What's The Earliest You've Moved to Nap Mats?

[Heidi]

I have some new kids joining my group, and have to rethink my sleeping plan. I have 2 14 month olds that are currently still on 2 naps (most days). I'm thinking of transitioning to 1 nap and nap mats over the next month or so.

My youngest DS moved at 16 months, because we moved and I didn't want to set up the crib again. But, that was my child in my house, with 3 older sibs that also helped with supervision.

[morgan24]

I moved my last at 15 months. It was easy with him. He is a terrible night sleeper and is exhausted by the time nap time gets here that he goes right to sleep and sleeps for at least 3 hours.

[Leanna]

Personally, I don't have a certain age that I move kids to nap cots. I take into consideration their development, how easily they fall asleep for naps, how much supervision they need at nap time, and their interest.

I have moved a 13-month-old to a cot because she really wanted to be on a cot, slept easily, and would sleep & stay on her cot for the duration of nap. On the flip side, I have a two and a half year old now that is still in a pack and play because he will not settle and sleep on a cot but will in the PNP. If you think the kids are ready and will be safe and will sleep, go for it. You can always switch back if it doesn't work out.

[Crazy8]

earliest I've done is probably about 18 months, but most not until closer to 24 months. I have never really had a child I felt was ready earlier and just don't want to deal with the struggle of transitioning if it needs to be "forced". It does depend on the child though - some may be ready earlier!

[Blackcat31]

Personally, I don't have a certain age that I move kids to nap cots. I take into consideration their development, how easily they fall asleep for naps, how much supervision they need at nap time, and their interest.

I have moved a 13-month-old to a cot because she really wanted to be on a cot, slept easily, and would sleep & stay on her cot for the duration of nap. On the flip side, I have a two and a half year old now that is still in a pack and play because he will not settle and sleep on a cot but will in the PNP. If you think the kids are ready and will be safe and will sleep, go for it. You can always switch back if it doesn't work out.

Same here. I consider each child's individual development, how easily they fall asleep, listen to rules and their need for supervision into consideration as to the right time to make that transition.

The youngest I think I've ever had sleep on a nap mat successfully was around 13 months, although I think for me 14-15 months is average. I have had kids near 24 months still in a PNP though

[Shell]

The centers where I used to work would automatically move kids to nap mats at 12 months, since they didn't have enough room for cribs in the "older infant" room. Here, I used to wait until closer to age 2, but just recently, I have a little guy that would scream in the pnp. I put him on a mat with the other kids, and he loves it, and sleeps so much better (11.5 months). So, I guess I would say the same as a few have said above, you have to take into consideration what the child's temperament is, and if you think it will benefit them. I know I personally prefer packing away the pnp's since the mats take up much less space for storage.

[Cynthia]

I think in California they have to be in a PNP until 24m. I could be wrong. Still learning all the rules . Can any one let me know? I have a 19m old starting as soon as I have my license. (soon I hope)

[Cat Herder]

I move them at 12 months because that is when I am allowed to.

Mats take up less real estate than cribs and are easier to disinfect. happyface

We are all in the same room and the little kids love to join the big kids (often sibling groups).

[daycarediva]

I don't even have a pnp as an option here anymore. ALL kids sleep on mats from day1. I take ages 18m+. Never had a problem.


Annnddd you know it's Monday when I thought you meant what TIME is the earliest you've ever moved to mats. LOL! I was thinking "drop off?" ::

[jenn]

We can move them anytime from 12-18 months. I do it as soon as possible. I start by getting them on 1 nap first, so that they are in the same room as every one else while sleeping. I like to have as few playpens sitting around as possible, so the day I can get them out of the PNP and onto a mat, they are out!

[e.j.]

a lot depends on how motivated the child is. I had one little girl who moved to a mat at 18mo. She wanted so much to be like the older kids that she stayed put and slept so much better there than in her port-a-crib. Usually, the kids are 2-2 1/2 before they will actually stay on their mats.

[Patches]

I move them at 12 months because that is when I am allowed to.

Mats take up less real estate than cribs and are easier to disinfect. happyface

We are all in the same room and the little kids love to join the big kids (often sibling groups).

Same here. My last two moved to a cot on their birthday. By the time they turn 1 here, they are usually already on one nap a day anyway. They get too interested in what the big kids are doing to sleep

[melilley]

When I worked in a center, they were transitioned to a cot a soon as soon as they were in the toddler room-they had to be at least 12 mo. and walking, so some were 12 mo. and they did great. But...there was more than one person with the kids.

In my home dc, I do the same as Leanna. It can be done at 12 mo., but it's impossible to sit and pat backs so it's all up to how the child is on a cot vs. in a pnp. I'd say my earliest here was 18 mo.

[thetoddlerwhisper]

we have to at 12mnths

[sahm1225]

We have to transition by 15 months. The earlies I've done it was with my daughter at 9 months! But for daycare kids at 12-13 months we try to transition. Most of the kids have slept better once they are in a cot.