Have You Ever Dozed Off During Nap Time?

[Unregistered]

I wonder if anyone has had any experience with this?

I'm 35w pregnant, and have 5 DCK and by nap time I just can't keep my eyes open. I try and clean the kitchen or get an activity ready for the afternoon but I find myself dozing off sitting on the couch while cutting stuff out even! I feel very guilty about this. It's not like I'm going to my bed and napping, but dozing off for maybe even a few minutes at a time. I'm sure I've slept for 10 mins and woken up freaking out. All my kids are very sound sleepers and are sleeping in the sleep room safely right beside the living room where I usually sit to get stuff ready for after nap. Ah, I feel like I am just making excuses.

So, honestly have you ever dozed off like that during the day?
I am trying to work up until the very end but it's getting hard, especially the last 2 weeks.

Any advice?

[Breezy]

I have before. Everyone else sleeping bottle feeding a baby on the couch I have for a few seconds. Felt great to close my eyes and gave me the refresher I needed. Nothing too deep just basically in la la land.

[Creek]

Even back when I was working in centre care during nap time if I had to rub one of their backs on their bed I would sometimes close my eyes while I was rubbing their back. I only wish I could tell the child to move over, that I need a nap too, haha. Don't be so hard on yourself, and congratulations!

[Nellie]

I try not to sit down when I feel tired at nap time(but I'm not pregnant). I have a little on that has had a cough for the last 2 weeks and in the middle of the night he will start coughing so bad that sometimes he throws up. So for the last 2 weeks I wake up every time he coughs incase he vomits. I clean the kitchen at nap and work on activites for the kids while standing up. Sometimes I bring the lab top and set it on the counter and watch a little tv or check in on Daycare.com. Well one day last week I started to doze off while standing at the counter trying to read something. So now that happened I need to just keep moving. I have a front porch attached to the living room and I find sitting out in the frest air wakes me up. I leave the door open and the door to the nap room is 10 ft from that door way so I hear if any wakes up. My baby hasn't been very good about napping when the older ones are napping so most of the time I'm busy with him. The day I started to doze off while standing the baby woke up 1/2 way through nap and I sat on the porch and fed him his bottle. One of the parents came early to pick up and I was holding the sleeping baby outside. I told them if I sat in the warm house I'd probable want to go to sleep too. There comment was "I don't know why you wouldn't. If every one else is sleeping you might as well too. Our old sitter told us that she napped at nap time. " Considering that my only other family is "the napping provider" I'm sure no one would have a problem if I did accidently fall asleep at nap, but there is a different level of care that I need to provide vs if it were my own kids. I can let my own kids outside by themself and watch though the window while I do the dishes or fold towels, but I wouldn't dare let DC outside without me being right there. The same thing goes for sleeping. And if for some reason something bad happened, I'm sure I'd never forgive myself. You are almost there. Do you have any friends or family that could come and sit with you during nap time. You could nap while the kids are napping and have someone there to supervise nap time. Even if you could get someone twice a week, you would feel the difference. Congratulations on the new bundle of joy, hope he/she comes soon/but not too soon.

[Michael]

I found this thread for 2010 about napping providers: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20708

[Hunni Bee]

We've probably all done it a time or two. Especially on those dark, rainy afternoons. If I feel myself dozing off, I go do some chores

[Unregistered]

I'm 6 weeks and about to die from exhaustion. Yesterday at naptime I put all of the kids to bed with gates on the doors, and I laid down at the top of the stairs, set my alarm for 30 minutes out, and closed my eyes. I wasn't planning on sleeping, and actually never fell asleep, but I did allow myself deep relaxation. If the kids did wake up, they would have to open the door, scale the gate, and climb literally over me before getting down the stairs. The rest of my house is like a fortress that most adults can't even open the doors to get out, so I feel confident that even if any of that happened, and they were to get down stairs without me knowing, they would still be safe. Disclaimer: nothing is full proof.

I know some people would still judge me for even doing that, but when you are exhausted, working 50+ hours a week, pregnant, taking care of too many kids because you have to, and waking up too early, etc, sometimes you just have to occasionally do what you have to do to get by.

[Blackcat31]

I'm 6 weeks and about to die from exhaustion. Yesterday at naptime I put all of the kids to bed with gates on the doors, and I laid down at the top of the stairs, set my alarm for 30 minutes out, and closed my eyes. I wasn't planning on sleeping, and actually never fell asleep, but I did allow myself deep relaxation. If the kids did wake up, they would have to open the door, scale the gate, and climb literally over me before getting down the stairs. The rest of my house is like a fortress that most adults can't even open the doors to get out, so I feel confident that even if any of that happened, and they were to get down stairs without me knowing, they would still be safe. Disclaimer: nothing is full proof.

