Setting a nap time routine - new daycare

[5 Little Monkeys]

Hello!! Congrats on your new adventure! Hope it is everything you want it to be

When I first started, I had an 8 month old, 10 month old and 2 two year olds. The 8 and 10 month olds were difficult nappers for about a month or two?(which is totally understandable at that age, especially with a new dcp) I had planned on having all of them nap in the same room, 2 in playpens and 2 on mats. That didn't work!! The 2 babies cried and kept the 2 year olds up. I ended up putting 3 in one room and the other in a playpen in a separate area. This helped and then I eventually moved him back into the nap room and it went well.

I would do lunch, clean them up, let them free play while I cleaned the kitchen and gave them time to poop lol. Than I did a quick circle (usually read a book or two) and changed diapers and put everybody down. The babies would cry but I left them alone and waited to see if they would cry it out. I am a big believer of CIO but I won't let a child cry for hours, especially when it is disrupting others and keeping them from napping. Depending on the severity of the crying would determine how long I let them CIO before I would go in and give a quick comfort but not say anything other than "good night". The 10 month old was famous for crying until he threw up and so I didn't want him to get to that point every day! I would say it took a month for him and about 2 months for the 8 month old before I moved him back into the room. They were my best nappers after that!!! I think they needed to create that bond with me and after that they felt safe and comfortable and napping became much easier!

Listening to a crying child is one of the hardest things to "get used too". Listening to them cry was not an enjoyable nap time for the children and it certainly didn't feel like I was getting a break!! You will find what works best for you and how you want to deal with the crying. I prefer to make a child feel comforted but also not go in every ten minutes. It's what works best for me and my daycare children so far. Things like low, soft, relaxing music is another thing I will sometimes do if I find a child is having a difficult time napping. I also believe that a child needs to learn to sleep during noise(especially a dc child!) so while I am quieter during naptime, I don't not make noise! I do dishes, sweep, watch tv, walk around upstairs etc. I do make my fiance be a bit quieter though as when he walks, it sounds like he is going to crash through the ceiling LOL. I do have a note on my door asking that people don't ring the doorbell during naptime though. If parents need to pick up during naptime they know to text me to let me know they are coming.

I started off with a normal baby monitor but now use a video monitor and much prefer it. For the first year and a bit I stayed downstairs all day but now I come upstairs so I find the video works better. I also ask that parents send a blankie from home and a stuffie if their child sleeps with one. This makes it more like home for the child and they recognize something. I allow soothers for naptime as well. Make sure to ask the parents how naptime at home works. If they rock the child to sleep you may want to ask that they start to stop that at home and have the child start self soothing and be able to get to sleep without things like that. In group settings, we just don't have the time for that. Unless you want too...than by all means do so!

**knock on wood, I have had pretty good nappers so far! I had one child cry all day, everyday for 2 weeks but than just like that it stopped! He is now my easiest child in this current group! I really think napping is dependent on the bond they have with you (not the whole reason for good or bad nappers but a big part) The more comfortable they are at dc and with you, the easier they will sleep. I know I am like that....I sleep terribly at new places and places I don't feel secure!! lol (I've probably jinxed myself now and will get terrible nappers from here on out!)