Nap Scheduling Help

[mamamanda]

Sorry so long! A lot of changes happening here and someone is pretty much sleeping all day which means zero rest time for me. My nephew just started a few weeks ago and he is only 4 mo so still napping shorter more frequent nap times which is to be expected.
Ds just switched to one nap over Christmas break. He takes an earlier nap around 11:00 or 11:30 and sleeps a good 2-2.5 hours. He can't make it until 12:30 without a meltdown.
Dcg 2 still needs two naps per day. I want to nap her once with ds, but she is a wreck without the sleep. If I lay her down twice she will sleep 2 hours in the morning and another 1-2 hours in the afternoon. If I wait to lay her down until later she is so tired she has a hard time sleeping and I do good to get an hour nap from her the whole day. She is CRAZY when she doesn't nap and then she always wakes up screaming after 45min-1hr and wakes up ds. They are in separate rooms with white noise, but the rooms are side by side and he gets woke up every time. When she wakes up after just 45 minutes I've tried just letting her lay there and cry, but she will literally cry/scream/relax/cry/scream/relax every few minutes for the entire rest of nap time which of course wakes ds each time she screams even if I was able to get him back to sleep.
Should I realistically be able to nap her once at 2 years old? I've also tried laying her down as soon as she gets here at 6:30, but she's too awake to sleep and cries/screams/wakes up ds then as well. And if she does fall asleep then she's not ready for another nap until 1:30 or 2:00 which means she still doesn't nap with ds in the afternoon.
I guess I'm just wondering if there's hope for getting her to take a good nap at 11:00 each day or if I should just deal with the fact she and ds will be alternating nap times all day for the time being.

[MunchkinWrangler]

IMHO she needs to 'get with the program.' She should be able to just take one nap and if you nap earlier because of it that's ok. I feel something is not right with her sleep at home. She is either waking, going down too late, etc. Have a conversation with the parents. She should only need one nap, even if it's a chunky one. Ultimately she is suffering.

[laundrymom]

I agree w other poster.

Here if a child arrives before 7 they lay down until 7.
My home is dark and still prior to 7.
At 7 we get up. Get moving. And are active until 1230. When we eat and nap. Usually from 130 until 3/330.
All kids are on the one nap schedule ASAP. Usually by about 9-10 mo.
It works for us.

[mamamanda]

I do know she sleeps with parents quite often b/c they say she won't sleep otherwise. She only gets about 9.5 hours sleep at night, but mom doesn't get time with her otherwise b/c of long work hours. I think I will just put her on the one nap schedule and she will just have to adjust like you both suggested. Any ideas what to do about the crying/screaming when she wakes up after 45 minutes? Just let her do it for a few days and hope she quits?

[childcaremom]

IMHO she needs to 'get with the program.' She should be able to just take one nap and if you nap earlier because of it that's ok. I feel something is not right with her sleep at home. She is either waking, going down too late, etc. Have a conversation with the parents. She should only need one nap, even if it's a chunky one. Ultimately she is suffering.

I just started a new dcg15mos and was having the same nap issue. She was sleeping for 2 hours at home in the morning and hit or miss for afternoon. I tried doing the 1hr morning nap but afternoon nap was awful.

This week I bit the bullet and kept her awake for the morning and lay her down for the afternoon. She has the habit of waking after 1 hr and crying/screaming, as well.

Monday was bad. Tuesday was awful. Wednesday she woke up, cried briefly, but resettled. I was looking forward to Thursday but dcm took her to the grandparents. We'll see what today brings. This is her third week here. I am hoping to see continued improvement as next week is her last trial week.

I guess what I am trying to say is pick a plan and stick with it. Personally, I want all kids on the same nap schedule. (I don't take infants - 12 mos and up)

I am assuming that this is the same dcg2 from your other posts? I would guess that most of her issues stem from being tired.

From my experience, I wouldn't even discuss it with the parents. Just do what you need to do for your program. My dcps tell me that they are 'trying', 'doing', etc... but when nap period comes around, little ones 'show' me what really happens at home. I just hope that with consistency and time, the littles will catch on to what happens here.

