DCM Wants to do Away with Nap!

[mamamanda]

Dcm approached me yesterday with concerns about naptime. Apparently her children are fighting bedtime and it takes her like an hour and a half to get them to go to sleep. She is concerned b/c she now has no "alone time." Of course, she tries to put them to bed very early anyway. She is considering having me do away with nap time during the day so that bed time will be easier for her. I said no. Her children are 2 and almost 4. They both complain they are tired all morning long, are asleep within 5-10 minutes of laying down at nap, and sleep for a solid 2 hours. They would sleep more than that if I allowed it. They are exhausted.
Also, these are the same children that are not able to entertain themselves for even a few minutes during the day. It's constantly, "go play" all day long so I feel that very honestly I would not be able to maintain my sanity if they didn't nap.
If I needed yet another reason, here are 3 more. I only have 3 FT kids right now, but all of my dck are 4 or under so if these 2 don't nap I'm going to have a really hard time getting anyone else to. Having 20 minutes of "quiet time" on a blanket has proven impossible with these 2 children so there's no way they would sit quietly while others sleep anyway. And finally, I am expecting a new baby next month and am counting on nap time as some down time for the baby and myself to help us with the transition.
I told dcm I could wake them up a half hour earlier or lay them down a little bit earlier, but doing away with nap is not a possibility right now. She said we will just see how the night goes and talk about it tomorrow. Then she texted me a few minutes ago saying they will be late b/c it was such a rough night. Is it unprofessional of me to refuse to completely do away with nap time for a 2 & 3 year old? Are there actual regulations on that at all? I'm not licensed, so I don't really know what the "rules" are regarding nap. I honestly feel like if she insists on this I will have to term over it. I love these children very much, but they are very high maintenance and I have to make a lot of exceptions with them and I feel like this would put me over my ability to handle them.

[nannyde]

https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/offering-a-no-nap-service.htm

[Blackcat31]

Dcm approached me yesterday with concerns about naptime. Apparently her children are fighting bedtime and it takes her like an hour and a half to get them to go to sleep. She is concerned b/c she now has no "alone time." Of course, she tries to put them to bed very early anyway. She is considering having me do away with nap time during the day so that bed time will be easier for her. I said no. Her children are 2 and almost 4. They both complain they are tired all morning long, are asleep within 5-10 minutes of laying down at nap, and sleep for a solid 2 hours. They would sleep more than that if I allowed it. They are exhausted.
Also, these are the same children that are not able to entertain themselves for even a few minutes during the day. It's constantly, "go play" all day long so I feel that very honestly I would not be able to maintain my sanity if they didn't nap.
If I needed yet another reason, here are 3 more. I only have 3 FT kids right now, but all of my dck are 4 or under so if these 2 don't nap I'm going to have a really hard time getting anyone else to. Having 20 minutes of "quiet time" on a blanket has proven impossible with these 2 children so there's no way they would sit quietly while others sleep anyway. And finally, I am expecting a new baby next month and am counting on nap time as some down time for the baby and myself to help us with the transition.
I told dcm I could wake them up a half hour earlier or lay them down a little bit earlier, but doing away with nap is not a possibility right now. She said we will just see how the night goes and talk about it tomorrow. Then she texted me a few minutes ago saying they will be late b/c it was such a rough night. Is it unprofessional of me to refuse to completely do away with nap time for a 2 & 3 year old? Are there actual regulations on that at all? I'm not licensed, so I don't really know what the "rules" are regarding nap. I honestly feel like if she insists on this I will have to term over it. I love these children very much, but they are very high maintenance and I have to make a lot of exceptions with them and I feel like this would put me over my ability to handle them.

I do not provide care to children that have outgrown nap.

ALL children here rest. I cannot force them to sleep.

Contrary to popular belief, napping for kids under 5/6 years old has NO bearing on whether they go to bed at night or not.

Unless of course, the nap occurs late in the day. Otherwise, there is NO SCIENTIFIC evidence that says children who nap at child care will fight bed time at home.

IMHO, that is a parental issue not a sleep issue. My own kids had a required bed time and regular bedtime routine each every night. Sometimes they went to sleep easily and quickly and other times they had to lay there a bit before drifting off.

Either way, the bed time routine did not waiver. THAT is what sets the tone for healthy sleep habits and good bedtime behavior.

As for you outright saying to her that you will not with hold nap time from her children, that's up to you. It's YOUR business. But that is exactly what I would do.

[Indoorvoice]

When a mom asked me to do this with her then 18 month old I just told her that my program has a rest time from 1-3. The kids are required to sit quietly and do quiet activities or they can sleep, but the sleeping part is up to them. Just like you can't force a child to sleep, you can't force a child to stay awake.

