Originally Posted by
nschildcare
Here is my nap situation in greater detail. I would love for some input on how to deal with this.
Dcg is 2.5. I have tried moving my group together and out of pack n plays at three different points in time since September. She is always the one who gets everyone going and has a hard time settling. Needs at least an extra 30 minutes to relax and fall asleep. The issue with keeping her separate is that she is a big girl, and in the pack and play will run around in it, kick her legs up and down. Generally make as much noise as possible.
I usually ignore (one warning, then ignore) as the more I go in, the more she feeds off of this.
I recently got cots (2 months ago). We really talked up having naps in the 'big kid' bed, staying quiet, etc and that if she wasn't able to lie quietly would have to go upstairs again. Some days are good, some are not. When I have to move her upstairs, she will either cry and then fall asleep right away or else scream, run and kick and make as much noise as possible. If I ignore, she will get louder. I told her mom that she would have to pick her up after she shrieked for 45 minutes straight.
I don't care if she doesn't sleep. But she does need rest. She is not a kid who does well without sleep. The issue is that she won't be quiet. And when I try to enforce it, her behaviour worsens. I understand that mom may find another provider. If I can't find something that works for this kid, I won't care as I will probably term her by the time that point comes.
This is a (usually) sweet kid who is shuffled around by the parents to different sitters. She spends all week here (every.single.day) while mom and dad are either working or off having a day together, and then spends most weekends with a grandparent. This kid is starving for consistency. She is not getting any consistent routine on the weekend and I've seen her at the grocery store at 10 in the evening on a weeknight. Monday, Tuesday and half of Wednesday she is very defiant. Come Thursday and Friday she has calmed down. Then the weekend comes and we start all over again.
Parents think she has outgrown the need for a nap. They do not enforce a rest period. "She didn't want to stay in bed." "We turned the tv on for her and thought she would fall asleep." If she doesn't nap, she will be falling over herself by mid afternoon. When she does nap, she sleeps for almost 3 hours and I often have to wake her up.
I am really at a loss of what else to do.
However, I am hoping that it is the introduction of new children that is throwing her off her game. She is def. my alpha two y.o. Her not being able to be in the same room is not new but her shrieking at me def. is.
As for the whole sick thing.... grrr!
