Naptime...

[Lkurtyak]

Just curious, how does your naptime usually go? I have several light sleepers that will bounce on their cots for up to an hour while I rub their backs one by one. 20 minutes after they're all asleep, the baby wakes up, starts screaming, wakes everyone else up and falls back to sleep. #naptimeblues

[Blackcat31]

Just curious, how does your naptime usually go? I have several light sleepers that will bounce on their cots for up to an hour while I rub their backs one by one. 20 minutes after they're all asleep, the baby wakes up, starts screaming, wakes everyone else up and falls back to sleep. #naptimeblues

Seriously? No way would I do that. It's just not possible here.

Part of my job responsibilities is helping a child learn to be independent. This includes learning to fall asleep on their own and to rest quietly if they aren't actually sleeping.

What are the ages of the kids you have and how many do you have?

I have 10 kids daily ages 15 months to 4 yrs. Every one of them goes down (only one fusses a bit) daily at the same time. No one makes a peep. They are all really great.

It isn't that I have easy kids....I've had to "train" each one but that usually only takes 3-5 days and then they are pros at it.

Some tips:

Same nap spot each day.
Same time each day
Repeat expectations right before saying "Happy napping!"
Soft music or story on CD (volume has to be low enough that they need to lie still to hear it)


If they mess around or touch/bother others, I move them to the kitchen area where they are in my direct line of vision and that's where they nap.

AFTER nap time, each child that did well, gets a sticker and gets to be in the group that has first choice on small group activities.

Those that didn't do so well, don't get the sticker but they do get lots of "you get another chance tomorrow to try again" type encouragement.

During nap times, I carry on with normal clean up stuff/preparing my own lunch, getting supplies ready for afternoon activities. I don't make a point of being quiet because I want the kids to learn to sleep with noise happening.

My nap starts at 12:30 and no one gets up or off their cots/mats until 2:00 at the earliest....even if they are wide awake.

Nap time is easy here....it's equal parts routine and consistency with a dash of "mean mommy" looks when necessary

[Lkurtyak]

I have a problem 3 year old that when not here everyone will sleep for 3 hours. If I move her the fits start. I've kept nap times and routines the same every day, I also play some lullabies, but this kid will bounce around keeping everyone up. She's the last to sleep and the first awake. Other than her I have 3 2's and the 8 month old who sleeps in a separate room. Thank god this is problem child's last full week here. I have termed cause I just can't take it anymore. I used to get things done around the house, but I've been feeling like I can't make a peep lately! And the other kids are picking up on her bad behavior!

[Lkurtyak]

By February I'll have 3 infants, 4 2's and and aide!

[Blackcat31]

I have a problem 3 year old that when not here everyone will sleep for 3 hours. If I move her the fits start. I've kept nap times and routines the same every day, I also play some lullabies, but this kid will bounce around keeping everyone up. She's the last to sleep and the first awake. Other than her I have 3 2's and the 8 month old who sleeps in a separate room. Thank god this is problem child's last full week here. I have termed cause I just can't take it anymore. I used to get things done around the house, but I've been feeling like I can't make a peep lately! And the other kids are picking up on her bad behavior!

Well, thank goodness for the light at the end of the tunnel huh?

Hopefully, things will get better after she leaves then.

Nap time IS hard but I really really really really really like the break in the day so personally for me, I choose to only take kids that will adjust to a routine nap.

I termed a DCB in July because he only took 20 minute naps and then screamed his head off for the remainder of nap time. He was 2.5 yrs old and in my honest opinion, way too old to behave like that.

Mostly his screaming was 'anger' and not just needing something....kwim?

I am continually amazed at how poor some of the sleep skills they kids have (or don't have) these days.

Hang in there.....the end of the week IS coming!!

[TwinKristi]

I have a 2yr old, and two that will be 2 in the next couple months. They used to all have crazy nap schedules and I finally said Enough! and started a new routine for them to sleep at the same time. The youngest has always slept in a PNP in the back bedroom and the other 2 sleep out in the living room on mats. I turn the lights off, close the curtains, turn on Soundscapes or Lullabies and everyone goes to sleep! It's amazing! A couple mos ago I was battling everyone all day long and now it's a great 2hr span on time that they'll sleep before the SA kids get home! The youngest used to nap at 9:15 every day but the other 2 didn't. So now we skip that AM nap and just do a nap after lunch.

