Nap time - when they just don't get it.

All 3 of my little ones are horrible nappers. They all go down great, but more often than not, they are up crying after an hour. My nerves can't take it anymore, and I'm feeling like such a bad person for letting them CIO. They are all part time 3-4 days a week, and I know that each of their parents/grandparents get them as soon as they make a peep during the other days.

My 2 older ones (including my own) are horrible during their quiet time. They come out of their room, they get louder and louder no matter how many times I tell them to quiet down. They wake the others sometimes.

My son will be in JK full time in the fall and I was planning on closing next fall, but I honestly don't know if I can make it this long. All day long it's just take take take, and I don't know how much more I have to give. :crying:

Do you have any kids that sleep longer than an hour? If not, I would consider having nap an hour long and than back to normal. Some kids only sleep an hour and it sounds like you have a whole group of them! I am like you, I find it more stressful to listen to them cry for the last hour and it's not a break lol. If it's only occasional I can handle it and would let them CIO but if it were every day than I would just make nap an hour.

They wake up about 50% of the time. The rest of the time, they sleep to almost an hour.

If they are all up after an hour I would just get them up. No sense making the whole entire group cranky and screaming. For the older ones who don't nap - if they want to stay up they need to be quiet or they nap as well - no if ands or buts

are they getting lots and lots of activity in the morning? I know its hard with this weather but try being outside as long as possible. also do energy burning activities like dance parties, freeze dance, hopscotch, obstical courses etc. maybe try having them sleep in separate rooms if possible so they don't wake each other up with the crying. and white noise or music may help . i wonder how long they sleep at home for nap?
good luck though

The best purchase that I ever made for my daycare was a white noise machine! Wow! What a difference. I bought mine at Superstore - made by Conair $24.99. I use the "white noise" setting and put the kiddos down for naptime and don't hear a thing! I actually bought 5 of them haha! I have a babbler, and a banshee screamer. I also put the noisiest one in the furthest away bedroom of my house, the good sleepers all sleep in the same room.
While I agree with the others about getting up after an hour, honestly an hour is not a long enough break in my opinion. I know for me, it takes me nearly an hour to clean up and eat my lunch. I think you should keep them napping for 2 hours. Good luck to you!

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Originally Posted by Sassygirl

The best purchase that I ever made for my daycare was a white noise machine! Wow! What a difference. I bought mine at Superstore - made by Conair $24.99.

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Is this actually called a white noise machine? I'm looking for one, too :)

I agree, one hour is not enough time to be napping for little people.

Maybe you are missing that window of opportunity to get them down? Using my group as an example, I was trying to push nap back to 1-3 from 12:30-3. Mine were taking a really long time to fall asleep and wouldn't sleep for long, one would sometimes not even fall asleep at all! I thought that by pushing nap time back it would solve that problem. Wrong! Then pne day I put them down at 12.... and they were out within 10 mins and slept for 2 good hours. If I wait until after 12:30 it's game over for them. Almost like they've caught their second wind by that point. Maybe try shifting the nap time forward?

The kids don't decide how long quiet time is...you do. Put them down, close the door, come back in two hours. It won't take them long to realize that's how it is at daycare.

Non-nappers play quietly, or they get naps themselves. One warning, no negotiation.
You'll have maybe one week of noise during naptime, then blissful quiet from then
on.

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Originally Posted by ahnys

The kids don't decide how long quiet time is...you do. Put them down, close the door, come back in two hours. It won't take them long to realize that's how it is at daycare.

Non-nappers play quietly, or they get naps themselves. One warning, no negotiation.
You'll have maybe one week of noise during naptime, then blissful quiet from then
on.

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Yes this exactly

I read this a lot on this site...do you really not check on them for the 2 hours?

I have always had an audio baby monitor and now have a video one. Do you at least have these in all the rooms they sleep in so you can at least always hear or see them?

That's right, I don't open the doors to look at the children for the two hours of quiet time. Play yards are constructed to be safe places for children, and I place them in, with tight-fitted sheets, no toys, blankets, or excess clothing.
Listening to the kids during naptime is a different story, but doesn't require me to open the doors and look at them.
Why do you feel you need to?

