Second Day as a New Daycare Provider and I have a little screamer on my hands!

[Momof4]

Thanks Momof4!! How long did it take you to get your little screamer sleeping well?

I am just so mean! LOL. Not really. When I have a problem napper I cuddle them and if they drink a bottle that helps to put them to sleep, but I lay them down and cover them and pat their back and their butt and gently keep them laying down. Sometimes it works quickly when they are very tired and sometimes it takes weeks of me sitting beside their bed and lying them down over and over and covering them. I miss my break in the middle of the day a lot but I teach them that I don't ever cave in and they are not going to wrap me around their little fingers like they do at home. It's sad that babies can't rule the world at daycare the way they can at home but it's a hard lesson that a 1 year old has to learn to fit into daycare life! It's harsh but it's true!

I have a good friend who likes to swaddle the children tightly and I know she uses a special comforting sleep sack which makes them feel all cuddled into the bed and they sleep well. I'm wondering about investing in one of those in case I have a baby who likes swaddling a lot and to see if that will help them settle in to a naptime routine better. My friend swears they are fantastic.

Gravy, all children are different and with experience you figure out what works best for you. I have my newest baby in the room all by himself until he settles in while the other 4 children sleep in the next room together. But those 4 children all sleep over 2 hours usually and the new baby sometimes only sleeps an hour and a bit so I have to protect the naptime of the other 4. It's exhausting transitioning a new baby! I miss my quiet time.

Oh, to answer your question, this took me about a month until he learned to go to bed and not scream. He now plays a bit in the bed and falls asleep pretty quickly and sleeps between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Baby steps and progress is good.