I know some people would still judge me for even doing that, but when you are exhausted, working 50+ hours a week, pregnant, taking care of too many kids because you have to, and waking up too early, etc, sometimes you just have to occasionally do what you have to do to get by.

Uh uh..no way!!!! I am sorry but that is just an excuse. If you are exhausted from working 50+ hours per week and pregnant and taking care of too many kids then you need to do something about it.

Work less, take fewer kids. Do whatever you have to do but please don't make excuses for the safety of ANY child you are in charge of.

If I were a parent and read that you are doing this I would be reporting you immediately and pulling my child immediately as well! I am paying you to care for him. Not just while he is awake but at ALL TIMES!!

Am I judging you for this? Not for being tired and stressed due to being pregnant but absolutely for not making the right choices. You need to lighten you load if you are having trouble and either watch less kids or work less hours. Which ever will work so that you dont have to lie down while you are being paid to watch someone else's child.

Do your DCF's know that you are laying down during the day? Are they ok with it? We have been over this before on the forum and I think it was pretty clear that the majority of providers would not think napping on the job is alright.

You can say your house is a fortress and that you have taken every precaution out there but it is still just an excuse. Unless your daycare parents AND CPS are all aware of these actions and okay with them what I think you are doing is wrong!!!!!

You said your self.....nothing is fool proof so you are taking a chance that would land you in some major hot water God forbid should something happen!

Please take a day off and get some rest or please lighten your work load. Cut your hours, term some kids....I don't know but you need to do what ever you need to do so that you aren't feeling the need to put other people's children in danger.

Here is a great thread to remind people of the dangers if napping on the job : https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40903

[godiva83]

Running a daycare is hard work and add the extra stress of doing it pregnant it can make it even more taxing.
However, it isn't safe or professional to 'nap' while on the clock IMO.
Anything can happen and you need to be on the ball at all times. Say, you had a C02 leak or fire and needed to evacuate immediately... Waking up to that situation your head would not be clear, time is against you ect.

I just say don't or no you CAN'T do it - even though it is very tempting when you on your last legs.
Get some fresh air, meditate, do some Yoga but don't sleep please.

[Heidi]

I COMPLETELY empathize with all of you who are preggers and are fighting fatigue.

Is it possible that any of you could get a family member to come over in the afternoons during nap and just hang out while you nap? That way, you have an alert adult on the premises, and you could actually sleep for 20 minutes guilt free...

[B Lou]

I would have to say there have been dozens of time where I wanted to lie down and take a nap. But I'm not paid for napping. So when my DCK are sleeping I take that time to get things picked back up or lunch dishes washed up. If anything it's a good time for me to get a salad made for our dinner. T

This way I can still make sure the DCk are safe and sound(which is what I get paid for) and get my own stuff done as well.

In my opinion it is never ok to nap during DC hours.

[Unregistered]

Blackcat are you kidding me?

Uh uh..no way!!!! I am sorry but that is just an excuse. If you are exhausted from working 50+ hours per week and pregnant and taking care of too many kids then you need to do something about it.

Work less, take fewer kids. Do whatever you have to do but please don't make excuses for the safety of ANY child you are in charge of.

If I were a parent and read that you are doing this I would be reporting you immediately and pulling my child immediately as well! I am paying you to care for him. Not just while he is awake but at ALL TIMES!!

Am I judging you for this? Not for being tired and stressed due to being pregnant but absolutely for not making the right choices. You need to lighten you load if you are having trouble and either watch less kids or work less hours. Which ever will work so that you dont have to lie down while you are being paid to watch someone else's child.

Do your DCF's know that you are laying down during the day? Are they ok with it? We have been over this before on the forum and I think it was pretty clear that the majority of providers would not think napping on the job is alright.

You can say your house is a fortress and that you have taken every precaution out there but it is still just an excuse. Unless your daycare parents AND CPS are all aware of these actions and okay with them what I think you are doing is wrong!!!!!

You said your self.....nothing is fool proof so you are taking a chance that would land you in some major hot water God forbid should something happen!

Please take a day off and get some rest or please lighten your work load. Cut your hours, term some kids....I don't know but you need to do what ever you need to do so that you aren't feeling the need to put other people's children in danger.

