New children:nap transition

[Daycare123]

Hey everyone,

I have a naproom - all the kids sleep there. I have two new kids starting between now and november. How do you all transition new kids into naptime? How do yo handle communal naprrom?

Thanks!

[Momof4]

I have my daycare on my main floor, so basically my living room is the toyroom and the sleeproom and my dining room is for meals and creating and sometimes also has a playpen or two out there. Usually when I have a new child start I put them in the dining room so they don't wake all the others if they aren't quite on our schedule.

It takes a while for the child to trust us and for them to get used to daycare life and for us to get to know the child's needs and ways.

[Inspired by Reggio]

When I use to have them all in the same area I would stay and 'support' them until everyone was asleep - so if need be I would rub a back to soothe or just be there to SHH to remind them to lie down and rest.

Now I have them all spread out in their own space cause I was finding that some kids would 'make noise' mid sleep where they were not awake themselves but they would talking in sleep and would wake up the others who were light sleepers and well no one was getting the length of rest they needed ... with them in their own space I find that they sleep 2.5 hours easy some days longer and I am having to do things to 'wake them' like opening curtains to let sunlight in and so forth. So now when I have a newbie start I settle everyone else down onto their cots or cribs and than can help them with a back rub or what not if need be.

[loulou]

I keep quite nappers in the same room. The first few days with a new child I do lots of activities and try to make them nice and tired for nap time. I think it helps when they see the other children sleeping too.

[Inspired by Reggio]

... I think it helps when they see the other children sleeping too.

This is so true it amazes me how quickly kids pick up the routine ... my crew all put themselves to bed now even the one year old is starting to head over on his own when we start quiet time routine!

[playfelt]

I just transitioned an 18 month old and a 2 1/2 year old (parents still want her in a playpen in a room by herself but too bad) onto nap mats on the main floor with the other three older kids. It took almost a week of reminding the big kids to show an example and roll over and go to sleep - no teasing , giggling to little ones. And doing the SHH to the little girls since we do that with their dollies when they are sleeping or when my own daughter is asleep on the couch sometimes so that is something they understand. This week when I said go find your bed - both girls went straight to their spot and laid down. The youngest only got off the mat twice the first day and once each of the next two days and then no more. It is distracting for her since it is also our upstairs playroom (diningroom). She has made the move to a bed at home so that is how I knew it was time at daycare. The 2 1/2 is still in a crib at home, uses a soother and special blanket that comes from home daily. My goal will be to wean her of the soother which I had planned to do when they moved to the mats and just didn't give it or blanket to her but used what everyone else had and she whined and asked for them so I gave in cause I wanted to train the little one for sure.

[jec]

I start the new additions in the playroom with everyone else and see how they do for the first few days. I hang out with my computer and or book beside the fold and play to keep an eye on them. I get an idea of what they are like and if they are going to wake up the others, then I will put them in a separate room, again hanging out until they fall asleep until they get used to nap time.