Crying During Nap. Help!

[ihop]

I have a 2year old dcg who has been with me a couple of months. When she first started she would chant " I miss my mommy and daddy" over and over, well two months later its finally stopped and she can function during the day.

The issue now is that she cries alllllllll through nap time. She used to at least nap half of the time. I have tried moving her away from the group but she prefers it that way and will start talking or scooting off the map to touch things. She screams and sobs as loud as she can, trying to keep everyone else up. I am so fed up and nothing can get her calmed because she is doing it on purpose to get attention from everyone.

I want to term so badly because she is spoiled at home and not on any schedule but I cannot. I am in a very tight financial situation and there is no more fat to trim to make up for the loss. I thought about sending her home for excessive crying but I'm worried they will find alternate care. I am trying to fill the spot but no luck.

Also, she is here Mon, wed, Thur, Friday, so its tough to get her in a good groove.

Any advice. Is appreciated. I just want to scream right now. Tgif.

[Blackcat31]

Could you try putting her down for nap BEFORE the others?

Does she eventually fall asleep?

Is she old enough (developmentally) that you could reason ( : with her or reward her in some way?

The biggest thing is finding HER currency...what is it that motivates her?

If you can find that out, you can usually control or atleast influence their behavior to do/act the way you need/want them to.

[butterfly]

no advice, just hugs. :hug: That is the absolute hardest thing, IMO, when you (or the kids) don't get your naptime break.

[ihop]

Rules are book after 40min if you stay quite and that used to work. She would be asleep by 30min. She definitely is bribed often at home and is manipulative. She goes to bed at ten at home and wakes up just before she gets here at nine. She simply isn't tired enough to go down early for nap. Sometimes she wears herself out enough to fall asleep by two thirty. Nap is after lunch to three. Lunch is at noon. So she only sleeps half hour before everyone else is up and wakes her up. My only spare room has the light sleeper infant in it so I can't put her there.

What would you suggest trying to figure out her currency?

[ihop]

no advice, just hugs. :hug: That is the absolute hardest thing, IMO, when you (or the kids) don't get your naptime break.

No kidding. I have been open since August and just got everyone napping at the same time. Its been amazing to have a break for the first time....then this

[Heidi]

How about, if she lays quietly until the egg timer (or something else) goes off, she can have a "nap basket" of quiet things to do? But, ONLY if she is really, really, quiet like a mouse until her friends go to sleep.

Start by setting it for 15 minutes, then increase each day She doesn't have to know. Make the room pretty dark, put on white noise, etc. between her and her the group. If you can put her in the hallway or another room, that'd be better. I've also built little "forts" for kids to sleep in. They are more likely to stay put when there are clear boundaries around them.

Switch out the nap basket with a few books, a stuffed animal or doll, or a hand-held electronic or tape recorder with head phones (if she's old enough to work those).

[Blackcat31]

How about, if she lays quietly until the egg timer (or something else) goes off, she can have a "nap basket" of quiet things to do? But, ONLY if she is really, really, quiet like a mouse until her friends go to sleep.

Start by setting it for 15 minutes, then increase each day She doesn't have to know. Make the room pretty dark, put on white noise, etc. between her and her the group. If you can put her in the hallway or another room, that'd be better. I've also built little "forts" for kids to sleep in. They are more likely to stay put when there are clear boundaries around them.

Switch out the nap basket with a few books, a stuffed animal or doll, or a hand-held electronic or tape recorder with head phones (if she's old enough to work those).

Yes, this is what I was referring to. Find something she likes or really wants to do and basically bribe her if she wants to do those things.

The kitchen/egg timer is your friend! Use it! I use it for LOTS of things. Sometimes I set it for much longer than I told the kids and tell them they can or can't do something until the bell goes off.

Maybe make a sticker chart for her..so she can track her own success towards bigger and more fun activities.

[ihop]

Great ideas guys! Thank you so much, I think that will help