Gah. Daycare.

applecider

They aren't putting him down for naps so he's always exhausted by 4 pm. Today they put him down for a single 45 minute nap at noon.  WTF?

Yeah, I didn't want to play with a cheerful baby after work anyways.  Putting a screaming, overtired baby down for a nap immediately is way more fun.

I'm just frustrated.  We have to sit down and figure out childcare again.  Either nanny or DH wants to be a SAHD, but not immediately so we'd have to tough it out at daycare for a bit longer.

This is Kindercare at Northgate.  Nice people but it's just not a good situation.  Too many babies, too few hands.

Suggestions? Maybe a "It'll be okay"?

keri1013

Yuck, I'm sorry. I'm already worried this may be an issue when DS starts daycare in September...for July and August we'll have family doing it at our house so it shouldn't be such a problem. I wish I had a solution for you...could you sit down (or at least talk by phone with) the director and outline the issue and ask about putting him down for two naps, maybe specifying 10am and 2pm or something like that?

I can tell you it will be okay, eventually you will get things figured out and he'll do better with one nap as he gets bigger. But I know it's frustrating in the mean time.

stacylu

When we first started DC, I specifically wrote on their daily form, bottle at 11;00, and 3pm, nap at 9 and 1pm. I assume you have the same forms we do (we're kindercare too) and you shouldn't feel bad about over directing what you want done with your kiddo. I also spend a lot of time there with the teachers talking about how our night went and so they make sure that we're on the same page. ONe day she took a 3 hr nap and then was up all night long so now they wake her up if she sleeps more than 2 hrs.

How long has he been going there? What is the ratio of workers to babies and how long have the teachers been in the room? I love our room and teachers and have been really happy. 

Seattle_JiLLn

How on earth can a day care think one or no naps for a FIVE MONTH OLD is appropriat???  Isn't he in an infant room?  What are the other kids doing?  I'd think they'd try to get them down together? 

jen_and_tom

When dd was in the infant room, they all napped on their own schedule.  While there she only slept for maybe 45 minutes once or twice a day.  I think they typically go off of each child's cues at that age.  And the state mandated student/teacher ratio is 1:4.  That is a lot of babies to care for at once when there are regulated diaper changes every two hours, bottle feeding, etc. You certainly can suggest that the typical schedule that you have at home but it could be a challenge for them to accomodate. 

I'm sorry it's tough right now.  If it's any consolation, dd is now in a different daycare, in the waddler room (the move had nothing to do with not liking the infant program in the other daycare).  This age group is a bit more structured and they do one nap a day right after lunch.  My cat napper has started sleeping 2+ hours(!).

alyssamilaine

I would talk to them and specifically tell them that you want him to take 2 naps so that you can have some time with a happy baby in the evenings!!  Some parents only want their kids to have 1 nap because they won't go down for bed until WAY late if they take 2 naps so it's just different for each family.  Hope it all works out!

IdahoGirl

FWIW, I have the same problem at my non-daycare (it's family).  Mads just doesn't seem to like sleeping over there so much and my SIL does try to put her down and is really good with her.

It may be that Connor just doesn't like sleeping there...

I'm sorry you're going through this

noisy_penguin

Oh that sucks. I hope IPA can stay home soon.