[laundrymom]

I do know she sleeps with parents quite often b/c they say she won't sleep otherwise. She only gets about 9.5 hours sleep at night, but mom doesn't get time with her otherwise b/c of long work hours. I think I will just put her on the one nap schedule and she will just have to adjust like you both suggested. Any ideas what to do about the crying/screaming when she wakes up after 45 minutes? Just let her do it for a few days and hope she quits?

I would. Just tell her it's nap time. To lay down.

[mamamanda]

Yes same dcg from other posts. She hit the 2 yo stage and started testing boundaries in every area. Thank you for all the advice. I can see that the other issues would stem from being tired. I've told parents repeatedly I see an increase in aggression when she's more tired. I did find something that matters to her this week and we've been 3 days without hitting!!! Fingers crossed the trend continues. I will just stick with one nap consistently and hope she catches on. Thanks again!

[mamamanda]

I just started a new dcg15mos and was having the same nap issue. She was sleeping for 2 hours at home in the morning and hit or miss for afternoon. I tried doing the 1hr morning nap but afternoon nap was awful.

This week I bit the bullet and kept her awake for the morning and lay her down for the afternoon. She has the habit of waking after 1 hr and crying/screaming, as well.

Monday was bad. Tuesday was awful. Wednesday she woke up, cried briefly, but resettled. I was looking forward to Thursday but dcm took her to the grandparents. We'll see what today brings. This is her third week here. I am hoping to see continued improvement as next week is her last trial week.

I guess what I am trying to say is pick a plan and stick with it. Personally, I want all kids on the same nap schedule. (I don't take infants - 12 mos and up)

I am assuming that this is the same dcg2 from your other posts? I would guess that most of her issues stem from being tired.

From my experience, I wouldn't even discuss it with the parents. Just do what you need to do for your program. My dcps tell me that they are 'trying', 'doing', etc... but when nap period comes around, little ones 'show' me what really happens at home. I just hope that with consistency and time, the littles will catch on to what happens here.

Also, good luck with your new dcg next week!

[MunchkinWrangler]

I do know she sleeps with parents quite often b/c they say she won't sleep otherwise. She only gets about 9.5 hours sleep at night, but mom doesn't get time with her otherwise b/c of long work hours. I think I will just put her on the one nap schedule and she will just have to adjust like you both suggested. Any ideas what to do about the crying/screaming when she wakes up after 45 minutes? Just let her do it for a few days and hope she quits?

There's your issue right there, cosleeping. She can't fall asleep without someone laying next to her. When she wakes she's finding her self alone, a normal sleep cycle is about that long.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I just started a new dcg15mos and was having the same nap issue. She was sleeping for 2 hours at home in the morning and hit or miss for afternoon. I tried doing the 1hr morning nap but afternoon nap was awful.

This week I bit the bullet and kept her awake for the morning and lay her down for the afternoon. She has the habit of waking after 1 hr and crying/screaming, as well.

Monday was bad. Tuesday was awful. Wednesday she woke up, cried briefly, but resettled. I was looking forward to Thursday but dcm took her to the grandparents. We'll see what today brings. This is her third week here. I am hoping to see continued improvement as next week is her last trial week.

I guess what I am trying to say is pick a plan and stick with it. Personally, I want all kids on the same nap schedule. (I don't take infants - 12 mos and up)

I am assuming that this is the same dcg2 from your other posts? I would guess that most of her issues stem from being tired.

From my experience, I wouldn't even discuss it with the parents. Just do what you need to do for your program. My dcps tell me that they are 'trying', 'doing', etc... but when nap period comes around, little ones 'show' me what really happens at home. I just hope that with consistency and time, the littles will catch on to what happens here.

Glad to hear it's starting to look up. ****s when you start making progress than they don't come. It's working, just like with your own children, it takes about 2 weeks for a habit to start. And once you start saying they napped perfectly all week, the parents will start wondering why they're not getting the same at home. I believe that's when it hits them that they need to change what they are doing.

I do the same and don't really mention anything until after my attempts are really not working and if it starts affecting other children, I mention that the habit needs to change or it won't be a good fit.

[Blackcat31]

There's your issue right there, cosleeping. She can't fall asleep without someone laying next to her. When she wakes she's finding her self alone, a normal sleep cycle is about that long.

While I do agree that co-sleeping at home "could" be contributing to the issues at daycare, I don't connect the two.

A good majority of my families co-sleep.
NONE of my DCK's have napping issues.

