Is This Normal? - Nap 3 Hours in the Dark

[pgarozzo]

AT my daughters daycare the nap time is from 12:00 to 3:00 they also start it earlier. My daughter who just turned two has to lay there in the dark for 3 hours, whether she naps or not. is this legal? help:confused:

[lilbiddapopcorn]

That's a long nap!

Good grief! It's one thing if a kid sleeps that long on their own it's quite another to force them to lay down for 3 hours! That's too long...But maybe your daycare provider has other children who just take long naps. I would try talking to him/her about it first, and just say you're not comfortable with your daughter being forced to lay down that long. In fact any time there's a problem I would suggest talking about it first...if no one knows it bothers you they can't do anything to fix it.

[Ms.Sue]

Ms.Sue

Our children have nap from 12:30 to 3:30 ----Now, in reality, they don't fall asleep until around 1pm and wake up from 2:30 to 3:00.
We do teach our child to lay on their mats for a specific amout of time, small children must have naps - and most of ours are really tired by the time naptime comes around. But, if they are not asleep they are alllowed play 'quietly' or read a book or a toy magazine. The one thing they really learn is self control. If a small child can lay on a map and be quiet and follow the rules -- that is fantastic! Because it means, she is respecting adult authority, and learning to develop her coping skills.

[TTOTS]

In my daycare our nap time is from 12-2pm. Sometimes the children will sleep longer and I am not going to wake them, but I don't force them either. There are days when none of them nap, but they are quiet for at least the 2 hours. That is my down time to catch up. So as far as being legal who knows I believe it is each persons choice.

[candlegal]

Is this normal? Napping 2-3hrs Yes, and recommended

Hi I do daycare in my home and we have nap time from about 1:15 or 1:30 to 3:30. All my kids are under 3yrs. It will vary depending on the activities of the day. Kids always seem to be more tired on Mondays, I usually have to wake them up. Children NEED more sleep, most of them are getting up at 6am or sometimes earlier. I have parents telling me to lay them down earlier. I don't force them either, you can't "force" a child to sleep. But they don't fall asleep right away, you gotta figure it takes them anywhere from 10 to 30 min. to fall asleep. Daycare providers need to have a break too. Your daughter is only 2yrs, she needs those naps, she needs to at least have quiet time. Try to work positively with your daycare provider. All daycares: home and centers have nap time until the child goes to kindergarten, if no nap, then quiet time is recommended. You look up on the internet or ask your pediatrition how much sleep a 2yr old requires, I think you will be surprised! Good Luck!

[littlehandsdaycare]

Some states do require that the kids have some type of quiet time during the day. It is not supposed to be that long. Like here in GA DHR requires quiet/nap time to be atleast 2 hours.

[Unregistered]

My quiet time is for the same duration. Everyone laying down for 3 hours is not what happens though. For the younger kids, once they take a nap, they can get up and do quiet activities. Those who do not nap do not have to lay down, but can do quiet activities. There is this broad time span so that those who do nap do not feel rushed to nap, and also so the older kids can learn to play quietly for a while. I put on a movie. Books, coloring, working in our notebooks, my playing with the babies when they aren't sleeping all part of our quiet time.

[MissLisa]

It is leagal IF!

It is legal IF it is part of their scheduled routing and they are NOT physically forcing them to lay down. This should be noted in their parent handbook or part of the orientation to the day care.
As for it being in the dark... I would not appreciate them laying in the dark... I would approach them about some night lights or a small light. I Don't know that 3 hours is necessay... it all depends on the child. We play movies during "QUIET TIME". They are not forced to nap... but they have a movie to watch. They have to lay quietly for about 30 minutes to allow those to fall asleep that want to..and then we offer them a book for on their cot... and IF they are just totally disrupting and the parent insists they don't lay down we give them coloring pages at the table. It is important to adhere to their routine but you must remain flexible as well because all kids and parents are different. And each new day brings new challenges... Do they call it NAP time or "quiet time"? As a day care owner I understand the purpose behind the quiet time - for our center it is important not only for rest but for preparation for Kindergarten because it helps to prepare them for the long day ... and being quiet .... and following directions.... (of course we have all day Kindergarten) so they need to maintain the structure for preparation. BUT... age two... it should be rest time...and most little ones like the nap... but they should have a book or at a table with a coloring page.

