Nap Periods

[tenderhearts]

How long is your required nap time you put kids down? and what is the length of naps your 2 yr olds take?

[littlemissmuffet]

I require that all my kids 5 and under nap from 1 to 3pm. If they do not nap during this period, that's fine but they are to be quiet and lie on their mats the entire period (no books, quiet activities, etc). I have never had any nap issues (knock on wood).

[cheerfuldom]

my nap period is 12 to 3 mostly because my current group is constantly exhausted. some of them will sleep four, even five hours if I let them!

[MNMum]

We also nap 1-3pm. On a rare occasion, we get to nap at 12:45pm. Usually I have to wake everyone up at 3:15. I do this by turning off the box fan and opening the shades. If children sleep through this, I give them a few more minutes to rest. Everyone I have naps well except for my 14 mo old - she has been a nightmare napper. The other kids are 21 mos, 22 mos, 3 years, 4 years.

[seebachers]

I require 45 minutes if they don't fall asleep because it is torture to me to have to stay in bed when I am not tired that I can't make little kids lie there for two hours. The nappers sleep til they wake up or no later than 2 1/2 hours. Currently I have all nappers and I have to wake them up at the 2 1/2 hour mark.

[tenderhearts]

Wow, I wish I had your nappers, I've been doing daycare for 13 years and have never had as much trouble as I do now. I have only 1 child that will sleep consistantly for 2 1/2 + hours, I always have to wake him. All the others, it varies with each of them, 1 hour, 1 1/2 hrs 45 min, it's so frustrating because 2 of them are still so tired after they wake up and are extrememly exhausted even before nap. It's so frustrating.
Now if your nap time is 1-3 and you have one that consistantly wakes up after the same amount of time (he's 2 1/2 almost 3 yrs), would you let him get up and let him watch the movie? The other ones I feel they need to stay in there because they are not consistent and they constantly play around.

[Nickel]

We nap 12 - about 2:30-3pm here. Usually I get them up between 230 and 245 to change diapers and get them in the car to pick up dd from school at 3. I have one that gets picked up at 2pm every day and her mom gets her up when she gets here. My other 2 sleep until 230 all the time. If on the very rare occasion they wake up early I give them a book to look at until nap is over. Usually though they sleep a solid 2.5-3 hours. And mine are 1, 2, and almost 3.

[AllDeezBabies]

I usually nap from 12 to 3. We do so many activities they're asking for naps at lunch time. They can sleep through a parade and don't want to wake up when it is time.