Differing Nap Schedules

[Unregistered]

Hello!

I currently have three babies in care (including my own) all around 9 months old and they all take two hour-long naps. One at 10am and one at 2pm. For the afternoon nap, I'll let them sleep longer but one hour is the minimum.
I just had an interview for a 15 month old. Her mother said that she only takes one nap per day, from 12-1pm so that she will sleep through the night. I let her know our current nap schedule and she said that I could transition her to the 10am nap. I would like her to take two naps with the other kids. I feel like she would be exhausted and cranky by 2pm. What would you do in this situation? I definitely need them all sleeping together at some time during the day for my own sanity!

Thanks in advance!

[storybookending]

I would just keep the child at the one nap and **** it up for a few months until the others are ready to transition to one nap. Most kids I know transition shortly before or after their first birthday. No sense in going backwards and giving the child two naps again.

[Unregistered]

Really? I thought kids usually took two naps until age 2! I'm a new provider and have only had the babies. Would you say it's a good idea to move the afternoon nap up if I can?

[rosieteddy]

I would push the 9 month olds to 9am-10am.Then back down after lunch for everyone say 1-3+.I always transitioned 12 month olds to 1 nap after lunch.

[storybookending]

All but one of my children in care are on a one nap schedule. They all go down at noon. Everyone sleeps past 1:30PM every day. Often times everyone is still sleeping at 2PM. Today one didn't come out of the nap room until 3PM.

The center I worked at switched all children to one nap within month 12, shortly after their birthday.

Is the child currently in another daycare? Will they be having to get up earlier and change routines when they start at your house? If she's not used to daycare you might be able to get her down earlier if being around other kids isn't something she's used to and it tires her out a bit more. 10AM just seems so early for a child only taking one nap.

[Unregistered]

Yes! I thought 10am for one nap would make for a horrible afternoon. The 15 month old has been cared for by her grandmother until now. I feel like one of my current babies could actually switch to one nap. She has been a difficult napper for some time. The other two still need both naps.

My new schedule may look like this:
7:30 arrivals
8:00 breakfast (cereal/fruit)
9:30 AM nap for kids who need it
10:00 AM snack
11:00 bottles
12:00 lunch (jarred food/finger foods)
1:00 PM nap (all kids down)
3:00 bottles
4:00 PM snack
5-5:30 Child Pick Up

It looks like all they will do is eat! haha

Anyone see anything I should change?

[storybookending]

Give it a try and tweek when necessary. Each group is different. The group I had 6 months ago is so different than the group I have now and they are all the same kids! They grow and change so fast.

[storybookending]

I do think they may be eating too much. I don't offer breakfast as a part of my program. Just an AM snack, lunch and a PM snack.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the advice!

[storybookending]

No problem. I don't know how you can handle 3 under a year, props to you. I'd surely go insane. I can't wait until my current 9 month old is a bit older. We are going to be a baby free house for quite awhile and I am so looking forward to it. happyface My current 9 month old was that baby that took 35 minute naps every 1.5-2hours. He wasn't even cranky in between the naps it just got exhausting. He's finally taking two decent naps. Sometimes he needs that 3rd nap yet if the first two weren't the best.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I would say no for a few reasons.

First, grandma has been caring for her and she only naps one hour a day, which even that could be an exageration. That may be one hour while grandma rocks her in the chair. Ime, she may have nap issues and need to be sleep trained.

Second, 9 months old is a lot younger. Not really, but in terms of their day to day, they can be quite different. I dont do one nap till closer to 14-16 months, so that would mean dealing with one child (who may or may not have nap issues) for a good 5+ months while the others mature into one nap.

Personally, I would look for a baby closer in age, but you can always do a trial period and if its not happeing, move on! best of luck to you!!

[flying_babyb]

I work with 1 year olds in a center. our room usually had ones and a few stray 2's.
Lunch is at 11-1115 (depending on what it is)
Most of the kids are done by 1130-45. Diapers fallow and then its off to their cots. We let them nap till they wake and most don't wake till 2-230. Then its diapers and snack then outside (or art).

our babies (under 1) are on pretty much the same scheduled. Usually by 8 months ours are down to one nap a day with it being 11-2.

[Leigh]

Hello!

I currently have three babies in care (including my own) all around 9 months old and they all take two hour-long naps. One at 10am and one at 2pm. For the afternoon nap, I'll let them sleep longer but one hour is the minimum.
I just had an interview for a 15 month old. Her mother said that she only takes one nap per day, from 12-1pm so that she will sleep through the night. I let her know our current nap schedule and she said that I could transition her to the 10am nap. I would like her to take two naps with the other kids. I feel like she would be exhausted and cranky by 2pm. What would you do in this situation? I definitely need them all sleeping together at some time during the day for my own sanity!

Thanks in advance!

Unless you're willing to deal with a child being awake while the others sleep, I'd advise passing on this one. Transitioning a 15 month old to 2 naps would likely be quite difficult. Mine usually do 2 naps until around 18 months, but if the child is used to 1, switching might be difficult.

The main reason I would pass is that it sounds like the parents want to rob the child of needed daytime sleep so that they can make their nights easier by putting their child to bed super early. I'm assuming that they expect you to wake their child after an hour of sleep?

I would definitely pass on this one, myself.

[Mom2Two]

The main reason I would pass is that it sounds like the parents want to rob the child of needed daytime sleep so that they can make their nights easier by putting their child to bed super early. I'm assuming that they expect you to wake their child after an hour of sleep?

I would definitely pass on this one, myself.

That was my first thought too. I think it may be that the parents want to put the child to bed earlier, which would make me wonder if the parents like spending time with their children. Or does it interrupt their TV watching too much?

However, it is also quite common for one year olds to be waking up in the night. We dealt with it by going to bed earlier ourselves and just doing some training at night when the kids were waking up too much.

Let the children nap when it's good for the child. I always thought most went to one nap by 18 months, then it seems to get to be a bit later til they're napping in the afternoons only. My two three year olds don't nap til about 2pm coz otherwise they are not tired enough to fall asleep.

Maybe ask what the child's normal night schedule is to try to find out what's going on at home.

[storybookending]

Oh yeah I would like to add if they expect you to wake the child after napping only an hour that would be a red flag for sure. I will never wake a napping child, never.