Napping A 2.5 Year Old...She Should Still Nap At Day Care, RIGHT?!

[MaritimeMummy]

I wonder if this would work:

If she naps at like, 9am for 2-3 hours, she is still okay to go to bed at around 8pm. Pretty reasonable, and they don' have to drive her around at that point, either.

So I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile to start out napping her at that time of morning, and slowly, slowly, moving it to my regular nap time? Honestly, I don't want to lose this girl over naps. A child or parent would have to do something pretty drastic to be termed by me. I live in a small community and I am very lucky to have the business I have. It took me a long time to find this full time family that has a child that fits in well with everything (mostly) here. I've had kids that have done nothing but kick and scream, bite and slap, cry and pout, so if this is the worst of it, I will not consider terming. But she so obviously needs a nap it's not funny. I can tel when she's tired, every time I have to tell her no, it doesn't matter what degree of no either, it can be something as gentle as "please give that toy back to X", she slumps her shoulders and goes storming off. BUt not tired she actually listens and doesn't act up when I try to discipline her.

It's 11am, I've had her napping now since 9:30. Let's see if what her mom says is true about it being okay to nap as long as she wants before lunch!

[lovemykidstoo]

So the parents don't have any problem getting her to bed if she doesn't take a nap? What time does she go down for them then and do they need to drive her around?

[MaritimeMummy]

So the parents don't have any problem getting her to bed if she doesn't take a nap? What time does she go down for them then and do they need to drive her around?

If she doesn't take a nap, she basically passes out on the couch anywhere between 6:30 and 8pm. Mostly closer to 6:30pm. If she naps, she doesn't go to sleep until close to midnight and they then have to drive her around.

I think I've mentioned that Mom admitted that she has no bedtime routine (obviously). Now she has been realizing that both her daughters (her other daughter is 6) are having night terrors.

I mentioned how she napped early yesterday and her mother said that was good. She said, after reading how to deal with night terrors, she is now implementing a bedtime routine...no driving around...nice, calm, relaxing evening, no "extra work" to try to tire the kids out before bed (dad has been taking them outside and trying to drain them with running around just before bed). Anyway, she says she read that you either need to nap, or don't nap, but not to flip flop. So she actually said to me thta she'd prefer her to nap. But she is still stuck on the nap "before lunch". I'm allowed to let her nap as long as she needs, but this means that it screws up my morning outdoor time. At least while indoors we don't have to be quiet while she sleeps, nothing can wake that child!

[lovemykidstoo]

So if she doesn't nap she's sleeping by 6:30? Doesn't she pick her up about 6:00? Does this mom not want to spend any time with her? Pretty much she's falling asleep as soon as she gets home. Great that she changed her mind on the nap. I would have her nap with the other kids. That's crazy to have to juggle 2 different naptimes for you. I think that consistancy is the key here. As long as she's not waking up from her nap at 5:00, I don't see where that should be a problem. Just sounds like the problem is again inconsistancy and lack of structure at home.

[MaritimeMummy]

So if she doesn't nap she's sleeping by 6:30? Doesn't she pick her up about 6:00? Does this mom not want to spend any time with her?

Yeah, she gets picked up most days at 5:45.

I think someone asked what her parents do that she's here so much. Her mom just opened an esthetic business in her home. She's trying to get as many new clients as she can to build her business so she books in a huge time block to accommodate people. But to her credit, she drops her off later in the morning if she doesn't have any clients first thing (very rare) and picks her up between 3-4pm if she doesn't have clients in the afternoon/early evening.

BUT, most days, her dad drops her off in the morning at 7 when he goes to work and picks her up at 5:45 when he's off work. He drives a company delivery truck so he has to go home first and get their car to pick her up.

It's not that they don't WANT to see her. They adore her. They just don't want to consistently put her to bed at midnight...that much I can understand. But they need to have a more consistent home life.

[lovemykidstoo]

wow they have a hectic life sounds like. I"m sure they love her to pieces, I just don't get sometimes when parents complain about how their child goes to bed when they are only awake like 1 1/2 hours after getting home and that includes dinner. We usually kept our kids up until 9 or 10 after getting home at 5:30. I can't imagine putting them to bed like at 7:00 like some parents do. You're absolutely right though, they have no consistancy. I definately have learned that that is the key to child raising with my own children. I wasn't consistant for a long time and it bit me in the rear. Now I am more consistant and I am seeing improvement. I wish you luck. Sounds like you are doing a great job at trying to make everyone happy!

[mac60]

Tell them what they want to hear, then do what works for you and your group. It has happened, and been mentioned many times before, tell the parents what they want to hear, and the problem miraculously goes away, when in fact, nothing really changed in the schedule. At 2 1/2, she should be napping in the afternoon, period. She needs to lay down for the nap period and if she falls asleep, good, if she doesn't, she needs to lay their quietly for the time period allotted and not be disruptive. The rules are quiet simple. Good luck.

[My3cents]

I agree with this and the part about them not teaching their child to go to sleep without doing it in the car. They started that routine so they are stuck with it.


I don't agree with this. She is capable of being trained to sleep in a crib or bed. It is going to take a few nights of consistency but it can be done. We do it as daycare providers all the time. The key is not to give in. Parents often make more out of bed time then need be. Simple, this is what we do. I also don't agree with giving the child choices for pj's etc...complicates what you want to be a smooth transition and gives open to melt downs. The child is already tired and that is why it is bed time. Line it up, do it and be consistent. I find this works best. When the child is older, and ahead of time before tired sets in if you want to let them pick out the night story yes, great.

I am sorry but I feel kids are given way too many choices at young ages when what they want and need most is an adult to know so they can build trust, choices will come later in life when they are mentally able to handle emotions and understanding better. I am not hard with this and to just one side but I am not on the free range of whatever you want, whatever you do is ok. If you don't want a nap you don't have to have a nap----- no way. Direction.....passing down of the know how, not expecting the know nothing to teach what the should know, should know.