Disrupting Nap Time

[ihop]

Currently none of my preschoolers are napping. I have babies and 1 child who normally nap. The rest constantly struggle with staying quiet. It doesn matter where I lay them. They are loud. Heavy sighing, lip smacking, humming, any and all noises they can make. I have done books and quiet baskets and stickers after nap. It used to help but not anymore. Today has by far been the worst ever. My dcg who slept all morning is up now and being disruptive too. All of the babies were woken up within a half hour of falling asleep. I tried splitting them up and its not working. They just lay where ever they are kicking the floor and making loud noises or talking.
One girl doesn't get up until late am so she isn't tired but the rest are a total wreck in the afternoon.
Help me im going crazy. Its not like I can term all four of them. I am moving the Babies back to the other room tomorrow but I will still be left with a group of no nappers.

[Oss_cc]

:hug:
Unfortunately, that's my 4 yo DD. I have a 4.5 yo DCG here who still needs naps, along with her 2 yo sister, my 16 mo DS and an 8 mo DCG. The only thing I've found to do is stick my non-napping 4 yo in her own room with her leappad during nap, and only allow it during nap when the DCKs are here. That way she stays fairly quiet.
With multiple non-nappers... That's rough. One day a week I have a 5 yo here who doesn't nap, so I have her and my 4 yo read books until everyone falls asleep and then allow a quiet activity like watercolor painting or coloring. I always keep the non-nappers as separated as possible, too (which is hard in my one level house).
Other than that, ugh, I don't know. Good luck!
Now if only I could figure out how to get 8 mo DCG to nap for longer than 45 mins twice a day...

[CraftyMom]

I wish I had an answer but I don't. I can sympathize though, I have a sometimes non-napper that is not at all quiet no matter what I do. Super frustrating! Wakes everyone else up

[Angelsj]

I have several that don't nap, for whatever reason. I put the nappers in a separate room, snuggle the non nappers with pillows and blankets and turn on a movie. It is typically the only TV they get all day, but it keeps them quiet for 1.5 to 2 hours while the others get a reasonable nap.

[Annalee]

Currently none of my preschoolers are napping. I have babies and 1 child who normally nap. The rest constantly struggle with staying quiet. It doesn matter where I lay them. They are loud. Heavy sighing, lip smacking, humming, any and all noises they can make. I have done books and quiet baskets and stickers after nap. It used to help but not anymore. Today has by far been the worst ever. My dcg who slept all morning is up now and being disruptive too. All of the babies were woken up within a half hour of falling asleep. I tried splitting them up and its not working. They just lay where ever they are kicking the floor and making loud noises or talking.
One girl doesn't get up until late am so she isn't tired but the rest are a total wreck in the afternoon.Help me im going crazy. Its not like I can term all four of them. I am moving the Babies back to the other room tomorrow but I will still be left with a group of no nappers.

This is why I have the "be at dc by 8 AM or be considered absent rule". I play lullaby music at nap along with running 2 fans ( one on each side of the room). QRIS/licensing here requires all are placed at least 3 feet apart or the tri-fold science boards can be used if the space is not available. I place children where they can't see each other in play centers using shelves, etc. as barriers. If there is no barrier, I place a science board up. Naptime is my regroup time so my children know it is non-negotiable so if you are not asleep, act like you are asleep. ::

[Laurel]

I have several that don't nap, for whatever reason. I put the nappers in a separate room, snuggle the non nappers with pillows and blankets and turn on a movie. It is typically the only TV they get all day, but it keeps them quiet for 1.5 to 2 hours while the others get a reasonable nap.

I've done the same. It won't kill anyone.

Laurel

[Play Care]

I refuse to use television to reward what is essentially poor behavior. And I find that it becomes background noise and the kids still get loud, etc. I recently separated my nappers. I got creative with where they napped and moved people. So if Susie and Tommy are sighing, yawning loudly, kicking the floor or "accidentally" scratching the wall, they are the only ones who can hear it. Totally took the wind out of their sails I got my quiet time backhappyface

[Annalee]

I refuse to use television to reward what is essentially poor behavior. And I find that it becomes background noise and the kids still get loud, etc. I recently separated my nappers. I got creative with where they napped and moved people. So if Susie and Tommy are sighing, yawning loudly, kicking the floor or "accidentally" scratching the wall, they are the only ones who can hear it. Totally took the wind out of their sails I got my quiet time backhappyface

[coolconfidentme]

My non nappers get pulled from the room & sleep on cots in the hallway. Seems to work here.

[Brustkt]

I used to give 30 min. Of tv or computer/ipad time before nap but I have switched it up!
If you don't nap or at least lie quietly and attempt to nap...no TV or ipad time!

It has worked like a charm because when they start waking, they lie quietly watching a show or using the ipad till the others wake!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

This is why I have the "be at dc by 8 AM or be considered absent rule". I play lullaby music at nap along with running 2 fans ( one on each side of the room). QRIS/licensing here requires all are placed at least 3 feet apart or the tri-fold science boards can be used if the space is not available. I place children where they can't see each other in play centers using shelves, etc. as barriers. If there is no barrier, I place a science board up. Naptime is my regroup time so my children know it is non-negotiable so if you are not asleep, act like you are asleep. ::

That is BRILLIANT about the boards!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I struggled with this problem immensely, as a few of my DCFs put their kids to bed overnight for no less than 12 hours.

I tried talking to the parents about the number of sleep hours needed in a 24-hour period based on age, the importance of naps, how it affects the child's entire day, pamphlets, studies, articles, blah, blah, blah. Nothing changed.

So, I figure this is a fantastic opportunity to teach these 3 and 4yo's a few very important life skills: self-discipline and respect for others. Mine, too, were laying on their mats like I told them to, but doing everything they could to be disruptive (loud sighing and yawning, wriggling, inching arms and legs out to poke each other, making faces to inspire giggles, you name it!).

The new rule here is you must lay still and quiet for the first 30 minutes (self-discipline). I explained to them that this is so the ones that do need a nap can fall asleep (respect for others), and even if you don't sleep your body still needs to rest and relax. I warn them that if anyone is disruptive, the time will have to be extended. Unbelievably to me, they have been falling asleep every day (once they figured out I was serious!).

Then, I gave the parents an update on how I was handling it, and asked them to reinforce to their kiddo that they need to be respectful of the other kids on this issue. I told them that if this didn't work and I had to continue to micromanage their behavior so other kids could nap, I would have to start charging an extra $25 per week to cover the overtime hour I was taking to do clean-up and paperwork that wasn't getting done then (complete with the crazy-girl laugh and head shake, serious nod, laugh and head shake, serious nod). ::