Sleep time managment

[Umm zayn]

Hello All,
I am starting a home day care in October and needed some support in sleep time.

I have worked in childcare for years- but with older kids - now I have a 1 years old and my neighbours 1 year old to take care of in October.

I have a 1 bedroom apartment and cant put her else where. Should i get them both to sleep in the same room- or should i let her sleep in the living room while she is adjusting and when she is more comfortable then let her join the bedroom.

Any tips on how to manage sleep with infant?


Thanks!

[Dreamalittledream]

My advice to you is to put the neighbour child down first (in bedroom). Anticipate that he or she may fuss for the first while. Once asleep, you can put your child in the same room. This way, you get a bit of a break too and have access to the rest of the apartment during naptime. Once neighbour child gets used to the routine and comfortable you should be fine. Good luck!

[Rachael]

I guess we all have different approaches.

I'd do the exact opposite. I'd put them both down at the scheduled time and know that it's going to take a little while for them to settle. My reasoning is purely that it is going to have to be done at some stage since you have stated that's the only place for them in the long-term.

I have found that if a child is going to take a little time to adjust to a change, then why have two situations of change when one tackles the issue head on.

What are you going to do when others come in October? How are you going to run a day home in a one bedroom apartment?

[5 Little Monkeys]

When I have an infant starting, I usually like to have them nap in the hallway for the first week or so. This allows me to see their sleep habits without it interrupting the group in the naproom. It also allows me to comfort the new little one when need be. If they wake up screaming or wake up a lot earlier than the others, it isn't ruining naptime for the whole group. It also allows them to become adjusted to daycare (me, the kids, new surroundings, new toys, new routine etc) without the added stress of group napping. Than after a week, I decide if I should put the child in the naproom with the others or keep them in the hallway until they are bit older. Usually within a month or so they are introduced to the naproom. I've really only had one who stayed in the hallway for his time here because he woke up an hour into nap and altho he stayed quiet in his playpen for the last hour, he did like to chatter PLUS he always woke up poopy and there is no way I'm leaving a child in a poopy diaper for an hour or more, so this allowed me to go down and change his diaper and put him back in his play pen. In his last month here, I had introduced him to the naproom though as he was now 2 and slept on a cot.

If it's an older child, I normally just put them right into the naproom. I have the older ones on cots and they are in the naproom so that I can see them on the monitor in case they get up and get into things. Some older kids have come to me from daycare's so they are used to group napping anyways.

[Secondtimearound]

I have a new family of 3 transitioning . They have always had a nanny ( I see issues but a whole different thread ) my established dck were all going down at the same time but adding the new family destroyed the first nap . So I started 15 min intervals , the youngest goes down at 12:45 and 15 min my youngest new dck , goes down and so on . I have pulled one dck out to the hall as she has started going around waking up others ! Ugh
I have 2 non nappers who lay with blankets and watch a movie as well as my child .
I think with the layout of your home I would def want them both in a room so I would try them together . Also invest in a white noise machine ! That way you can move around in the other room and they won't hear your every move .
I think by using a set place for sleep and a set place for play , will allow the children to understand , this room means we sleep !!
Good luck !!!!

[Dreamalittledream]

Very true, interesting how we all have different approaches. You'll find what works for you. Praying new child is a good napper for you...on week 2 of my new 1 year old daycare child who screams (or poops) through entire naptime (thankful I have a room separate from our group)...and only sleeps for 4 hours a night at home with parents. This child is a bear, very rough and grumpy...no idea what she is running on

[Umm zayn]

Thanks ladies I really appreciate all the tips! I guess I am going to see how she is- if she is really really upset and wont settle even during the day i will try the separate in the living room approach but if she is calm and is okay then i might as well just put her in the same room.

And Rachael I cant run a full home day care with 5- its too small of a space, but I am just doing this to help out a friend and make extra money while I am home. Might as well because I used to work at a day care- so this works better because i get to spend time with my son. Maybe with a 2 bedroom I think is more realistic and appropriate to run a day care.