No Naptime Here

[Country Kids]

OK, talked to the CCR&R about rest times for childcare where I live. They have to have a rest time but not a clear time of how long. Can be 5 min as far as she was concerned.

So, since I have not had any type of break for roughly two weeks the parents will be getting a newsletter from me. The gal thought it was a great idea and said go for it.

We are going to have lunch and then go outside for roughly 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Then we will come in lay down for 15 min and proceed to then get up and have snack. They can be tired and cranky on mom and dads time. I've had it with trying to keep them quite and still. They won't do anything quite during rest time. The gal I talked to said my age range 2/3 should still be taking a nap of some sort. She was very shocked to here all of them would not lay down for me. Its like they can't turn their body and brains off!!!!! I have one that has been talking in their pnp for almost two hours!! In the livingroom by themselves just talking away.

I've also actually started having some issues health wise since this all started and my body and mind can't take it anymore. The stress by the end of the day is so much on me and then I have to start my second shift-my family. I'm actually starting to just want to be by myself all evening because my body is in such overload from the stress of the day. I went for a walk last night and wanted so much to be by myself by my daughter asked if she could go. What do you say-no the dck's have me so stressed that I just want to be by myself and not you. I just ****ed it up and took her-it was nice. Just her, the dog and me.

Have any of you actually had all of your children not suddenly nap at one time? If so what were your remedies and how long did it last?

[caligirl]

So what is your schedule/routine like during the day? What activities, outside and inside are you doing before nap? I'm just trying to figure this out for you....maybe put our brains together and see what we can come up with.

[christinaskids]

I have to sit with all my kids during nap time otherwise they will do this. maybe have some lullabies on, lights low, blackout curtains might all help. It sounds like you arent being firm enough with them or they wouldnt push you around like they do. Fifteen minutes isnt much time to settle down and sleep. Id also let them know in the morning that their behavior is no longer acceptable and they all have to sleep so they know what to expect.

[nannyde]

Have any of you actually had all of your children not suddenly nap at one time? If so what were your remedies and how long did it last?

I have never had that happen. I don't offer a no nap service so as soon as they have outgrown nap they move on.

I couldn't even do a week of what you are doing. I would have to shut my doors down and find another job. It wouldn't be able to physically do it.

[Live and Learn]

So you are going to be watching awake kids for an extra 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours a day?

In my opinion you either need to....

1) train them to take a nap. It can be done for EVERY child. I imagine the reason why the CCR&R was surprised was because she KNOWS that every child can be trained to nap.

Or

2) increase your rates to reflect no break for you.

Good luck.

[Country Kids]

They all took naps till about two weeks ago! Then suddenly they won't take naps. Only one ended up taking a nap today and that was about an hours worth.

I know kids can train to take naps but they have suddenly all untrained! My husband even got on all of them and he said you know its bad when a two year old laughs at you when you are being dead serious.

I can't term 6 children. Financially we would trainwreck and people in this area aren't pounding doors down looking for full time care.

Invested this month in black out curtains, cd of soft music and then found a
1 1/2 hour long lullaby music video that I minimize on the computer. Even cut tv time out for the most part.

Most of these children are getting here between 6:30-7:30 and have been up since 6:00! You think they would be exhausted.

Here's my schedule for those who asked.

6:30-kids start arriving
7:00-Feed kids breakfast
Free Play till 8:30
8:00-Diaper changing/potty breaks
8:30-10:00=Preschool time
10:00-Diaper change/Potty breaks
10:30-Snack
10:45-Outdoor time
12:00-Come in/diaper change/potty break
12:15-lunch, clean up
1:00-lay down
3:00-Get Up
3:00-Diaper changes,potty breaks,snack
3:30-Outside time till 5;00 when everyone goes home

I had a problem earlier this month but not like this! The black out curtains helped for awhile but then it seems to have hit the fan. The only other thing I can think of is the change in the weather. Maybe for one or two but not all of them.

The one I had problems with last week is stilling struggling but parents are 100% on board with helping me. So its now time to talk to the other families and see how on board they are. Its not the parents for me, its the kids and naptime!

Wish me luck!

[Country Kids]

I have never had that happen. I don't offer a no nap service so as soon as they have outgrown nap they move on.

I couldn't even do a week of what you are doing. I would have to shut my doors down and find another job. It wouldn't be able to physically do it.

Nan, I told my husband today that I was about ready to look for something else but I know I can't find anything that pays close to what I may now. It is physically catching up to me though and some other issues are now arising with my health. If it doesn't change soon though I don't know what I'm going to do!