[CraftyMom]

No way I would do away with nap for that age, or any kid in my group (I only take 5 and under now)

Sounds like mom needs a better night time routine. Her kids are fighting and not settling down, how is that your issue? Mom needs to figure out her own issues

[Angelsj]

I actually have several who do not nap. I even let them watch a movie. However, do NOT get up, move around or bother me during that time. If they have to use the restroom, they may go and then go lay back down.
I would just tell her no. This is our break time; rest break is not an optional activity.

[daycarediva]

You arent requiring them to sleep, you are providing an appropriate rest period. If they fall asleep they are obviously tired and need to rest. It's also group care so you have to do what's best for the group as a whole. My only suggestions to mom would be to get a better bedtime routine and a good bedtime that stays consistent. Also, waking them at the same time each day, regardless of when they went to bed.

She's trying to make it do that her kids are do tired they are in bed right after dinner. No parenting at its finest.

My only offer would be to bump nap time 30minutes earlier in the day so they are awake earlier (if it would work for you).

All of my kids are required to rest, even my OWN SA kids. My 5 & 6 yo's fall asleep half the time. My own 6yo has NO issue taking a 90m nap and then falling asleep at 8:30.

[mamamanda]

Ok. I will just stand by my "no." Good to know I'm not being unfair. The "sleep fairy" visited them last night leaving chocolate & bracelets so apparently they went to bed easier. They asked my ds if sleep fairy came here too. I answered for him & said, "Ds doesn't need the sleep fairy. He just goes to sleep in his own bed b/c he's a big boy." Hopefully that will be the end of it. Lol Always some struggle.

[CraftyMom]

I had a dcm pick her daughter up early yesterday, right before nap. Dcg will sleep here for 3 hours easy.

Mom just told me they went straight home and they BOTH slept for 3 solid hours. Mom was going on and on about how refreshed she herself felt after her long nap, and how they both went to bed at their normal bedtime with no trouble and she feels great today.

Even adults benefit from an afternoon nap!

[MissAnn]

When a mom asked me to do this with her then 18 month old I just told her that my program has a rest time from 1-3. The kids are required to sit quietly and do quiet activities or they can sleep, but the sleeping part is up to them. Just like you can't force a child to sleep, you can't force a child to stay awake.

What quiet activities do you offer? I want my kids to lay down. They can bring books but they have to lay down with them. I also play audio books all through nap. Wondering about quiet activities.....not sure I want to incorporate that though.

[MissAnn]

You arent requiring them to sleep, you are providing an appropriate rest period. If they fall asleep they are obviously tired and need to rest. It's also group care so you have to do what's best for the group as a whole. My only suggestions to mom would be to get a better bedtime routine and a good bedtime that stays consistent. Also, waking them at the same time each day, regardless of when they went to bed.

She's trying to make it do that her kids are do tired they are in bed right after dinner. No parenting at its finest.

My only offer would be to bump nap time 30minutes earlier in the day so they are awake earlier (if it would work for you).

All of my kids are required to rest, even my OWN SA kids. My 5 & 6 yo's fall asleep half the time. My own 6yo has NO issue taking a 90m nap and then falling asleep at 8:30.

I've suggested a better routine to some of my parents. They seem to take offense. They ALL say their child just does not require as much sleep as other kids. I tell them that sleep begets sleep.....that kids (and people) do not sleep well when they are overtired. One particular mom said her daughter is up till midnight. Here....she takes an hour to fall asleep. This cannot be "how much sleep she needs"......it's not enough...she gets up at 7:00. Last night I read on Facebook from her babysitter that she just loves her "little night owl".....she was UP, PLAYING and LAUGHING at midnight! Well....ya got to put the kid to bed if you want her to sleep. I just tell the moms they don't have to go to sleep...they can read books or listen to audiobooks I have playing.

Anyone have some good literature for parents to read? Not a whole book...they would never do that.

[MissAnn]

I had a dcm pick her daughter up early yesterday, right before nap. Dcg will sleep here for 3 hours easy.

Mom just told me they went straight home and they BOTH slept for 3 solid hours. Mom was going on and on about how refreshed she herself felt after her long nap, and how they both went to bed at their normal bedtime with no trouble and she feels great today.

Even adults benefit from an afternoon nap!

happyface

[daycare]

Ok. I will just stand by my "no." Good to know I'm not being unfair. The "sleep fairy" visited them last night leaving chocolate & bracelets so apparently they went to bed easier. They asked my ds if sleep fairy came here too. I answered for him & said, "Ds doesn't need the sleep fairy. He just goes to sleep in his own bed b/c he's a big boy." Hopefully that will be the end of it. Lol Always some struggle.

WTH??? Sleep Fairy...............I can't stand parents these days...

Just knock it off and go to bed already. Put your smart phone down, tivo your tv programs and get off the computer.

goes to show that mom has no self control and no ability to prioritize her life.

[Blackcat31]

Anyone have some good literature for parents to read? Not a whole book...they would never do that.

I give this to all my parents

http://parentchildhelp.com/PDF/brochure.pdf

[CraftyMom]

Do you mind if we use the brochure BlackCat?