What do u guys do?

Do you guys have a cut off time when kids can no longer come in for the day? I have one little guy, 11mths and he has doc appts as he was sick as a newborn so a lot of follow up appts. His sister and him usually come in at 7 to 330. But a couple wks ago he came in at 1130 after his morning appt. I have never had a cut off time and always take the kids back if it's a morning appt. but the trouble was that he slept for a hr in the car before getting to me. I was so tired with the other four kids and our busy morning out that I was looking forward to my nap/quiet time break. But I didn't get it because he already napped in the car. He was up all afternoon and I didn't get a break and he's a baby so he's doesn't know how to play quietly and still cries a lot so he kept everyone else up all afternoon too, I hated it. I hate when my schedule is out of sorts.

He is gone again today and mom said we'll probably be back at 1130 I said ok try to keep him awake in the car if u can so he can come into our schedule when he gets here. She knew about last time and how he didn't nap because he napped in car and I guess she was taken aback thought I was being mean. I said it very nicely to just keep him awake but she responded with well I guess I'll just keep him cuz he'll mess with ur nap times. I said oh ok. Thank u

But now I feel horrible. Like she was saying oh we don't want to mess with ur nap time and ur break. But I mean our mornings are long and I need that break in the afternoon to rest, regroup, clean up, set up for after nap, etc. I can't be entraining kids all day without a break, rest. But on the other side of me I feel bad because she is paying for the day so she should be able to drop him off. But at the same time I'm not a drop in centre.

I let in other kids after a morning appt I just find it hard to let in babies who still fall sleep in the am especially in the car.

What do u guys do??

Thanks!

If the child falls asleep in the car and doesn't therefore nap in the afternoon and keeps all the other kids awake then it's very reasonable to ask her to keep him home as you have other kids to think if ....if I was a parent of one of the other kids and I had to pick up a miserable tired child at the end if my day I'd be less then impressed ..... Is there no way she can make the appts at the end of the day ? Don't feel bad you did the right thing

For the amount of times it happens, (rarely), I allow them to come after their morning appt. I even allow them to drop off at 745, pick up at 10 and drop off at 11 for example. Anything in the afternoon though is just end of day for them.

I've had a mom let her daughter sleep in a few days (mom works shifts so is sometimes home during day) and a few times she's texted and said she would just keep her so she didn't mess up my day....I appreciated it and didn't take it as anything other than mom being considerate.

In your case, it's a bit different since you asked. I don't think what you asked is unreasonable and if mom wants to view it that way, that's on her. She has the option to bring him to you but is deciding not too. I think your response is perfect.

Yes, kids must be here by 8:30am unless otherwise a agreed upon. One drop off and pick up per day. No coming during quiet time.

If a child comes before nap time they better be ready for a nap or they can't come in until queit time is over, as to not disturb the other children.

Ah ok. I feel better now. Thanks. Lol

I think it can be fairly common for parents not to see it form our viewpoint. Having one child not nap at all during nap time can completely throw the rest of the day off, not only for us but the other children (depending on your daycare set up).

If the other children nap in the play area then it really isn't feasible at all. If the nap area is away from the play area then I would consider it for a one off thing (appointment with a specialist they have been waiting for months too see and they can't just better schedule). If the child is seeing specialists regularly then the reality is that the parents need to either have back up care or find a home daycare with non-nappers so there is less interruption. My guess is a center won't take a child right before nap time...that has arrived freshly napped.

I would simply point out the impacts on you, what you will accept and leave it. I wouldn't apologize numerous times or anything as you are still doing your daily routine it is them that is trying to interrupt that.

I would stick with examples that focus more on the impact to the other children (their sleep is interrupted which makes them irritable and means you are now sending 4 other kids home unrested impacting all those families). How your place is not set up to have a 1yr old awake while the others sleep. How you do not have the means to hold and entertain the child while you are cleaning, cooking and preparing activities. Leave out the fact that you NEED a rest to make it through the day (as they likely won't sympathize with that).

If you feel things are still unsettled then write up a note to send home to all families noting your drop-off cut off and the reasons why.

Lee bee, from my experience, yes a centre will take a child before nap even though they just napped. There is always a group of kids not napping and the child would just join them.

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Originally Posted by Lee-Bee

Leave out the fact that you NEED a rest to make it through the day (as they likely won't sympathize with that).

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But I do NEED a nap to make it through the day!! Haha :p
Good points Lee-Bee. If she brings it up again, I'll definitely mention some of these points. Thanks.

My cut off is 9 am unless they have an appt. I encourage them to do appts first thing in the morning so I haven't really had an issue with it. If they have a Dr appt they need to be here before nap time as they all nap in the same room. I had one child go to the Dr one morning and they took forever. The parent texted me and said they were running late and would just keep her home as they wouldn't make it before nap time started.

You did the right thing asking nicely but parents can have a chip on their shoulder no matter how nice we ask - I don't have a cut off time but encourage first thing in the morning or after nap for appointments as it is harder with babies not managing at nap time so just put it down to experience and move on, hopefully she will keep him home

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Originally Posted by babydom

But I do NEED a nap to make it through the day!! Haha :p
Good points Lee-Bee. If she brings it up again, I'll definitely mention some of these points. Thanks.

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Oh I hear you!! But I think you lose merit pointing it out to parents lol.

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Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys

Lee bee, from my experience, yes a centre will take a child before nap even though they just napped. There is always a group of kids not napping and the child would just join them.

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I suppose. I used to work in daycare but I don't recall this ever coming up so didn't think of moving the child to a different room. I do know that in all the programs I worked there was no way to keep an infant/toddler awake while others slept as they were all spread through the program room. Even when I ran the school-age program they had 1hr of rest, none slept but they were resting (in a somewhat calm and quiet manner).

I'm sure every dc is different but the 2 I worked in were very similar in regard to naptime. All ages slept the same time, in same room/adjoining room. The under 2's were separated a bit from the olders but not by much.

The children that didn't nap were also all in one room and as children woke, they joined the large group. Near the end of naptime, they would go back to their smaller groups in separate rooms and get ready for snack.

Having a child dropped off right before or during nap was never an issue. Things like this are another reason I think some parents choose centres.

Neither one of the school aged programs had quiet time....I wish! That would have been nice lol