Working nap times around school drop off & pick up?!?!

[chenderson]

I would love for everyone to nap on the same schedule, but how do you work it then if you have one (or potentially two) children that make a real ruckus if they just aren't tired? In turn not allowing the others to nap or waking the others up?

I do have two nap rooms, so two in each. Do you ask the parents to move their nap at home too? We have to leave for school pick-up at 2:00/2:10 at the latest (but I prefer to give myself more time seeing as we are walking) as school is done at 2:30. If I want to allow the 3 hour window for naps that some currently use, then I'd need to have them all in bed for 11, making lunch at 10:30? So confusing. I am not a fan of waking a sleeping baby and thus far have had no issues with the children being on their own schedules. Some days I do not get a break from the little ones as someone is always awake, but the big ones are already awake so it doesn't really make a difference.

Either way, I need suggestions. Do you literally just put them into bed and leave and hope for the best? Do you have them in one room and they can all see one another or do you separate them in some way? How would you work your day if you had to leave for school pick up at 2:10??? HELP!

[Rachael]

how do you work it then if you have one (or potentially two) children that make a real ruckus if they just aren't tired? In turn not allowing the others to nap or waking the others up?

All 6 of mine nap at the same time. The newest baby is just 11 months and started last week. She is now on my schedule although she has a power nap soon after arriving.
Of course, once a schedule is in place, at worst you are having to bring one new child (maybe two if siblings) into the schedule.
The louder ones who wake sooner, I separate initially until they are used to the routine. I put their cribs in the walk-in closet of my guest room since it's large and empty so when they wake, they aren't disturbing the others. Once in the routine of my schedule then they go into the appropriate room for their age range.

Do you ask the parents to move their nap at home too?

No but many do.

At interview, I outline our usual day. I state that although I will mirror their routine at home as much as I can, my objective will be to bring their child into line asap so often parents try and move their child to my routine before coming. No big deal if they don't. I usually only takes 2 weeks max. to settle a new child.

If I want to allow the 3 hour window for naps that some currently use, then I'd need to have them all in bed for 11, making lunch at 10:30?

Three hours is a long time! Holy. No wonder you are struggling to schedule what needs doing. I think once you get them all in a routine, since they will all be going down together, that three hour "window" won't need to be so long.

I serve lunch around 11.15am. Bear in mind, most of mine get here between 7am and 7.30am. We have morning snack at 9am. Head outside all morning unless it's pouring with rain or too cold. We aim to be back around 11am which gives me 15 mins to warm lunch which has already been cooked the evening prior, and change diapers before they eat. Normally by noon, the meals is finished even with the slow eaters, all are headed up to nap. After 2 hours, I will wake them if they are still sleeping.


I do exactly what mickyc does. I put them down, I cover them, say goodnight and walk out. Anyone fooling around, I go back and lay down and tell them it's time to be quiet. If I have to return again, I lay them down without speaking. I also let them CIO and at worst, after the second/third day of doing this, it's no longer than 2 mins.
I will however, scoop up and bring out any child that is awake following a nap, as some children don't sleep as long as others. But the quieter activities (puzzles, building blocks) are all that's accessible until all are awake.
I've often had to video a parent's child barely a couple of weeks after they start because the parents are stunned their child settles so quickly.