Naps & daycare

theuntaggablek · August 2011

So I pick up my lo from daycare yesterday, and notice he's just taken one nap - a long one in the afternoon, but just one nap. So I ask the teacher about it, and she says they've decided to shift all the babies in the room (ranging from 6 mo-10 mo) to just an afternoon nap, since they weren't sleeping all that great in the morning.

Our lo wakes up at 5 or 5:30 most mornings, and so I know would be *EXHAUSTED* by 12:30 or 1:00. We've worked really hard to get him on a morning nap & afternoon nap schedule, and he often has his best nap in the morning on weekends.

I understand oh-to-well the challenges of getting a baby to nap, and can imagine it's magnified 10x with multiple babies, but I don't really think it's the daycare provider's decision to make. Am I oversensitive about this? If not, tips for talking to the daycare?

Serendipity117 · August 2011

Is this a center? I know because I work at a daycare that in Michigan babies are "eat and sleep on demand" until the age of one. So, if it's the same rules where you are at and they are dictating when your LO can sleep that is just plain wrong. I'd be asking about your states regulations and rules. Oh and I'd be upset because this is not their call, especially since they didn't discuss it with you first.

bumpuser260585 · August 2011

I would be upset about that. J has never been a great napper at dc or home, but he still needs time to relax & lay down. I would tell them that they need to at least put him in his crib for a while to let him rest.

kat81again2 · August 2011

You are right, the DC is wrong in my opinion. At DS's daycare he sleeps on demand.

JoJoMama730 · August 2011

I'd be ticked about this, particularly if the daycare has indicated it offers "on demand" care in terms of naps, eating, etc. I don't think one nap is enough for most babies. Seems a conversation with the director of the center is in order.

watermellens · August 2011

I would be ticked too especially if they made this decision on their own without consulting you.

My niece took a morning and afternoon nap until she was 1 1/2!

IncogNeato · August 2011

Yeah, that's way too young to start babies on just one nap. They aren't supposed to drop the morning nap until closer to 1.5 years.

I know my DC lady suffers through trying to get my cranky child to nap twice a day but I appreciate her efforts!

theuntaggablek · August 2011

Thanks everybody! I thought it was something they should discuss with me, but haven't had many problems with the provider thus far and so was so taken aback that I didn't have the guts to say anything right away.

It was strange, too, since the other daycare teacher had been really pro-morning nap when S was a teeny guy.

Maybe their vision of 'on-demand' is "falls asleep while playing," but I'd like them to be proactive when they see glazed eyes a bit of fussiness.

Anyway, I will urge them to reinstate the nap tomorrow morning!

pitterpatter129 · August 2011

Ugh. I'm not a huge fan of daycares right now. My child was covered (COVERED) in his food and dried snot when I picked him up today. He's not napping well at daycare either. I would be upset if they decided my baby only needed one nap. You should probably talk to both the teacher and the director.

lrn327 · August 2011

I'm so glad to hear you are going to talk to the DC. I'd definitely start with the director since it doesn't sound like a decision that a teacher should make on his or her own. Our DC also does napping on demand (or around the times suggested by the parents) until 1 year. Good luck and please update us on your conversation!