[Lkurtyak]

Thanks BC! I needed that rant! Lol. Yes, I told her parents she was ready for preschool, and she's continuing part time for a few weeks, but that light is there and drawing near . She was one of my first daycare kids, which is the only reason I took her on with all the sleep and behavior issues.

[originalkat]

Seriously? No way would I do that. It's just not possible here.

Part of my job responsibilities is helping a child learn to be independent. This includes learning to fall asleep on their own and to rest quietly if they aren't actually sleeping.

What are the ages of the kids you have and how many do you have?

I have 10 kids daily ages 15 months to 4 yrs. Every one of them goes down (only one fusses a bit) daily at the same time. No one makes a peep. They are all really great.

It isn't that I have easy kids....I've had to "train" each one but that usually only takes 3-5 days and then they are pros at it.

Some tips:

Same nap spot each day.
Same time each day
Repeat expectations right before saying "Happy napping!"
Soft music or story on CD (volume has to be low enough that they need to lie still to hear it)


If they mess around or touch/bother others, I move them to the kitchen area where they are in my direct line of vision and that's where they nap.

AFTER nap time, each child that did well, gets a sticker and gets to be in the group that has first choice on small group activities.

Those that didn't do so well, don't get the sticker but they do get lots of "you get another chance tomorrow to try again" type encouragement.

During nap times, I carry on with normal clean up stuff/preparing my own lunch, getting supplies ready for afternoon activities. I don't make a point of being quiet because I want the kids to learn to sleep with noise happening.

My nap starts at 12:30 and no one gets up or off their cots/mats until 2:00 at the earliest....even if they are wide awake.

Nap time is easy here....it's equal parts routine and consistency with a dash of "mean mommy" looks when necessary

Yep. I couldn't of said it better myself. Naptime is the best part of my day!!!! I have 8 kids 2-5 years and they all fall asleep on their own and are quiet for the entire 2 hr nap time.

[godiva83]

My old group of dck's were amazing but I took a year off for Maternity leave and got myself a brand new group who are just awful. One DCB had no routine DCM said he would just fall asleep whenever usually in the car seat or in her bed with her. Needless to say trying to break that habit has been awful
My other DCB always ends up having a BM around 1:30 and it just messes everything up ugh.
I used to LOVE nap time. 12:30-2:30 or 3:00 of heaven.... Now I just dread it.

Do you guys let them CIO?

[Blackcat31]

My old group of dck's were amazing but I took a year off for Maternity leave and got myself a brand new group who are just awful. One DCB had no routine DCM said he would just fall asleep whenever usually in the car seat or in her bed with her. Needless to say trying to break that habit has been awful
My other DCB always ends up having a BM around 1:30 and it just messes everything up ugh.
I used to LOVE nap time. 12:30-2:30 or 3:00 of heaven.... Now I just dread it.

Do you guys let them CIO?

If necessary, yes.

However, I don't have kids under 15 months.

[Lkurtyak]

I let my infant cry it out, but he's about 9 months. My problem child did not come today, and the rest went down easily! No back rubbing for me today!

[Cat Herder]

Do you guys let them CIO?

CIO is a misnomer.

It is actually "progressive waiting". Ferber caught a lot of grief, but it works. I've never met a "Raging Ferber Baby", have you ????::::

I decline to enroll "AP Ragers" all. the. time.

I follow a comforting routine (lights dimmed, music on, fan for white noise, scent, etc) lay them down awake. I allow them to cry without comforting in progressing amounts of time (wait 5 minutes, then 10, then 20) until they don't require me to comfort them at all because they know I am there... in the room.

It usually takes a couple weeks to have them napping with everyone else.

[Maria2013]

Part of my job responsibilities is helping a child learn to be independent. This includes learning to fall asleep on their own and to rest quietly if they aren't actually sleeping.

I do just that^ and I have no issues at nap time, kids are down and quiet even before the light goes off

[jenboo]

right now i have 4 kids ranging from 12 months-4 years. They all into the same room for nap. i turn the music on, lights off, put them all on their beds and walk out. Usually dont have any issues.

[Josiegirl]

At the moment, I have 2 toddlers in 2 different rooms, in PNPs. One of them sleeps for maybe 45 minutes. I had taken her pacifier away because she didn't seem to be needing it(have since found out they still give it to her for sleeping at home). Then she started waking up screaming from her nap. So I gave it back to her and now at least when she wakes up, she'll stay quiet and let the others finish resting. Out of 4 kids most days(5 a couple days), it stays pretty quiet but not everybody sleeps. I do make them lay down for an hour with books. If they're still awake they get puzzles for another 30 minutes.