No Naptime Here

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

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?

Pull our hair out and scream along with them... and wish we could take a nap and let them handle all the responsibilities since they want to stay awake so badly anyway We had a couple of really wet rainy days in a row that gave me a peek into this winter. Makes me want to run for cover and hibernate for the winter

[cheerfuldom]

I would first of all, have them down sooner, more like 11:30 or 12. My kids would be up all day if I pushed it to 1. Second, I separate the ones that are the worse with crying or talking and use pack n plays for as many as possible (with the weight limits). After that, if they are awake, fine but I would never, ever give up on nap time.

[momofsix]

With the fall weather is it possible that parents are giving them allergy meds that would keep them awake? Iknow probably unlikely that all 6 would be, but you never know!
Also, maybe play outside after lunch for a bit, that way they're not going down right after lunch?
What a tough situation. There's no way they should not be sleeping
I really hope you can figure something out that doesn't involve even more work for you!

[Country Kids]

After alot of thoughts of what to do, I'm going to try a new schedule this week and see if it helps.

6:30-8:30=Children arrive and have free play
8:00=Diaper changes/Bathroom time
8:30-8:50=Outside for play
9:00-10:30=Preschool time
10:30=Diaper changes/Bathroom time/snack time
11:00=Finish up preschool
11:30=Morning Walk
12:00=Diaper changes/Bathroom time/lunch
12:45-1;30=Playtime outside
1;30=Inside to get ready for rest time
1:45-3:00=Rest time
3:00=Wake up/Diaper changes/Bathroom Time/Snack
3:45-5:00=Outdoor time (weather permitting), free play

Wish me luck! Will post later to see if this works and makes them tired enough to sleep.

[cheerfuldom]

I hope that works for you! I still can't imagine not having nap until 2. If this doesn't work, I would encourage you to try a week of early naps.

[sassysue]

Your schedule seems a little too hectic.
Try this for 30 days and see if it improves.
7:45.m.- 8:00a.m.-Diapers/Bathroom time
8:00 am.-9:30a.m.- Pre-school time
9:30a.m.-10:00a.m.-snack Diaper'Bathroom time
10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. Outside Play/Morning walk
11:00a.m.-11:30a.m. Quiet play,make lunch
11:30a.m.-12:00p.m.-Lunch
12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. Diapers/Bathroom time,Story time
(No loud activities during this time,No t.v.,music toys)
1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Nap
Try sitting in the nap room with them until everyone is asleep,it may take two hours the first day but stay calm and repeat"Lay down it's nap time" whenever they sit up or play around. Keep laying the babies down saying the same thing.
3:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Diapers/Bathroom time/Snack
4:00p.m.-5:00p.m.-Free play(time for you to start closing for the day)
Just a thought but I'm thinking they are too wound up, rushed from each activity and over-tired.
Create a calm environment from right after outdoor play until nap time.
Plus routine-routine-routine! I can't say that enough!
Good luck friend!

After alot of thoughts of what to do, I'm going to try a new schedule this week and see if it helps.

6:30-8:30=Children arrive and have free play
8:00=Diaper changes/Bathroom time
8:30-8:50=Outside for play
9:00-10:30=Preschool time
10:30=Diaper changes/Bathroom time/snack time
11:00=Finish up preschool
11:30=Morning Walk
12:00=Diaper changes/Bathroom time/lunch
12:45-1;30=Playtime outside
1;30=Inside to get ready for rest time
1:45-3:00=Rest time
3:00=Wake up/Diaper changes/Bathroom Time/Snack
3:45-5:00=Outdoor time (weather permitting), free play

Wish me luck! Will post later to see if this works and makes them tired enough to sleep.

[morgan24]

Good luck with your new schedule. I hope it works for you because I can not function without some type of nap from my kids.

I have 2 that are 2 1/2 if they stayed up until 1:45 my window for nap with them would be gone. They get here at 8:30 and have been up since 6:30. They eat lunch at 11:30 and to right to nap. A couple of days I was running behind and didn't get them laid down until 1:00 and they would not nap. I think they got their second wind.

[laundrymom]

We do active play inside, in the mornings, and go out in afternoons. I have littles and the grass is dry in the afternoons. I'd tell them they need to nap so we can go outside.

[mismatchedsocks]

I think you need to move the nap UP instead of later. Lay down by 1130-12. I bet they are overtired. No juice, no chocolate milk, no sweets, watch amount of fruits they have. Set temperature in room a little warmer.

Good luck!

[Country Kids]

It's so quiet! Afraid to type because they might wake up-. They loved the new schedule and being able to play after lunch and before naptime. I may try and tweak it so that we do lunch earlier-11:30, play outside and then down for nap. Will see how this goes for this week first.

All of my parents want them to take naps here. If they don't most are asleep by 6-7 because they are so tired. It is really screwing evening times up at home I guess. They aren't blaming me but we are all trying to figure out what to do.

One of them didn't nap all weekend (Friday-Sunday) to parents dismays-. Was up from 6:30 on Friday to 9:00 that night. Wouldn't nap at all for me, just talk, talk, talk. Then had a 4 hour car ride Sat., left during naptime so child would sleep, had been up since early-no go. Child was up till 9:00 that night and back up at 5:00 (on their own) the next morning. Didn't fall asleep till 7:00 last night. Child just turned 2-. Luckily sleeping today but is very strong willed and most of the time doesn't want to nap but talk.

I have had all of these guys for a year and something in the last two weeks have caused them not to sleep for some reason. I am so routine they can tell you what happens next-. I pray they start sleeping every single day!

They thing is they are all little-2 and 3. None take morning naps, even at home all parents lay down in afternoon after lunch. They aren't sleeping for the parents either though so laying down during the morning I don't think would help.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

[CheekyChick]

No... You deserve a break!!!

I have struggled for a looooooong time with my current group. I finally put two in P&P's. This helped tremendously. You can pick up used P&P's for $20.00 or $30.00 on CL.

Secondly, I pass out stuffed animals at the beginning of nap time. If someone is talking - teddy bear goes bye-bye. Well, I actually give a couple of warnings, but that's about it. I am sitting here right now with EVERYONE sleeping.

Hope this helps.

[Country Kids]

Cheekychick where have you been my friend? Missed reading your post and knowing you were close by-. Hope all is fine and welcome back.

I actually thought about the stuffed animals and may still do that. This fall I returned all pnp's to parents because I was tired of putting them up and down every day and no where to keep them up all the time.

One parent actually brought me on though because of all the problems I was having with a child. It takes up so much room though but I don't want to put it up and down everyday but might start doing that-.