Here is a great thread to remind people of the dangers if napping on the job : https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40903

I wrote that I "never intended on sleeping" and that I "did NOT fall asleep." I was not laying down to take a nap. I laid down on the FLOOR at the top of the stairs (probably the most uncomfortable place ever) and closed my eyes for a few minutes. Are you telling me that I should be reported for closing my eyes and relaxing for a few minutes while everyone else was asleep!?! I was making the point that I had safeguards in place in the event that I did ACCIDENTALLY fall asleep, which I reiterate to you again, that I did not. Your response is extremely judgmental and over the top , considering all I did was close my eyes and NOT sleep. You dont know my family's financial situation, or anything about my daycare or home. If I could take a day off I would. If I didn't have to work so many hours I would not. If I could drop a kid or two I would. I cannot do those things. I am not putting anyone's children in danger at all, in any way whatsoever. Are you kidding me?

I see no problem with closing one's eyes while everyone is safely sleeping. I do have ears- I can hear what is going on away from me 10 feet away. I was NOT sleeping or napping, I was resting. I set an alarm a few minutes out incase I accidentally did fall asleep. You aren't saying anything to any of the other providers on this thread who admit to accidentally dozing off now and then. I don't think I have ever dozed off, but I have closed my eyes and allowed myself a short meditation/relaxation break, with an alarm and safeguards in the event that I did accidentally doze off. Which again, I will state that I did not intend on doing, and dod not do.

You are a very intelligent woman based on your many posts, but you tend to come off extremely judgmental and over-opinionated about some things. I see nothing wrong with closing your eyes for a few minutes without the intention of sleeping. Geeze, keep it real.

[bgmeyers]

I've only fallen asleep once. All the littles were sleeping except the two month old. He was super tired and just couldn't settle himself, so i put him on my chest in the recliner. We both dozed off and I woke with a huge start about half an hour later. That two month old is now 12 yo and one of my favorite kids in the world. I think we bonded for life that day.
My usual routine is to open all the windows at nap, put on the kettle for a fresh carafe of coffee and clean.

[Kiki]

I wrote that I "never intended on sleeping" and that I "did NOT fall asleep." I was not laying down to take a nap. I laid down on the FLOOR at the top of the stairs (probably the most uncomfortable place ever) and closed my eyes for a few minutes. Are you telling me that I should be reported for closing my eyes and relaxing for a few minutes while everyone else was asleep!?! I was making the point that I had safeguards in place in the event that I did ACCIDENTALLY fall asleep, which I reiterate to you again, that I did not. Your response is extremely judgmental and over the top , considering all I did was close my eyes and NOT sleep. You dont know my family's financial situation, or anything about my daycare or home. If I could take a day off I would. If I didn't have to work so many hours I would not. If I could drop a kid or two I would. I cannot do those things. I am not putting anyone's children in danger at all, in any way whatsoever. Are you kidding me?

I see no problem with closing one's eyes while everyone is safely sleeping. I do have ears- I can hear what is going on away from me 10 feet away. I was NOT sleeping or napping, I was resting. I set an alarm a few minutes out incase I accidentally did fall asleep. You aren't saying anything to any of the other providers on this thread who admit to accidentally dozing off now and then. I don't think I have ever dozed off, but I have closed my eyes and allowed myself a short meditation/relaxation break, with an alarm and safeguards in the event that I did accidentally doze off. Which again, I will state that I did not intend on doing, and dod not do.

You are a very intelligent woman based on your many posts, but you tend to come off extremely judgmental and over-opinionated about some things. I see nothing wrong with closing your eyes for a few minutes without the intention of sleeping. Geeze, keep it real.

I'm kind of with her on this. (BlackCat that is.) You had no idea then, nor do you EVER, if you are going to fall asleep or not when you lie down and close your eyes 'just for a few minutes'.
Those few minutes could turn into an hour of deep sleep, or 15 minutes of light sleeping for all you know.
And during your little cat nap, a great tragedy for a family could happen. There are way to many 'what if' situations surrounding this for it to be even remotely OK.
My dad used to watch my oldest DD for me while I worked, he fell asleep on the couch once while she was napping. Little did he know, she was awake, out the door, and down the street playing in the common area of his condo complex. And yes, he had up all the proper gates, and safety measures to make sure she could not get out. Kids are sneaky, and when it's quiet, they are even more sneaky! And I understand you were in the hallway, so you would have felt if anyone tried to get over you, but that isn't the only thing you have to be concerned about, what if there was something in the room they could get hurt with, what like an above poster said, there was a fire, or a gas leak, ANYTHING? Like I said, there are way to many what ifs to ever make it ok to intentionally sleep, or 'rest with your eyes closed.'

