Parents Don't Want Child To Nap

[lovemy3littles]

I had a mother approach me this morning, requesting that I no longer nap her 3 year old child. She explains that it causes her to be up until 9 pm at night. I said that I would not accommodate that. I explained that her child doesn't have to sleep, but rather has to to stay quietly on their nap and not disrupt others in the room. Mom seemed irritated that I wouldn't NOT nap her child. She sarcastically and with attitude commented that they would just not nap her on the weekends then. I said that it was policy that all kids need nap/rest time. They are required to sleep, but do need to rest their bodies.

Has anyone encountered this issue and how did you proceed/ say to the parent in response? Her child just turned 3 and obviously needs a nap daily.

Thank you!

[Blackcat31]

Your business = your rules
Her child = her choice

I'd let her know that your program is obviously no longer able to meet her needs so she needs to submit writtten notice of withdrawal according to you handbook/policies.

As a business owner I get to decide what services I offer
As a parent their only option is to decide if those policies work for them or not.

Don't change your routine for her.
She doesn't go to McDonalds and try to negotiate them selling her a Whopper

[Kia]

I just had the same request given to me. The child is also 3. I explained to mom that since she just started preschool, she will most likely fall asleep during rest time but I would do my best to wake her before she's napped too long. I was letting her watch tv while the others napped in another room but she was falling asleep too late so I let her watch one show and then change the channel to something she's not interested in. After 45 min-an hour, I wake her up and turn her shows back on. I can not keep her up and active at this time since she will keep my little ones up who's parents want them to nap. They said that she was going to bed at 7:30-8 while on vacation and wasn't getting a nap so they wanted the same thing going on at home. I explained that during vacation, all kids crash early because of all the daily activities. Much different from day to day routine. I also have the same policy in my handbook.

[Pandaluver21]

I am a firm believer in nap. I have never had it make bedtime harder, often a proper nap makes bedtime easier.

Nap is a part of our program. Parents not wanting their child to nap may pick up by 12:45pm. If they are unable we are not a good fit for their family, as we have everyone (even our kindergartners) take a nap every day.

[laundrymom]

"I realize how frustrating it is when children's needs change. I suggest waking her a couple hours earlier in the morning to compensate for the hours you want her to sleep at night. It's too difficult for children to play actively all day without a rest so I'm sure you understand why I can't accommodate your request. Also, an added benefit to waking her is the extra Sally and mommy time you'll get to have. "

[Ariana]

I pretty much deal with this every year at some point. I always let the parents know that the rest period is part of a healthy body, same as good food. The child has a choice to fall asleep or not and if the child falls asleep they need that nap. I don't mind limiting a childs nap to 1 hour over the age of 4 if the child is having issues going to bed but to be honest I have never had naps interfere with night time sleep.

you have no clue what is happening at home before bed. I had one mom ask me to stop napping her 3 year old for this reason and I once saw her at the park at 8pm. Not exactly a good way to wind down before bed time.

Naps, in my opinion, only interfere with night time sleep when the parent is trying to put the child down too early. So if the napmis making them stay up I also tell parents to move bedtime up an hour after the age of 3-4 if they are napping.

[SquirrellyMama]

I had a friend who had a dc family ask for no naps so they could do an earlier bedtime.

She complied, and the parents went to an earlier bed time. It wasn't even a week before the little girl started getting up earlier than the parents due to the earlier bed time. One morning she got into the cupboard and got into either gummy vites or kid's medicine.

Luckily, she was fine, but naps started up again along with the later bedtime.

Kelly

[hwichlaz]

Hmmm, I wonder if you explained that nap is your break time and offered to let the child to skip nap for 2 1/2 hours of overtime pay since you won't be able to get that break....

[Ariana]

I had a friend who had a dc family ask for no naps so they could do an earlier bedtime.

She complied, and the parents went to an earlier bed time. It wasn't even a week before the little girl started getting up earlier than the parents due to the earlier bed time. One morning she got into the cupboard and got into either gummy vites or kid's medicine.

Luckily, she was fine, but naps started up again along with the later bedtime.

Kelly

Yes this is a common tactic with parents who want to spend as little time as possible with their kids!

[Rockgirl]

Rest time is a state requirement here in Texas, for all children not yet in school. Our licensing reps have even told us to blame it on them when explaining it to parents!

[Ariana]

Rest time is a state requirement here in Texas, for all children not yet in school. Our licensing reps have even told us to blame it on them when explaining it to parents!

Yes! It is mandated here too so I always add that as well.

[ColorfulSunburst]

your kid doesn't want to sleep at 7:30pm? Ok, Let your kid go to sleep 8:30pm. It gives you extra time to be together with your own child.

[Kia]

Hmmm, I wonder if you explained that nap is your break time and offered to let the child to skip nap for 2 1/2 hours of overtime pay since you won't be able to get that break....

Yes! This time is the only way for me to recharge and properly be your Mary Poppins all day!!

[CityGarden]

I did / do have a family that often tries to subtly hint that their ds may no longer need a nap, both dcm and dcd have done so in a passive aggressive manner.

DCM/DCD
"We are struggling still with dcb getting up early in the mornings, maybe he is ready to drop his naps"

ME
"DCB seems to really needs his naps here and is always the first one asleep. That said, there are some children in our program who do not nap here and they are picked up just after lunch before naptime, LMK if you need to change schedules."

DCM/DCD
SILENCE


LOL LOL LOL

[Ariana]

^^ meanwhile the classic sign of not getting enough sleep is getting up too early!

My kids are in bed 7:30 (4yr old) and 8:30 (8yr old) every night. They both wake up at 7am. Meanwhile my neighbours kids who are the same ages go to bed 9:30-10pm and wake at 5am. They also fall asleep everywhere all the time. We went over for dinner a few weeks ago and when we got there the 4 year old was asleep. Poor guy had to grab a nap wherever her could.