Re: Naps

The post below got me thinking. I too would like to get my 8mo old on the "same" schedule as the other children but I have a little delimma...

Mom normally drops off baby between 7:30-8:00 (she's on a two day a week right now) When she arrives baby's next nap is so varied! mom will say "oh baby woke up at 5:30am today" or "baby woke up at 7:30" so that changes her next nap time!

This mom starts the day whenever the baby wakes up, gives her breakfast and plays etc. So if it's 4am or 8am no difference to her. Her bedtime I know is between 8 & 8:30 each night (mom said so).

How do I keep her on a routine if baby is waking up at random times each morning?

If the baby is waking up earlier in the morning is she falling asleep at your house so you need to put her down? or is mom telling you that baby needs to go down because they woke up at a certain time?

Maybe you could try speaking to mom about the value of routine in schedule and see if she is on board to try and be more consistent with the sleep schedule?

Good luck :) It can be tough with a baby who is used to being able to sleep on their schedule.

Routine is everything to a young child. Talk to mom - tell her this. It is in her child's best interest to remain on routine. And they need to use YOUR routine because YOU are the one who has the most scheduled day out of necessity for the group.

BTW, this is why I have a three-day-minimum attendance requirement. It allows the child more time per week to get on YOUR schedule and you will find that the more days a child is in your care the more they will start to naturally mimic your schedule at home.

I completely agree with the importance of routine and I stress it at the interview stage. Our schedule varies a bit every day depending on our activities, especially if we are travelling to parks and the library and splashpads. But our routine flows the same daily, just may be off by a 1/2 hour or so.

If I had a parent who didn't understand that in group care you have to keep everyone on the same schedule for meals and naptimes I would be laying down the law. Like Judy, I have a 3 day/week minimum because children need that amount of routine in their lives and I ask the parents to keep their child on our nap schedule on the off days as much as possible. But that isn't as important. For example, I have one boy who has never napped for his parents since about the age of 1, but he sleeps every single day at daycare, go figure!

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Originally Posted by samantha3

If the baby is waking up earlier in the morning is she falling asleep at your house so you need to put her down? or is mom telling you that baby needs to go down because they woke up at a certain time?

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It's a bit of both, when mom arrives and says "baby was up at 5:30..." then I already know that by 8am baby will have a bottle and nap. Baby sleeps well so about a 1-2hr nap - up at 10am, lunch at 11am and nap again at 1pm etc.

If baby had woken up at 7:30 then that means she will hold off until aprox 11am to eat and nap, up at 1pm then wont go down until 4pm-ish!

She's the one that would SCREAM (without one tear mind you) her head off and go purple if she wasn't held 24/7. She's MUCH better now but still is a child who when wants something or is tired/sleepy will make it known.

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Originally Posted by Judy Trickett

BTW, this is why I have a three-day-minimum attendance requirement. It allows the child more time per week to get on YOUR schedule and you will find that the more days a child is in your care the more they will start to naturally mimic your schedule at home.

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I know, mom is still on Mat leave and this is transition time. She will be FT in September....I regret allowing a long transitioning time but I needed the spot filled. Lesson learned for sure.

I would tell mom to wake the child at a certain time everyday (6:30ish)so that the child is ready to nap at whatever time you want her to go down ....Its called routine .... Kids thrive on it (we know this I'm not sure why parents don't) ... Otherwise baby will have to forgo the morning nap and just have a bit earlier lunch and then off to bed for the afternoon.