If you are that tired, I strongly suggest having somebody come to help you during nap time, so you can get some rest. If you don't have anybody, try doing something that will help keep your eyes open. Fold laundry, wash dishes, do stretching, yoga, call somebody and talk on the phone. ANYTHING, just please please, don't risk it!

[Blackcat31]

Totally not kidding!!!

I wrote that I "never intended on sleeping" and that I "did NOT fall asleep." You are right, you didn't intend on falling asleep but you said you did allow yourself to have some "deep relaxation"...so what if you DID fall asleep?!? What if a whole slew of things happened? There are way to many "what if's" that could happen. Accidents are NEVER intended....they happen even in the best of circumstances so why would you even take that risk???
I was not laying down to take a nap. I laid down on the FLOOR at the top of the stairs (probably the most uncomfortable place ever) and closed my eyes for a few minutes. Are you telling me that I should be reported for closing my eyes and relaxing for a few minutes while everyone else was asleep!?! I was making the point that I had safeguards in place in the event that I did ACCIDENTALLY fall asleep, which I reiterate to you again, that I did not.
Yes, as a parent I would report you for lying down on the job. Which I clearly stated as I feel you are being paid to watch the children at ALL times and lying down for "deep relaxation" is not watching the kids at ALL times. What if you fell asleep, which can easily happen as other posters have said? Again, what if, what if what if? I still CANNOT justify taking that risk with other people's children present. Sorry.

Your response is extremely judgmental and over the top , considering all I did was close my eyes and NOT sleep. You dont know my family's financial situation, or anything about my daycare or home. If I could take a day off I would. If I didn't have to work so many hours I would not. If I could drop a kid or two I would. I cannot do those things. I am not putting anyone's children in danger at all, in any way whatsoever. Are you kidding me?
No, I am NOT kidding you! Your family's financial situation as well as your pregnancy and lack of sleep are merely excuses to justify not being 100% FULLY alert while watching someone else's child. I also disagree that lying down and having "deep relaxation" is not putting someone else's child at risk because I believe it is. Again, what if?

I see no problem with closing one's eyes while everyone is safely sleeping. I do have ears- I can hear what is going on away from me 10 feet away. I was NOT sleeping or napping, I was resting. I set an alarm a few minutes out incase I accidentally did fall asleep. You aren't saying anything to any of the other providers on this thread who admit to accidentally dozing off now and then. The other providers who said they accidentally dozed off were doing something NOT intentially lying down. So no, I didn't say anything to them. I also didn't see them making excuses for their actions which again is why I didnt quote them. Still not safe but by the tone of their posts and the words they used, it was clear that it wasn't normal practice as they "accidentally" dozed off....which is the point I am making to you...what if you DID accidentally dozed off?

I don't think I have ever dozed off, but I have closed my eyes and allowed myself a short meditation/relaxation break, with an alarm and safeguards in the event that I did accidentally doze off. Which again, I will state that I did not intend on doing, and dod not do.

Again, accidents are NEVER intentally which is why I firmly and adamantly believe that it is our duty and responsibilty to do what ever it takes to make sure that we do EVERYTHING in our power to safeguard these children. So my feelings still stand. Lying down with the intentions to deeply relax are NOT doing everything possible because it opens up the door to way too many things that COULD happen and God forbid should something ever happen in my care......I can say with my head held high that at least I wasn't dozing, resting, napping, relaxing deeply or whatever you want to call it. I am fully awake, alert and doing what ever activites I need to do while I am watching someone else's child.
You are a very intelligent woman based on your many posts, but you tend to come off extremely judgmental and over-opinionated about some things. I see nothing wrong with closing your eyes for a few minutes without the intention of sleeping. Geeze, keep it real.

Thank you for the compliment but I AM keeping it real. Like I said, UNLESS every single one of your parents is fully aware and agrees with this type of practice, as well as CPS, I still find it absolutely NOT ok. I will continue to be judgmental and over-opinionated when it comes to the care and safety of children.

(I also responded in red above) FWIW~ You stated "in case I did accidentally fall asleep.....which to me says even YOU know it COULD happen. I simply refuse to take that risk.