[aushhalo]

this is NEVER an issue with my center

I own a daycare in Texas and our children are on their mats at 12pm and get up at 2:30. Naptime is NEVER an issue with my center and our enrollment is about 70 children. Kids NEED naps and caregivers need a break. This is when i get my lessons, paperwork, lunch, etc. We NEVER use the television during naptime and i have been to training seminars where providers complain about naptime and it has never been a big deal. Our kids have their own mat and blanket and our kids are in a routine every day. They are all asleep by 12:15-12:30 and most of them sleep until we wake them up. If they do wake up, they lay quietly on their mats. We have the lights off, but, it is daylight outside, so it is still perfectly light inside the center. These kids are in daycare from 10-11 hours per day. I just don't see the big deal with providing "movies, books, papers, etc." It doesn't hurt a child to lie on a mat for 2 1/2 hours. It makes for a very happy child in the afternoons. Our children are NEVER forced to lay down, they just know that is what we do at our daycare.

[Unregistered]

Depends upon where u live, but where I live provincial rules state that we allow for 1 hour of rest (sleep or not), but after that, they should be provided with quiet activities.

[Former Teacher]

In TX they longest that a child can nap is 3 hours so yes technically it is legal. Also the nap must be after the noon meal (lunch)

However, if after 30 mins. the child is still awake they must be given quiet activities. This also includes infants. Infants can not be in a crib longer than 30 mins awake.

[momma2girls]

My quiet/nap time is from 1:00-3:30, it may take some children 1/2 to fall asleep,so technically 2 hrs. This is all done without the tv on. When each of them wake up, they are taught to lay quietly til I come and get them for snack time at 3:30.

[mac60]

Our naptime is from 1 to 3:30, or whenever they wake up after that. They are never asleep at 1. If they wake up before 3:30, they must lay there quietly and not disturb others. As far as being in the dark, unless they are in a room with no windows, it is hard to believe that nothing can be seen. There is no way to make my family room dark enough for nothing to be seen.
At age 2, she should be taking a good nap in the afternoon.

How do you know it is as dark as you are suggesting?
How do you know she isn't sleeping any of this time? Just wondering.

[melissa ann]

Naps for us starts about noon. I let them sleep however long they want. I have kids 9 mos, 2 almost 3 yrs and a 4 yr old. My daughter is 5 and sometimes she will take a nap as well. The kids in my care are here 11 hours, starting at 6am so by noon they are ready to nap. My son is one of the 2 that is almost 3. Sometimes they sleep until 1 other times its 2:30-3:00. I figure if they are still sleeping then they need it. Now, the 9 mo old takes a morning nap and an afternoon nap when he' s ready. I do have the kids lay down for about 30 min or so while I eat lunch, wash dishes and other clean up things. Sometimes the 4 yr old will sleep when he gets here in the morning and then won't nap in the afternoon. IT's no big deal to me. but he knows he needs to lay down and rest while I do my work. After which he may get up and color, do a puzzle or we will play a game.

[originalkat]

Our nap

Our nap time is from 1-3pm. After lunch(12:30) the kids start going to the bathroom and getting settled. I put on nap music which sets the routine. The room they nap in is very light (7 windows) and I dont have blinds on them yet. I would prefer it be dark in there, of course, it is daylight so it wouldnt be pitch black. I think a darkened room helps them relax. All the kids are asleep by 1pm and usually wake up around 3 to 3:30pm. So you could say our whole routine is 3 hours but they usually dont sleep that whole time.