2 naps a day

[Busy ECE mommy]

Can you give me some guidance as to how to convince a parent that her 21 month old daughter does not need 2 naps a day? She would be down to 1 nap a day at 18mos(and some toddler rooms start at 15 months) if she was in a licensed care centre. All the ones much younger than her phased out around 15 months, and I'd like to get out and about for a longer outdoor time. Suggestions please??? Am I being unrealistic?

[bright sparks]

Can you give us a little more information...what are the times of her two naps and the duration? Also what is the parents theory behind this?

My daughter did two naps till she was two. Not because I said so, but because she wanted it and clearly needed it and if I didn't put her down she would fall asleep where she stood or sat anyway. I know most kids don't need two naps beyond the 12-18 mth age range, but there are exceptions.

[Lee-Bee]

Does the child show signs of needing the nap? Does she go down quickly and easily for the morning nap? It will be harder to convince if she does. My daughter would have happily done 2 naps a day until past 2 if I had let her but I switched her over around 15months out of necessity due to my home daycare. My daughter was still doing two 2hr naps at that point, once I switched her she did one 4 hr nap. At 25months she still does a 3-4hr nap (plus 12hrs at night). She NEEDS sleep to function.

It is YOUR home daycare YOU call the shots. Inform them that as of XX date ALL children will need to sleep once a day to allow ALL children time outside to play and to allow all your other enriching activities. Inform this mom that you will now start shortening the morning nap, by 15minutes every few days so that the last few days before the switch she only gets a 20min nap.

Do NOT force the parents to do the switch at home. Encourage it...but ultimately you have the child 5 days a week...they can do what they want the other 2 but the child will naturally start resisting it at home...let the child lead them rather than you try to force them. They will be less upset by the change if you don't force change on them at home.

Be matter of fact, be confident, don't waiver. Don't tell her this is what HER child needs tell her this is what YOU need. She may be offended if you try to sound like you know her child more than her (not saying you don't lol).

[5 Little Monkeys]

The centres I worked in allowed children 2 naps a day until they were 2 and out of the "baby" rooms. Like Bright said, there are exceptions, kids are all different.

I'm not sure how your daycare program looks but I have never had an issue with 2 naps if needed. It usually doesn't last long and I nap them really early in the morning (and only 20-30 mins) so that they don't interrupt our schedule anyways. I've also never had a morning nap affect their afternoon nap. Kids that still need 2 naps will sleep because they need it. I have better days if they nap twice instead of keeping tired kids awake who will eventually become whiny and cranky as the day progresses. My 2 young ones right now (20 and 21 months-ish) who still occasionally need a quick 20 minute cat nap in the mornings. They are awake by 9, 930 at the very latest, so it doesn't wreck our day at all.

If two naps is something that YOU absolutely don't want to deal with than I would tell the parents. I don't think it's fair to the child if they really need that nap still, so it will be up to the parents to stay with you or find another dcp. IF the child is showing signs of not needing the morning nap than I just wouldn't nap her and tell the parents at the end of the day "xxx only napped at afternoon nap for xxx hours. She had a great day and wasn't cranky/tired etc"....keep doing this and telling them and I can't see it being a problem. You can't make a child nap if they aren't tired and she will eventually resist them at home too so it should all work out.

[mattsmom]

I tell all parents at the interview that whether they have 2 naps at home or not, I will not be doing it here. They will be transitioned to one long nap after lunch. We walk to the school in the morning and don't get back until after 9, then either play outside or do crafts, then some learning activities. I also will not have some children up at regular naptime while everyone is sleeping. Naptime is when I get extra things done like: answer emails, clean up from lunch, get stuff ready for afternoon activities and be able to just sit down and have a break!

[bright sparks]

The centres I worked in allowed children 2 naps a day until they were 2 and out of the "baby" rooms. Like Bright said, there are exceptions, kids are all different.

I'm not sure how your daycare program looks but I have never had an issue with 2 naps if needed. It usually doesn't last long and I nap them really early in the morning (and only 20-30 mins) so that they don't interrupt our schedule anyways. I've also never had a morning nap affect their afternoon nap. Kids that still need 2 naps will sleep because they need it. I have better days if they nap twice instead of keeping tired kids awake who will eventually become whiny and cranky as the day progresses. My 2 young ones right now (20 and 21 months-ish) who still occasionally need a quick 20 minute cat nap in the mornings. They are awake by 9, 930 at the very latest, so it doesn't wreck our day at all.

If two naps is something that YOU absolutely don't want to deal with than I would tell the parents. I don't think it's fair to the child if they really need that nap still, so it will be up to the parents to stay with you or find another dcp. IF the child is showing signs of not needing the morning nap than I just wouldn't nap her and tell the parents at the end of the day "xxx only napped at afternoon nap for xxx hours. She had a great day and wasn't cranky/tired etc"....keep doing this and telling them and I can't see it being a problem. You can't make a child nap if they aren't tired and she will eventually resist them at home too so it should all work out.

This is pretty much what I do too. Nothing worse than a child who couldn't eat because they were so tired having needed that catnap AM because it only backfires when they sleep for a shorter duration because they wake up hungry!

Napping early enough means they don't interrupt the day. Kids will nap in a stroller too if there is a morning walk for school drop off etc.

[sandylynn]

I agree mattsmom....I also do only 1 nap a day....otherwise we will be entertaining this 2 nap child in the afternoon while the others are sleeping....so we would get our WELL DESERVED break ..when? I just do it...I don't ask.....if they question it....I flat out tell them...a morning nap interferes with the schedule, and having 1 good nap in the afternoon works well...

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree mattsmom....I also do only 1 nap a day....otherwise we will be entertaining this 2 nap child in the afternoon while the others are sleeping....so we would get our WELL DESERVED break ..when? I just do it...I don't ask.....if they question it....I flat out tell them...a morning nap interferes with the schedule, and having 1 good nap in the afternoon works well...

I understand wanting a break! Fortunately, all mine (even the morning nappers) nap 2-2.5 hours in the afternoon! Lucky I am!!

[Busy ECE mommy]

The child is fine without morning nap. The problem is the interruption, as we do the school run and then snack, so morning nap isn't until around 9:45 for about 45 mins. We have to be outdoors within 15 mins of the child waking, so she misses out on morning activities, and then we race to get dressed and enjoy time outside(shortened due to am naps). Since all of the younger ones have grown out of it, should I just gradually shorten it?

[Busy ECE mommy]

This is not a child who will nap in the stroller-ever-no matter how tired she is.