Nap Issues

[mema]

So dcd has asked that dcb's don't sleep at rest time. I tell them everyday, and have for a year, that they don't have to sleep, but they do have to rest and after 30 minutes (or once all the littles are sleeping) I let them look at books and then move to the table with writing/coloring/puzzles, etc. They are ALWAYS the first to fall asleep. I have been just letting them go because obviously they are tired if they are sleeping before their head hits the cot. The last few days I have been constantly going in there and telling them to wake up. Now they aren't listening and are constantly breaking rules. This I think is also due to the fact they know they are leaving. They have said numerous times that they don't have to listen because they aren't staying here. If they don't lay down then the littles won't either, but if they lay down, they fall asleep. I only have to get thru this week and next, but next week is my fullest week. I normally have 4, but I will have 9 most days. I can't have the littles not napping and I don't want more attitude from the dcb's if I keep them awake. What should I do??

Ok, second problem. New dcb 4 months. I have a love/hate relationship with his pacifier. It helps calm him fabulously. He uses it to fall asleep. He will scream as soon as it falls out tho. They say to just keep putting it back in and he will go back to sleep. He "takes" 2-3 hour naps twice a day, but I have to go in there every 15-20 minutes to put it back in. Any ideas on how to help him? I haven't had one this little in a while and the last one didn't use a pacifier.

Sorry it's so long. TIA.

[jojosmommy]

Wait, why are they leaving?

I have it in my policies I will not wake up sleeping kids at specific intervals to help with sleep at home or for any other reason. Had a mom want me to allow her 2 yr old to sleep for 30 min max, dcg would sleep hours here, fell asleep the instant she laid down. She was tired. Mom didnt give it up and I just started telling her I woke her after 30 min. Suddenly her night sleep issues went away


And the paci, ohhh. That is hard. Too young to know how to keep it in and obviously uses it to soothe. Im not sure. What is worse a not sleeping infant or going in every 20 min to put it back in??? Arent we supposed to go in every 15 anyway to check breathing? That is what my lic says.

[cheerfuldom]

I would hang in there for the next two weeks until the non-napper is gone. I am assuming parents have already paid for care and that you are already committed to it. Is there anyone that can help out for a bit till this boy is gone for good?

As for the paci....what happens if you dont go in to give the paci back? Have you tried swaddling or other comfort measures?

[Blackcat31]

For your first issue, I would simply say that they still need to lay down despite the fact they are leaving and despite the fact that dcd doesnt want them to nap. If he is that concerned, then come get the kids at nap time.

I would also think that because they are leaving, the next week isn't going to kill them to follow the rules. If the kids themselves give you attitude and say they are leaving and don't have to listen then I would say "Oh, that's too bad because the other kids are going to really miss you when your gone." Just keep turning it back around on them. Heck, for the last week I might even be so inclined to give out treats AFTER nap time to those kids who donb't have an attitude and don't talk back.

The paci thing is tough. I have two babies right now and BOTH sleep in a bassinet right in the kitchen and the other in the main room where I am 99% of the time. I don't let my babes sleep behind a closed door until they are older. I "train" all mine to sleep despite any type of noises.

I guess if I were you, I would just keep going back in there and putting it back in. As soon as you get used to doing it a million times, the baby will be old enough to keep it in himself.

[mema]

Wait, why are they leaving?

I have it in my policies I will not wake up sleeping kids at specific intervals to help with sleep at home or for any other reason. Had a mom want me to allow her 2 yr old to sleep for 30 min max, dcg would sleep hours here, fell asleep the instant she laid down. She was tired. Mom didnt give it up and I just started telling her I woke her after 30 min. Suddenly her night sleep issues went away


And the paci, ohhh. That is hard. Too young to know how to keep it in and obviously uses it to soothe. Im not sure. What is worse a not sleeping infant or going in every 20 min to put it back in??? Arent we supposed to go in every 15 anyway to check breathing? That is what my lic says.

They are leaving because I don't take SA anymore and they will be off to kindy. At their age, they really shouldn't need a nap, but they are up later than me most night and they are up before the sun. Most days I think dcm said they sleep from 11p-6a. Not enough!

I do go in every 20 to check, but it always happens 5 min after my check. I guess hopefully soon he will just be able to soothe without it. I let him cry for a couple minutes before I go stick it back in, but I think because they go instantly, it really isn't going to help.

[mema]

For your first issue, I would simply say that they still need to lay down despite the fact they are leaving and despite the fact that dcd doesnt want them to nap. If he is that concerned, then come get the kids at nap time.

I would also think that because they are leaving, the next week isn't going to kill them to follow the rules. If the kids themselves give you attitude and say they are leaving and don't have to listen then I would say "Oh, that's too bad because the other kids are going to really miss you when your gone." Just keep turning it back around on them. Heck, for the last week I might even be so inclined to give out treats AFTER nap time to those kids who donb't have an attitude and don't talk back.

The paci thing is tough. I have two babies right now and BOTH sleep in a bassinet right in the kitchen and the other in the main room where I am 99% of the time. I don't let my babes sleep behind a closed door until they are older. I "train" all mine to sleep despite any type of noises.

I guess if I were you, I would just keep going back in there and putting it back in. As soon as you get used to doing it a million times, the baby will be old enough to keep it in himself.

I believe they think it will! Seriously, I am so done repeating and repeating to them and telling them to stop and to be nice. Yesterday after snack I had enough and told them to put their stuff away and just sit for the rest of the day watching everyone else. They have dcm & dcd wrapped around their little fingers, it's crazy. They don't have rules at home really. They run the show.

One has told me on occasion that I'm the meanest lady they know because I have rules! I said, good then I'm doing my job They are in for a rude awakening in a few weeks-both boys and parents

I would love to keep the baby out in the living room, but my cat LOVES to sleep in pnp, and carseats too! When my kiddos were little we always had to leave the car seat on the porch or behind a closed door somewhere because he makes it his new bed He is a very old, stubborn thing and it wouldn't matter how many times I took him out, he would still go in.