What Is Your Nap Policy?

[wdmmom]

I previously posted, "I can't stop laughing." A thread in which a DCM basically tried pleading with me about her child's nap.


I only care for children infant through age 5.

My policy is very simple. If your child doesn't require a full afternoon nap, I don't provide services.

I don't offer substitutions. Nap or nothing. No tv, no books, no toys, etc.

The only thing I offer is that if their child won't nap or the parents don't want their child to nap, they can pay $25 per day more (my assistants wages) to provide 1 on 1 care.

I'm curious how many of you require full afternoon naps, don't require naps, offer a rest time, or offer just quiet play....



If anyone could put up a poll, that'd be awesome!

wdmmom: You can add a poll by using the Thread Tools down menu on the top right side of your post. (The blue area) :-)

[Zoe]

When my DD5 is home from school and the SA same age are both here, they lay down in my DD's room for half hour, watching a movie, then they can play for the rest of the time quietly. This only works because they are friends and can play with my DD's toys quietly. I wouldn't do this for anyone else.

Everyone else naps, in our spare bedroom. For at least 2 hours. No one has challenged it so I've never had to stress the fact. I just bring it up when we are reading the policy together. This is when we have nap, this is where your child will be sleeping, nap is for 2 hours. Then I move on.

[Heidi]

Our state requires that any child under the age of 5, in care for more than 4 hours per day, be offered a nap/rest period. If they do not sleep after 30 min, they are to be offered quiet activities.

Technically, it says they are to be allowed to GET UP and have quiet activities. I kind of cheat there. I give my one 4 yo sometimes napper a nice cozy place to sleep or to play, but he has to stay on or near the mat. That said, I only have the one non-napper, and 4 of 5 of my children are from one family. So, next year, he will be in school, and his 4 yo sister may get the same deal. She will be better trained than he is, I hope, so maybe she will just continue to nap like she does now. It's kind of tough when they come to you at 4 and don't nap anymore!

[Christian Mother]

I put in my phb that all children must nap here. No nap no services. I do not offer one on one care as I am a group daycare provider. I wouldn't even charge $25 for one on one during nap time as I use that time set aside for me to clean, eat, and recharge. To me it's not worth it not to mention if the other children got wind of me allowing another child or parent...to stay up and get "special"...I am sure you can imagine what would happen next!

[2ndFamilyDC]

Full afternoon naps or nothing. No quiet time, no reading just sleeping or this is not the place for your child.

[DaycareMama]

I voted don't require naps only because I let them lay on the mat. BUT I am soon switching to only napping children allowed. Its an extremily long day and I need the small break to regroup

[momofsix]

Some of my kids are older, I don't stop care at age 4-5.
These kids don't always need to sleep, but they do need to rest.
They need to lie quietly on their sleeping bags until everyone else is asleep and then I will let them get up and play quietly. My sleepers will sleep through anything-so they don't bother them. If they start to bother ME (if I'm busy cleaning, paperwork, eating, daycare.com-ing )then they need to lay back down. You only get to get up and play if you can play independently for rest time.

[hoopinglady]

I put "offer rest time" but honestly ALL my kids have ALWAYS napped. They play hard in the mornings and are on a really good schedule. I have them stay on their mats until 330, with a book or small toy if they get too fidgety. I try to hold out until 4 to serve snack and stuff but I bring them into the workshop at 330 if they starting getting loud.

Now I have a mom that picks up at 345. Oh, is everyone sleeping? They WERE!!

[snbauser]

I put offer rest time but most of my kids nap every day. I provide care for 2 - 5 year olds. The 2 year olds usually nap the entire 1 1/2 hours. The older ones some days do and some days don't. I allow them to take a book to their cot at the begining of quiet time. If they don't want to sleep or if they wake up early, they can lay quietly and read their book.