Continuing saga of toddler that won't sleep

[MNMum]

I should have just termed, but I didn't. I told dad today that if 14 mo old dck didn't start sleeping routinely, like the rest of my group, "I wouldn't be able to keep her here." Dad took it really well I thought. He is the one that I see most often, and the one who I have been communicating about her nap issues. Mom called tonight and was really mad, of course. The one straw I am grasping at, is maybe she has an allergy that is waking her up. She has bad eczema, had the worst case of cradle cap I have ever seen, and had glue ear as a little infant. I have encouraged them to get her tested in the past, but they didn't. They both agreed to do the allergy testing, and to make sure she is taking her naps at the same time as I do them here. I'm really glad that it is at least out there.

What I find frustrating about the whole thing, is they don't seem very interested in trying to figure out why she has the horrible eczema, and they are not concerned that she doesn't nap here. Mom was more concerned about how this may affect her than the fact that these things are concerns for her kid.

When you interview for infant spots, do you explain to them that you expect the infant to eventually fall into your sleep schedule(as they grow into a toddler)? Obviously not as a little baby, but sometime in the second half of their first year of life.

Does anyone have it written in their policy that the children must be able to the group schedule?

[cheerfuldom]

I actually believe that most of us have some sort of requirement for older babies and toddlers to be on a regular napping schedule. I dont keep kids that dont nap (no matter the age or the reason) and I know of many providers here that have said the same thing. The bottom line is that what this child is doing, does not work for you and your program. Parents are not interested in solving the issues from the sounds of it. There is only so much you can do....I would have termed. Anytime I have kept a kid past the trial time of 2 weeks and I knew that they were not working out, I always regretted it. Not much changes with time for those kids that just arent a good fit. Yeah there is always a rare exception but for the most part, you have to listen to that gut feeling you get about a kid and a family.

[countrymom]

they are not on board with you. I bet you that they rock the child to sleep or co sleep or they allow to sleep whenever they want.

[MNMum]

they are not on board with you. I bet you that they rock the child to sleep or co sleep or they allow to sleep whenever they want.

I'm sure it is the latter, or they just let her be up all day. This is not a child that cuddles, ever, so I know it is not the rocking to sleep and they are not the cosleeping type (I'm one of those, so I know the signs!)

[Holiday Park]

Im so glad this was posted ! I have a similar issue so I hope its ok to piggy pack/high jack off this topic. I have had dcb since he was 12 weeks. He came to me soooo fussy . Almost like the nightmare babys we read about that dont sleep and just over all cranky. Well I had a talk with mom&gramma about keeping him on a routine . They seem to cooperate at home and with him being hete on a strict nap schedule and teaching him to put himself to sleep by 4 months he is a trally different baby .
Fast forward, he is now 7.5months. mom is becoming more inconsistent with him . Been brining him late past the time she says . Saying " He had a rough night" I can tell his days and nifhts are just totally screwed up now after him being absent the whole week of thanksgiving. Her schedule changes every week to begin with. I was hesitant to even take on a changing schedule baby. But she agreed to srop him off and pick up at the same times and she knows what time I put him down for naps.
There is a drop in baby whos parents have been saying she is on the same nap schedule as mine for the last 2 months Ive had her. But everytime they drop off shes fussy/hungry/tired/not tired , so when I do lay her down she cries hard for a long time and scts like she has no idea how to put herself to sleep. She ends up finally sleeping around 11-1 and 3/4 instead of 9:30am& 1:30 like the others who are close in age . And it screws up my whole say. Not to mention, it causes me to be unable to breastfeed my son when he needs, ANd throws off my own sons naps . He is my last baby and I need to put him first, AND I need everyone on the same routine. I did until drop in baby started, and until 7month FT baby started back this week all out of whack and mom bringing him 1-2 hours later than the time she agreed on and then for him to end up sleeping at the same times as the drop in baby. So all three ended up going down at 11:00 but what happens is the 2 sleep deprived ones with wacky non schedules at home and are going to bed way too late , getting up way too early (I know because they tell me what times they get up/sleep) end up waking after only 10-30 minutes of sleep . And I know its all because they are so over timred they cant stay asleep !!
Im almost done with the new handbook ( with strict drop off and communication rules) and was planning to give 2weeks notice for it to come into affect. The problem is between yeaterday ad today of both those problem babies I know by tomorrow Im going to literally be in tears and so stressed out from not having that structure *I* need in my day, and lack of rest, to clean/eat. I will burn out by Friday . Would it be wrong to make it effective immediately ? Its going to be a LOT of changes, added fees ( late fees etc) , new rules like they cant drop off past 8 am . So I wanted to give them time to process all of those changes. And me to advertise incase they all decide to terminate .

[MNMum]

Im so glad this was posted ! I have a similar issue so I hope its ok to piggy pack/high jack off this topic. I have had dcb since he was 12 weeks. He came to me soooo fussy . Almost like the nightmare babys we read about that dont sleep and just over all cranky. Well I had a talk with mom&gramma about keeping him on a routine . They seem to cooperate at home and with him being hete on a strict nap schedule and teaching him to put himself to sleep by 4 months he is a trally different baby .
Fast forward, he is now 7.5months. mom is becoming more inconsistent with him . Been brining him late past the time she says . Saying " He had a rough night" I can tell his days and nifhts are just totally screwed up now after him being absent the whole week of thanksgiving. Her schedule changes every week to begin with. I was hesitant to even take on a changing schedule baby. But she agreed to srop him off and pick up at the same times and she knows what time I put him down for naps.
There is a drop in baby whos parents have been saying she is on the same nap schedule as mine for the last 2 months Ive had her. But everytime they drop off shes fussy/hungry/tired/not tired , so when I do lay her down she cries hard for a long time and scts like she has no idea how to put herself to sleep. She ends up finally sleeping around 11-1 and 3/4 instead of 9:30am& 1:30 like the others who are close in age . And it screws up my whole say. Not to mention, it causes me to be unable to breastfeed my son when he needs, ANd throws off my own sons naps . He is my last baby and I need to put him first, AND I need everyone on the same routine. I did until drop in baby started, and until 7month FT baby started back this week all out of whack and mom bringing him 1-2 hours later than the time she agreed on and then for him to end up sleeping at the same times as the drop in baby. So all three ended up going down at 11:00 but what happens is the 2 sleep deprived ones with wacky non schedules at home and are going to bed way too late , getting up way too early (I know because they tell me what times they get up/sleep) end up waking after only 10-30 minutes of sleep . And I know its all because they are so over timred they cant stay asleep !!
Im almost done with the new handbook ( with strict drop off and communication rules) and was planning to give 2weeks notice for it to come into affect. The problem is between yeaterday ad today of both those problem babies I know by tomorrow Im going to literally be in tears and so stressed out from not having that structure *I* need in my day, and lack of rest, to clean/eat. I will burn out by Friday . Would it be wrong to make it effective immediately ? Its going to be a LOT of changes, added fees ( late fees etc) , new rules like they cant drop off past 8 am . So I wanted to give them time to process all of those changes. And me to advertise incase they all decide to terminate .

Do what you need to do to make it work for you. Maybe start advertising now, just in case.