I think laundrymom was spot on... just be matter of fact with the instructions to lie down. period.

Have a good nap routine and follow it.

Kids sometimes resist... gentle reminders and consistent follow through. I don't rub backs or change anything.

Its just nap time. period. Lay still. Sleep or don't sleep, I don't care but no one is allowed to get up, no one is allowed to bother anyone else and no one is allowed to alter the nap routine with fits/tantrums.

Everyone of my kiddos nap daily for a full 2.5-3 hours.

The two kids under age 2 I have....one (20 months) is already transitioned to one nap and sleeping on a mat and the other child is 6 months. They nap twice. Once in morning and once in afternoon but they nap in the main area with all the noise and commotion going on as normal.

They just adapt.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I just started a new dcg15mos and was having the same nap issue. She was sleeping for 2 hours at home in the morning and hit or miss for afternoon. I tried doing the 1hr morning nap but afternoon nap was awful.

This week I bit the bullet and kept her awake for the morning and lay her down for the afternoon. She has the habit of waking after 1 hr and crying/screaming, as well.

Monday was bad. Tuesday was awful. Wednesday she woke up, cried briefly, but resettled. I was looking forward to Thursday but dcm took her to the grandparents. We'll see what today brings. This is her third week here. I am hoping to see continued improvement as next week is her last trial week.

I guess what I am trying to say is pick a plan and stick with it. Personally, I want all kids on the same nap schedule. (I don't take infants - 12 mos and up)

I am assuming that this is the same dcg2 from your other posts? I would guess that most of her issues stem from being tired.

From my experience, I wouldn't even discuss it with the parents. Just do what you need to do for your program. My dcps tell me that they are 'trying', 'doing', etc... but when nap period comes around, little ones 'show' me what really happens at home. I just hope that with consistency and time, the littles will catch on to what happens here.

While I do agree that co-sleeping at home "could" be contributing to the issues at daycare, I don't connect the two.

A good majority of my families co-sleep.
NONE of my DCK's have napping issues.

I think laundrymom was spot on... just be matter of fact with the instructions to lie down. period.

Have a good nap routine and follow it.

Kids sometimes resist... gentle reminders and consistent follow through. I don't rub backs or change anything.

Its just nap time. period. Lay still. Sleep or don't sleep, I don't care but no one is allowed to get up, no one is allowed to bother anyone else and no one is allowed to alter the nap routine with fits/tantrums.

Everyone of my kiddos nap daily for a full 2.5-3 hours.

The two kids under age 2 I have....one (20 months) is already transitioned to one nap and sleeping on a mat and the other child is 6 months. They nap twice. Once in morning and once in afternoon but they nap in the main area with all the noise and commotion going on as normal.

They just adapt.

I have only my own personal experience to go by this. I coslept and my DS never napped for anyone. Cosleeping happened because my kid is terribly stubborn(wonder where he gets that from) and I gave up and just wanted some sleep, even though he did sleep through the night by 8 weeks and always took 2 hour long naps.....as long as I was right there with him.

I haven't had any DCF's that do this, so I'm only speaking from my own personal issues. I still have trouble and he's 2 but being a DCP and a SAHM, I never really had any reason or push to change habits.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Still new to the forum and it shows!!! LOL. Sorry for the double quotes!!!!

[mamamanda]

Well, I followed advice and was very matter of fact today. Laid dcg down at the same time as ds and she of course started crying and telling me she didn't want to nap. I told her that it was nap time and we would all be laying down until nap time was over whether we slept or not. I sweetly followed my normal routine and told her goodnight with her still crying. Within 5 minutes she fell asleep and she slept for close to 2 hours:confused: How that worked I don't know.:: She did wake up crying/having a fit, but I didn't get her out of bed until she quit crying. I explained we only get up when we're laying down nicely at the end of nap time. Hopefully it won't take too long for it all to click.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I don't know if this will help, but it might be worth a try. I had a child who co-slept at home and then didn't nap long, so I would wait until they fell asleep and then put a big stuffed animal in their pack n play (or on their cot) beside them (but down below their face) and cover both the child and the stuffed animal with a blanket. When the child woke up, it was as if they sensed another warm "body" with them and would usually just fall right back asleep. Obviously I would never use this method for an infant. This was for an almost two year old toddler.