How does your 1-2 year old nap at daycare?

dangerkitty102 · September 2011

So yesterday LO fell asleep in the car on the way home. Did I mention the car ride is only about 2 minutes? His in-home care is only about 10 houses down from ours and DH just swung by on his way home from work yesterday.

I tried to get him up to feed him, but he just cried and cried until I put him in his crib and he slept ALL NIGHT. No supper or anything. No bath, no jammies, not even a diaper change. He slept about 13 hours altogether.

I texted my mommy friend whose son (same age) goes to the same in home care (it is just the two of them and then one newborn baby). She said her kid got home and had his first huge tantrum, was screaming, banging his head, throwing things etc.

So okay, we are guessing these kids didn't nap yesterday. There have been other times DS has come home extremely tired and cranky. I just don't know what to think of it, or if I should be upset/concerned or not.

For one - I only get maybe 2 hours with my baby in the evenings before he goes to bed, that's it! I'd like those 2 hours to be quality time where he's in a good mood, and you know - AWAKE.

But I also understand this is a daycare, with two toddlers naping in the same room, and maybe it's unrealistic to expect them to nap as well there as they do at home?

Sorry this is long! Can you tell me how well your 1-2 year old naps at daycare? Do they have just one nap a day or two? What are the napping conditions (separate cribs, nap mats, music on, dark room?) What would you do in my situation?

d0ri · September 2011

Don't you get a report of how long your DS naps everyday? DD naps once a day for about 1-2 hrs. Everyone naps at the same time on a mat with the lights dim. I don't remember if there is a music playing. I've only been at daycare once while the kids were napping.

dangerkitty102 · September 2011

No reports which is a little annoying. We just have a conversation about the day when I pick LO up, but yesterday DH picked him up and didn't ask the questions I normally do.

financialdiva · September 2011

DS is 19 months and goes to a center. All the kids in his classroom nap at the same time on mats. They dim the lights, they have music playing and the teachers go around the room and rub their backs to help all the toddlers get to sleep. Usually he naps about 2 hours, but he does have his days where it is cut short for whatever reason. When he was an infant- he napped horribly because they were all on different schedules.

He isn't going to nap as well as he does at home, but he still should be napping. I would talk to your provider and see what she is doing to help your LO nap and/or discuss a plan with her to help her get him to nap.

You did the right thing by letting him sleep last night. I know it sucks, but it was what he needed. Plus- sleep brings on more sleep so he may nap well today since he isn't over tired.

xtencornfield · September 2011

We no longer get reports either from our in-home, which can be frustrating if one of us forgets to ask.

DS is 17-18 mos and has been down to one nap at DC since just before 15 mos. All of the kids nap at the same time on cots in a dimly lit room. DS usually takes about an hour nap at DC (usually sleeps closer to 2 hours at home--sometimes up to 3 if he's really tired from the week) and then 12 hours at night (he goes to bed at 7 pm).

He's certainly not completely tantrum-free in the evenings but he's mostly adjusted to only having that hour per day. Some days he is a bear though, like last night, and on those nights, we just suck it up and put him down earlier because he's obviously over-tired:(

emberlee3 · September 2011

Since age 1, DS has napped on a little cot w/padded mat & blanket at daycare. All the children have nap/quiet time together. DS is actually a much better napper at school than at home, but still comes home exhausted some days. Unless it's happening every day, I wouldn't get too worried about it. I keep DS home with me a lot (I work a weird schedule), and even under perfect conditions, his naps are extremely variable. It just happens.

azuremama · September 2011

We're at a center, but once DS went to the toddler room where they all lay down at the same time, he slept great. He went to one nap at daycare at a year. They use a dark room, nap mats, and sometimes music.

I'd talk to the provider. Even if they're in the same room, they ought to be able to sleep. Maybe something just went wrong yesterday?

Leap08 · September 2011

My daughter is 22 months and goes to a center. All the toddlers nap at the same time on cots in a fairly dark room with music. She normally sleeps for 2.5-3 hours.

KathrynMD · September 2011

since DD was about 10 months old, she's been taking one nap/day at daycare from 1-3. Her naps on teh weekends are hit or miss, but at daycare they are good. I'd be bothered if my kid was not regularly getting a decent nap at daycare.

hoping4sticky · September 2011

My LO is just shy of 11 months, but she is at an inhome with older kids and she naps 3 hours. I would ask for a report but I would also ask for her schedule. Even if the older kids do not nap it is quiet time from 12 - 2.

WinesNot Whines · September 2011

My 13 (almost 14) month old usually takes one nap at daycare that lasts anywhere from 30-90 minutes. He's still in the infant room, so he sleeps in a crib.

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