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I know we all want the kids to go down at the same time. What do you do when you 1 yr. olds come to you sleeping an hr. in the morn. and an hr. in the aft? Also when they sleep to long in the morning they aren't ready to go down at 12:30 which is my naptime. 12:30-2:30
I never nap kids in the morning. I always tell all parents during the interview that they need to transition their little one to afternoon naps only. They are usually cranky for the first couple of weeks but it doesn't take long.
For children that still morning nap, I nap them within half an hour of them getting to dc for a quick 20-30 minute nap. This allows them to nap before we start our day and also allows them to stay awake until 1230/1 when afternoon nap is.
When I first opened I had most who still morning napped so I did the 1 hour in the morning and anywhere from 1-2 hours in the afternoon. Now I very rarely have morning nappers so the quick morning nap works best.
Agreed; I only let them nap 1/2 hour. 8-8:30am nap then 12:30-2:30 (or so). They very quickly outgrow morning nap here, though I find. I've never had one go longer than a month with 2 naps. If you are having any difficulty with them at all during pm naptime then I would take away morning for sure:)
I give them about 45 mins from 9-945, and then they go down at 1245-3pm here.
The youngest I've had was 14 months and I just didn't put her down . Forgot actually !! We nap 1-3 here so it's a long morning but having them all nap at the same time is soo worth it for me !
By long morning do you mean in length or because of children's behaviour?
I normally put 8-14 month olds down for morning naps IF they need it. I have found if I try to keep them awake until 1230/1, late morning/lunch is a disaster because they are just too tired. I'm not going to put any of us through that just because lol. No one wants cranky kids!
I've never had an issue with a morning nap affecting afternoon nap. Once they start to sleep less in the afternoon though, I transition them out of morning naps as I feel they are now old enough to make it through morning.
I feel that rocking to sleep, bottles at nap etc are habits and ones that I ask parents to wean before group care but I feel that sleep is something different. Young children may not be ready to give up morning naps yet. Group daycare is a lot busier than just staying at home with mom and I feel that the really young ones NEED 2 naps still. Plus like I said, cranky, whiny, tired kids is not something I enjoy....and thankfully those days are few and far between here lol
If a child can make it through the morning without a nap and still be in a happy mood than that is great and morning naps are obviously not needed :) right now my youngest is 16ish months and it's been about 1.5-2 months since I've stopped putting him down for morning nap but usually 2-3x a week he has a catnap on the playroom floor lol
Both actually lol !!! But with my dcg if she naps in the am she def will not nap in the afternoon . We have a fairly structured morning and she participates in all activities so there is really not slit if time and we are into lunch . We go outside mid morning so that wakes her up abit too !
I did try a couple of times to nap her twice but because I have older kids mostly it really limits out day , as I couldn't go outside .
If she is really cranky I will try the nap but she will just lay there and so I won't leave her to just lay there . I check after 10-15 min if she's awake she will come join us again .
She must have been ready to drop her morning nap as it's only maybe once in a couple of weeks she is cranky .
I agree with you 5lm , if sleep is really needed she would def take the am nap . I like to have two and up for this very reason .
Because I do have older dcks sometimes I will sit and rock them with a blankie during free play ( if free play is going well !!)
Luckily all my kids get here early enough that their 20-30 min morning nap is over before 9 (930 at the very latest which is rare) and doesn't interfere with our activities.
As I type this my youngest dcb is passed out in the library chair! Time for lunch and a bit earlier to nap today lol
Lol !!! 8 months and up ? Wow I know I couldn't look after that young ! I love age 2-3 the very best !!!
secondtimearound: how are you able to get so many older kids? I need to fill a spot and I am hoping for an older child (2.5-3.5) as my daughter is loosing her playmate (she's almost 3). I am experiencing a dryspell and the few inquiries I have had are for babies.
I'm not sure ! I've always had two and up with the oldest being 5 . This little one was my first "baby" at 13 months .
When I started I had an 8 and 10 month old and two just turned 2 year olds. When I look back I wonder how I did it too! Lol it was also winter time and getting in and outside was a massive chore as both babies didn't walk and the 2 year olds were still slow on the stairs!
2-3 year olds are my favourite age too :)
Torontokids, im in the same boat! I've had an opening for a 2 year old or older and it's been open just over a month. I won't have an opening for an infant until jan/February so I imagine it will remain unfilled until then.
Seriously !!! I would turn away any child under 18 months ! They scare me ! I'm paranoid enough about my dcks choking on something I can't imagine what I would be like with one so young !!!
As it was I sat my 14 month old at the little table to eat for a couple of weeks and never thought of it until her mom said it was cute she ate like a big girl ! With no high chair ! Oops !! But she is now almost 20 months and keeps up with all the 2-3 yr olds , craft time too !! Her mom is so impressed with me for what I have taught her ! But truly I just included her in whatever we do , she's a smart little one !!
Lol, ever since I've bought my kids height table and chairs they all sit there. Even when they start at 12 months. I did keep one booster seat just in case but haven't had to use it. At home I can understand why they stay in high chairs or booster seats though as I don't imagine the parents want to eat on the floor lol
Ok ! I feel better !! I have an ikea table , the chairs are pretty low .
So I guess I've been doing it right. Just second guessing myself once again. Thanks ladies.