[caligirl]

I have never had that happen. I don't offer a no nap service so as soon as they have outgrown nap they move on.

I couldn't even do a week of what you are doing. I would have to shut my doors down and find another job. It wouldn't be able to physically do it.

you and me both! I cant even imagine!

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

How are the children behaving before nap time? Do they start acting tired and whiny, fussy, emotional? Acting out in anger for the least little thing? In other words, do they show any signs of being tired, or do they stay in good moods and ready to go for the whole day, all the way through lunch and into nap (even though they aren't sleeping)? Our children are 3-5 yrs old, and we usually know when it's nap time because they get really emotional, throw fits over everything, any little thing sends them over the edge, they become demanding and forget all manners, and mainly just do a LOT of crying. Other days they stay wired and ready to go like the energizer bunny (!), but after we have them all on their cots, and lights out, patting their backs, they get quiet and eventually go to sleep (with one exception, who usually fights it for awhile before falling asleep).

Are they able to go outside in mid morning to play for awhile until lunch time? Or maybe it would work for you to take them out again after lunch for a half hour, and then back inside to sit down and listen while you read them a story before turning lights out and laying them down for nap. While they're outside make sure they're running around like crazy. Get them all wound up and hyper so they can run that energy off before they come in for nap. Chase them all around your yard/playground, play tag, simon says, duck duck goose, etc. Or do exercises with them like jumping jacks or running/jumping in place.

Oh, I was just thinking, what time are your children all arriving? Our children have to arrive by 9 am (because of preschool), but if someone doesn't arrive until right at 9, that child doesn't normally go to sleep at nap. And if they do, it's just for a few minutes, because they usually sleep in at home until 5 min before they have to be here. So if you have children arriving late, they probably won't be tired at nap. We've even had to go so far as asking parents to make sure their child wakes up at their normal time when they'll be arriving later than they usually do (that's for the part time families who want an extra day of care so they can go to dr appointments, cleaning around the house, etc).

[sahm2three]

I feel your pain, but I have decided, I am going to just invest in enough play pens for the ones who refuse to sleep, and put them all in a room together and let them SCREAM together. I am DONE letting them run the show. Either they sleep or they don't, but I WILL have a break. I told all the parents this, and they understand that I have to have a break. None of them would be willing to work a 10 to 11 hour shift with no break, so why should we have to? Anyway, hugs, I feel your pain.

[Heidi]

I feel your pain, but I have decided, I am going to just invest in enough play pens for the ones who refuse to sleep, and put them all in a room together and let them SCREAM together. I am DONE letting them run the show. Either they sleep or they don't, but I WILL have a break. I told all the parents this, and they understand that I have to have a break. None of them would be willing to work a 10 to 11 hour shift with no break, so why should we have to? Anyway, hugs, I feel your pain.

yep-

You can lead a horse to water.....

But you CAN make them stay in bed, and you can divide-and-conquer

Anyone under 2 goes in a playpen, and seperate, if possible. Anyone over 2 gets threatened with a playpen if they aren't "big" enough to stay on their mat and be quiet.

Once they are 4, they may not need a nap everyday (some a little younger), but they WILL lay on their bed and be quiet. I give them a couple books or a stuffed animal, but only if they are quiet.

[Crystal]

The whole situation with all of the children suddenly not napping seems like a wierd phenomenon!! I have never had that either. Has anything changed in the environment at all?

[daycare]

Have you changed the meal times or kind of food?
I've never had this issue. Lunch is over we read one story to unwind, pop in the music and all are sleeping like babies within minutes. I had all 3-4 yr old kids. Now I am down to two kids.

I tell them if they are messing around that they wont grow big and strong. That their bodies need sleep so they can grow.
If that does not work I tell them they will have to sleep in a baby crib that's in the empty den.. Lol it's just a little office space with one wall and there is nothing in it.

[daycare]

Have you changed the meal times or kind of food?
I've never had this issue. Lunch is over we read one story to unwind, pop in the music and all are sleeping like babies within minutes. I had all 3-4 yr old kids. Now I am down to two kids.

I tell them if they are messing around that they wont grow big and strong. That their bodies need sleep so they can grow.
If that does not work I tell them they will have to sleep in a baby crib that's in the empty den.. Lol it's just a little office space with one wall and there is nothing in it.

Sorry also how much movement do you guys have throughout your day?
Maybe you can have more movement added to your program in the preschool time.

My kids are telling me they are tired when I announce outside play time before lunch.

Tire them out...

[dave4him]

Winter season is going to make it harder since we cant let the little ones out to run a muck! What do you do in the bad weather days?