Nap time troubles.

Kim - posted on 05/17/2011

Thank u all sooooo much!!! Everything was helpful! We are trying to make sure she has more play time. During the summer they have more outside activities and field trips so that should wear her down. They do give her chocolate milk every morning when she gets there so that may also be an issue. I usually give her water wit a lil bit of juice for flavor when she is home so i am suggesting that they do the same there. i am also looking for a diff daycare because this is not the only issue I have had and its seems that her daycare teacher always seems to find something wrong wit my child. She is 2 and they expect more out of her than what she can give. The nap thing is one and the other is toddler time at local library she is expected to act like the older children and that is impossible! Lol. Again ty to all of the wonderful mothers out there!!!! O and the daycare ladies who do a wonderful job and arent judgemental!

Sammie - posted on 05/09/2011

my little girl hardly naps and shes 7month she has 1/2 hour at the most after dinner where as my son is totally opposite he sleeps 4eva lol i would also look in2 changing your childcare hun if a child doesnt want to sleep then they wont i had to change my sons childcare because they used to give him dinner then put him down for his nap and leave him there until I picked him up which was like 4 sometimes 5 hours l8tr so basically I was paying for a hotel service rather than childcare service

Emma - posted on 05/08/2011

I asked my daycare about this the other day, since my almost 2yr old only goes 1 day a week.

The lady said to me 'some days she sleeps, others she wont, but they all have their days' Thing is, they're kids not machines to be shut down when ever we like (although it would be much easier somenights lol)

I agree with the enough play time question, if the kids are worn out they will sleep lol. Maybe have another look through her lunchbox and see if there might be something in there keeping her awake (anything sugary?) are they giving her water through the day or *just* flavoured milk or juice? Have they tried things like a clean bum (if shes not toilet trained yet) before putting her down for a sleep?

Hope something here helps :)

Stifler's - posted on 05/07/2011

My mum reckons none of us napped after 1. I think they need to get over it and not try to make her have a nap.

Debra - posted on 05/06/2011

I worked in child care for 7 years and no we never forced a child to take a nap. If they didn't sleep that was fine they just had to lay quietly and not disturb the other kids. That said, all my kids would go to sleep. Are they actually trying to get her to sleep? I had certain kids that would crash out but I had to pat their back, I would talk to the director to make sure they aren't just telling the kids to lay down and go to sleep and then getting upset when they don't sleep. If the teacher doesn't have suggestions the director should. They deal with lots of kids and one difficult napper shouldn't have them freaking out.

Briar - posted on 05/05/2011

Hi yay, i am a daycare teacher and i have found it helps when the child has there own blanket and pillow and even a soft toy from home to help them settle it doesnt always work, but kids like to show off their things to friends and staff and it might get your lil girl just to go in the room and settle in with out fusing. i hope it helps, good luck

Ginny - posted on 05/04/2011

I worked at a day care before and if the child really wouldn't nap then we never made it a big deal. I really think they're being crazy about making your child nap. If a child didn't nap, we simply just gave them a book, a quite toy, or if they were fine with just relaxing they would do that. Sometimes I even let the child come sit with me at the table while I prepared for the next day and they would color. I'd maybe look elsewhere...hope everything works out, good luck!

Hannah - posted on 05/04/2011

I second what Theresa said - a daycare with MANDATORY nap time? and one that isn't working WITH you? this doesn't sound like a good "coparenting relationship". Remember, you are essentially coparenting with your daycare. You want them to support you, and you to support them.

And my son has gone through three day cares and 1 preschool, all of which offer either nap time, or quiet time (reading books, drawing, etc.)

Age 2 is about the time that some children start to give up naps as well, which has me equally confused as to the mandatory nap status.

One trick I use with my son a lot is, "Do you want to lay on your bed with your eyes open, or closed?". We have a timer and I set it for 45 minutes. 9 times out of 10 he is sound asleep in under 5 minutes. but the rare time he stays awake, I figure 45 minutes of quiet resting is enough. My son likes having the option to keep his eyes open (no power struggle about going to sleep) and he also likes knowing he can get up after a bit too.

Theresa - posted on 05/04/2011

I'd maybe check into a different daycare. i think that's ridiculous to MAKE her nap. Like I said some kids just don't need them. What do they do for older kids. Are all kids expected to nap, or is she just with kids her age?

Kim - posted on 05/04/2011

Well the daycare makes it mandatory for her to take a nap and doesn't give her the option of quiet time. i really wish she would because that would make life so much easier!

Theresa - posted on 05/04/2011

Some kids just do not need naps. My daughter gave up naps just before she turned 2. Every once in awhile she'll take one, but most of the time she doesn't. She's not crabby when she doesn't or really tired at night. She's fine without them. Maybe your daughter is like that. Why doesn't the daycare just have quiet time for her. She can watch a movie or look at books quietly.

Kim - posted on 05/04/2011

Well she has nap time designated btw the hours of 12:30 to like 2:30 or 3. If she doesnt go to sleep then its like o well and if she falls asleep at 30 min before nap time is over, the daycare wakes her up. I have some issues at home with naps but i let her sleep til she gets up and she still goes to sleep at her reg bedtime even if eh wakes up at 4! I dunno exactly what they r doing. My parents pick her up in the evenings because i get off late so they relay everything back to me. I am talking to her first thing in the morning so we can get this handled properly. I just dont know what to do to transition nap time easier.

Steffanie - posted on 05/04/2011

Are you making sure to get enough play in? And, your daycare works for you, they should be coming up with ideas. Also, how long are they trying for? Are they just giving up right away?