Short naps

[Lee-Bee]

Other mummy...this child did not throw up to get out of naptime. He threw up from crying so much because he had finished his nap and it's extremely hard for a 1 year old to stay quiet in his playpen for an hour or more. He would normally sleep 2.5 hours but there would be days where he didn't nap as long. Sometimes he would stay quietly in his playpen and some days he wouldn't.

These are children, not robots. Every day isn't going to go as smoothly as we hope but I don't term them for it either. Like I said, I treat it individually. As much as I think CIO can and does work, I also strongly believe that not all children can be treated the same just as all adults can't either.

For a child who typically naps 2.5 hours but has off days it makes sense to bring them out. But for a child that doesn't know how to put themselves back to sleep and wakes after one sleep cycle there isn't much we can do as a group care provider. That is a skill that needs to be established long before childcare begins. Obviously leaving them screaming in distress for 2 hours for days on end isn't suggested but most children learn pretty quickly that rest time is rest time and learn to sleep longer or rest quietly. In my experience (and maybe I am lucky) there is a difference between the I am mad because no one is coming crying and the distress cries. Usually they cry loudly, pause to listen for you then cry louder. This is a learned behavior. Distressed crying doesn't calm down to listen for you.

It sucks and is one of the hardest parts of this job...but typically after a few tough days the child is sleeping better and is better off with a solid rest period.

Again, I have been pretty lucky with my kiddos...despite none of them CIO at home and many being bed-sharers.