How Do You Put Your 1 Yr Olds Down For Their Morning Nap?

[iheartkids]

I agree with rhymial. If you ask parents permission then they will ask constantly how they did for nap time and you don't want to have to tell them everyday that they cried themselves to sleep. It will be rough at first if they cry but they will eventually get used to just laying down and going to sleep. I think a baby is different but a one year old will understand the concept eventually. Make the room dark, use something for white noise really helps (so they can't hear the awake kids) and a lullaby CD.

[heather]

I don't recommend getting into the habit of asking parents how to run your business... you need to find out what works best for you and your group and then that becomes your routine. Parents shouldn't have a say.

Hmmm.. I realize I am a newbie here and I am asking for advice. I am all ears to hear how you more experienced ladies and men get the kids to go down for their naps. But, I can't agree with your last statement. I believe that as a childminder I am providing a service to the parents and they can and do have a say. We should work together to find solutions that everyone is happy with, where possible.

[Heidi]

Hmmm.. I realize I am a newbie here and I am asking for advice. I am all ears to hear how you more experienced ladies and men get the kids to go down for their naps. But, I can't agree with your last statement. I believe that as a childminder I am providing a service to the parents and they can and do have a say. We should work together to find solutions that everyone is happy with, where possible.

But Heather...you've already found out that you cant rock 2 babies to sleep while leaving several others alone in another room.

Of course we would all like to accomidate our daycare parents, but they do not know our business the way we do, and they are not paying for one-on-one care, they are paying for group care. I used to feel guilty about this, even apologetic, when I said to parents "I can't do that here". But honestly, I didn't rock any of my own 4 children to sleep, either. I wouldn't have considered it, because it's teaching them to associate sleep with rocking, and sooner or later, you have to stop.


Those of us that have been doing this for many years learned long ago that while we are providing a customer service, we do have to set some ground rules that are non-negotiable.

So, nobody here will tell you that you can't do it, it really is your business to run as you see best. We just know from experience it's not a good practice. Also, what if you spend 10 minutes in a darkened room rocking a baby, and a 2 year old manages to get the refrigerator open in the meantime? Or climb on the stove? Or the 100 other dangerous things that only a toddler can figure out?

I have a little boy here now who at 20 months weighs 35-40 American pounds. At home, he is rocked to sleep with a bottle. He can quite easily climb out of his crib now, so the whole house is turned upside down every night because he doesnt WANT to sleep. THis needed to be handled before he was old enough to stand up, much less climb out! After being told all this, I told the family I could only take him mornings, because there was no way I could "fix" this here. Like I said in my original answer, if you don't get control over that now, it will only get worse!

Good luck to you!

Oh...I've been to Dusseldorf many times.