I don't go back either .....same as once I put my own kids to bed I dont go back repetitively to check .....

I have my 2 good sleepers in the main room of my basement with a white noise machine, the banshee screamer in his own room with the white noise machine, the babbler in her own room with a white noise machine and my own son in his room with a white noise machine. I have a monitor in the basement and a monitor on the top level where the bedrooms are. I stay on the main level during nap.
I agree about missing the window and them having a second wind. We have lunch here at 11, clean up/free play/diaper changes afterwards and all are in their playpens (son in his crib) by 12. I make them stay in their beds until 2 pm but honestly, most days I am waking them all at 3pm :-)

The reason I ask is because of safety. As long as you can hear them via a baby monitor that is fine but I prefer the video monitor because I come upstairs during naptime. I have 3 in playpens and 1 on a mat and I like to be able to see her in case she gets up and gets into things. I don't want to keep going down to check in or listen at the door.

I have had kids have explosive poops, throw up and one even climbed out of her playpen!! I just wouldn't feel comfortable without a monitor especially because these are not my children and their parents are trusting me to keep them safe. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ahnys

The kids don't decide how long quiet time is...you do. Put them down, close the door, come back in two hours. It won't take them long to realize that's how it is at daycare.

Non-nappers play quietly, or they get naps themselves. One warning, no negotiation.
You'll have maybe one week of noise during naptime, then blissful quiet from then
on.

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Not working for this 16 month DKGe. I rarely ever go and get her before the 2 hours is up. Today, she was up after 25 minutes, and she's been crying off and on since then (never too hard though). I'm to the point of being pissed off about it since I know it's becuase mom just goes and gets her as soon as she makes a peep, even if it's only been 15 minutes. And this is the only nap this poor kid gets. She's so exhausted that she goes to bed at 5 every day, but the mom just doesn't see that she needs more daytime sleep.

Goes to bed at 5pm every day and sleeps until morning?!!?

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Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys

Goes to bed at 5pm every day and sleeps until morning?!!?

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If this is what is going on, that's insane. When does mom see her kid?

Yup, 5 - 5. I know.

She picks her up at 3:30, so she has a couple of hours in the afternoon.

that is insane!!

Well I would suggest to just stick with your napping time and tell mom that you expect her to sleep from 12-2 (or whenever your nap is). Tell mom that means that she will need to adjust bedtime at home to a later time.

This little one is not going to adjust unless mom helps her to.

Hugs to you because we all know what it is like when nap time is dominated by a crier.

(And honestly, I would consider terming if there were no improvements. Rest time is sacred here.)

Wow, that is an odd bedtime. I certainly wouldn't want to be up at 5 LOL.

I agree with nschildcare. I don't mind if a child that age wakes up early from time to time but not everyday. I think children 2 and under need at least a 2 hour nap and than as they get older the naps can get shorter. Of course there are exceptions as some children need less and some need more but that is my basic guideline.

That is crazy!

Honestly, get a white noise machine or a LOUD fan to block out her noise. Put her in the furthest away room of the house and let her go for the 2 hours.
We work LONG days and to barely get an hours break?? No. That doesn't fly with me.
In my house right now my 1 hour napper (who is dropped off right for my opening at 7am and parents say how she is kept up until 8 or 9 pm!) is moving around and thumping away in her playpen while she sings to herself. I do not get her until naptime is over.

She has a white noise machine, and she is in the only spot that I have. I have a very open concept house and you can hear everyone everywhere. The other two are in the basement, in the only spot where they can't hear each other. They have fan going full blast to cover little sleeping noises, but doesn't do much if one wakes up early and starts waling. Terming her and getting someone else doesn't feel right because a) This is her second daycare, and she's really comfortable here. I'd hate to make her move again, and b) I'm 95% sure I'm closing in the fall when both my kids are in school f/t.

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SHE FELL BACK ASLEEP!! OMG, she has NEVER done that before. Unfortunately, we have to get up soon for the bus, and I can hear the other two are up, but at least I know she can do it!! Thank you all so much!