To Pat or Not to Pat- Nap Question

[Lyss]

Do you rub/pat backs at nap time? or do you just have them lay down? I have one DCG (2.5yrs) that seems to need it or she just can't relax (she sleeps nearly 3 hours, after about 5mins of back rub) but a provider friend of mine said that she recommends not doing it. Just wondering what you all do.

[Hunni Bee]

Do you rub/pat backs at nap time? or do you just have them lay down? I have one DCG (2.5yrs) that seems to need it or she just can't relax (she sleeps nearly 3 hours, after about 5mins of back rub) but a provider friend of mine said that she recommends not doing it. Just wondering what you all do.

I would say not, but I lve had several children over the years who simply would not sleep without me rubbing their backs.

I say start off patting to sleep, then the next week just a hand on the back, then the next week just sitting beside the mat and so on until (hopefully) she'll be able to fall asleep independently.

Probably one who is held/rocked or TV'd to sleep at home.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Yes, absolutely, I pat, rock, sing, whatever is needed to get children to sleep. I usually sit between two mats so I can help two children at once. I do it for two reasons. Partly because I want to ensure they go to sleep. But mostly, because kids in child care are away from their families all day and share attention all day long. I think they need and deserve that physical and emotional connection.

[Creek]

I've only ever had one child that needed their back rubbed before going to sleep, and I have no problem doing it. Right now, all my DCK go down on their own quickly without any assistance.

[lil angels]

I have six in the same room right now that sleep together and one will wiggle forever if I don't rub her back. If I rusher back she is out in 5 min and will sleep for 3 hrs normally. She is only 1 and a half though so hopefully as she gets older she can do it herself.

[SilverSabre25]

5 minutes of patting for a three hour nap?! Heck yeah! As she gets closer to two I might start rubbing a little less, very gradually giving her a shift to falling asleep solo, but 5 minutes is nothing and not a hardship.

[cheerfuldom]

I never pat or do anything to get kids to sleep besides setting up a cozy environment but I will also say that most of my kids do not have to share a room with anyone when they nap.

[Kiki]

I have 4 now that just go to sleep on their own. If I knew one of them would need me to pat their back to sleep, I wouldn't hesitate to do it at all.

[Blackcat31]

I've never had to pat or rub anyone's back to help them get to sleep. I wouldn't hesitate to do so if it meant a good solid nap, however, I would do it in a manner that decreased the need for it as I wouldn't want it to be something that was absolutely needed to nap....as it seems that as soon as one kids wants/needs something then they all do.

[Sunchimes]

I have one that needs something some days. Depending on how restless she is, I pat or rub her back, sometimes she asks for a song ("Bye Baby" or "Soft Kitty"), sometimes she is down and still without any help.

Funny story: I was patting her back one day and she suddenly jumped up and said, "I burped and spit like Bubba," (her baby brother). She had spit up a little of her lunch milk. She was appalled!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I rub my youngest one's back for about 2 minutes. Everyone else has no issue getting to sleep on their own.

[Lyss]

Funny story: I was patting her back one day and she suddenly jumped up and said, "I burped and spit like Bubba," (her baby brother). She had spit up a little of her lunch milk. She was appalled!

Lol! That's too cute!


Thanks everyone! I'm going to work with the one DCG that needs a back rub to fall asleep to eventually be able to do it herself. I have a nap room with very little light and soothing music (i want to take a nap too! !) so hopefully if I try some of the ideas mentioned above that will be all it takes eventually! happyface