Little to no nap for 2 year old

[Dreamalittledream]

Need advice on a just turned 2 year old that will nap max. 1 hour/day, but most times not at all. I've adjusted her nap room to her routine at home (white noise, room darkened, warmed bottle). I asked parents if this is the norm for her (I've had her for a month) & it is...if she naps at all on wknds at home (busy family, lots going on on wknds). They said that she does go to bed @ 6pm most days (is up @7am & dropped off about 8:15am to me). No wonder she doesn't want to nap! She does not play alone well, so I cannot just sit her down with books etc. It's exhausting me on the no nap days. Not only do I not get downtime but the tasks I would get done are now delayed to after hours. Any advice? I would add that even on no nap days she is mostly a happy, well-mannered little girl.

[sunnydays]

I would tell the parents that naps are a requirement (at least quiet time in the playpen), so if they could move her bedtime up an hour or so that would be great. 6pm! Really?! That is crazy! They barely see her at all! And then, I would let her cry it out until she understands that there is no getting out of naps. I have a couple who don't nap well at home, but they do for me because I don't give them a choice...their parents are jealous as they would love them to nap more, but they struggle. I just keep going back and lying them down if they wake up early...gradually they get it and sleep longer and longer. I could not do this job without naptime!

[Cadillac]

I agree with kangoroomama. Just got a 11 month old who doesn't sleep well for mom at home all the time. She ends up having 3 naps a day there. but I have her here for her first full day. She dried for about 10 minutes or so but is now still sleeping (about 2 hrs now). She won't need her third nap.

Parents need to move the bed time just so they can have some time with her anyways.

My advice would be to have a nap time count down. 15 minutes, 10 min, 5 min, nap time! when she wakes up it is quite time for one more hour. If she is continuously on you i would put her in a playpen with some toys. eventually she'll get the point and you'll be able to have your break. The key is consistency: even if she puts up a fuss for days or even a couple weeks. she WILL eventually settle into your routine.

[Sandbox Sally]

Yes, naps are a must here too. I would talk to the parents about her bedtime.

[jec]

Nap time is your break and you deserve it to get yourself rested for the second part of your day. I have a little guy who only sleeps one hour some times. This little one came to me and only ever cat napped with his parents for 20 min at most and that was on a good day. I will give this little one about 10 minutes after he wakes up from his hour nap, to see if he will fall back asleep and if he does ~ great! If not, I will get him up as I had my break.

For those days that this little one that your talking about chooses to not to nap, she will learn to have quiet time in her fold and play. I agree with flexfuncare ~ the key is consistency and she will get used to your routine. Depending upon the rest of your daycare kids and set up of your daycare, you may need to separate her from the group that sleeps and have some white noise for your good sleepers when she gets up.

[Momof4]

Ditto to all the above! My oldest grandson stopped napping at age 1 and he was in a daycare centre so you can bet he had to lay on his cot for the entire quiet time with all the other children. That's what my contract states too, that quiet time/naptime is for all children to rest their bodies and their minds. And I'm honest with parents at the interview that I need that break because I have a lot of work still to do even after the children leave.

I do know some daycare providers who set up a movie or quiet activities for older children who have outgrown their nap but that would be hard to do for a 2 year old so if I were in your shoes I'd give her a few books and quiet toys and make sure she learns that she must stay quiet for her friends.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup quiet time after lunch is not 'optional' here ... we work a 10 plus hour day we NEED a break too and children NEED to rest and fall asleep if needed. If a client were to tell me they do not want their child to 'rest' in my program than I woujld tell them they have outgrown my program - cause even my son when he was younger rested during quiet time - he would lay down in his room and read or do crosswords and just regroup!

IMO at two years of age they are perfectly capable of 'resting quietly' on their cot/playpen for an hour ... if after an hour children have not fallen asleep here or have slept and are now awake I allow them to get up and engage in quiet activities while anyone else is still napping - but if you are not QUIET you go back onto your cot and your hour is not up until you've RESTED QUIET or nap time is over for everyone else ;)