advising what helps to get them to nap or how to play with them, and we both try to incorporate what the child likes to do at home as well as here so it's not so disparaging how they spend their day and they have a predictable schedule here and there. You can gently insist with your provider the one afternoon nap (lack of sleep does affect a child's ability to learn, as they develop myelin and etc), and if she is unable to adjust, perhaps find new provider. Hard to do, I know, it's why I have my own home daycare here and will not take more than 4 kids -- I know my own limits in how much attention each child needs and how much I can give to the various age groups. Good luck to you. Being a provider is hard work and hard to juggle all children, but a parent should be able to expect their provider to work with the parents' schedule, not the other way around. Just my philosphy on it. :)

Being a daycare provider. The provider need to follow YOUR daughte's needs and your desires as her mom. there are too many great daycare people out there to keep this one if she will not listen to you. My daycare kids were 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 9 months, 2 and 2.5 and they all started with a nap at 9 ish, one kid went down at 10is and then most took a nap at 3 or 4 depending. I walways had a child up and now a year later no one takes monring naps and 3 out of 5 take a afternoon nap at 1 or 2 depending. I do not like daycare providers thinking they know what is best. They need to read your child and your concern.
Kids need their sleep to be not crabby, grow and cognitively develop. Some kids( and adults) need more sleep than others.
hope this helps?
B. B.
www.gottotsinc.com

Sara- I am a lic'd home daycare provider (Bright Kidz Daycare). Your daughter is at the age where she should be napping one time per day (in the afternoon). I do feel that your daycare provider should work with you on this and that she should not be having her nap in the a.m. The type of napping schedule that your provider is using is reserved for children under 1.5 years.

I have a good idea why she is doing this. Does she have an assistant? I would guess that she does not and therefore, is is much easier to handle her daycare by giving all the children the 2 naps per day regardless of their age.

Be blunt. Tell her what you want.

Good Luck!

I worked at a daycare facility in the 2 yr old room about 10 years ago. We put all of the kids down for a nap at the same time, after lunch. We had 15-20 children, so they had to nap at the same time or they wouldn't nap. One nap was it though. I now have 4 children and I babysit also. My youngest and two of the younger babies I take care of are on different napping schedules. I am at home, so I have the ability to nap them at different times, according to their parents wishes. They hardly ever all nap at the same time, but that's ok....my break comes when they are all sleeping for the night. One nap sounds perfect for a 2 year old. I just two months ago switched my 21 month old to one nap. SHe was not doing well with two naps anymore, the same as your child. It was too much of a battle, and we are ALL happier now! Talk to her again. If she won't comply, look into something else. Your child is the most important factor.

I would talk to her about putting your daughter down for one nap, in the afternoon. At her age, she is pretty much ready to be taking just one nap anyway.