"She doesn't need a morning nap. Don't give her one"

[SilverSabre25]

HA! She's 8 months old, folks, I have news for you: not only does she NEED that morning nap, she WANTS it and if I delay in giving it to her she falls asleep in the middle of the floor! Why else do you think she gets REALLY fussy sometime around 8:30/9 AM and screams bloody murder and rubs her eyes? Hmmm?

Sorry parents, this is ONE nutty request that I refuse to obey. Two naps a day for those under 1, no questions.

I will deal with the dirty looks and the sighs you give me when I tell you she had a great morning nap and a great 2-hour afternoon nap (even though you insist that at home she only takes an hour nap in the afternoon) because I am doing what I KNOW is best for your sweet baby.

And I won't feed her pudding.

[care-care]

Sad part is they probably think baby will go to bed earlier with out that nap I have always gave my kids 2 naps a day morning and afternoon and maybe a catnap later. I think the more sleep a child gets the more sleep a child needs. I have always had my daughter sleep 8-8 and take 2 naps when she was younger. I would just give her the nap because you have too be the one watching her during the day. If you are stressed then you will end up resenting this poor baby cause she cries and is tired. Id say the parents choice is let you nap her or term the child.

[GretasLittleFriends]

I have a 10mo old (my own dd)... Sometimes she naps in the am, sometimes not. Honestly it depends on what time she gets up. Today she was up before 8am, so she will most likely take an am nap. She also takes a nap around 2p, then depending on the day another one around 7p. She usually goes to bed around 10p as from day 1 our special bonding time had been about 9p and from 9-10 it was just the two of us completely uninterrupted.

I do agree that babies need at least 2 naps during the day, especially if they are displaying sleepy symptoms like you are explaining. I agree with pp "parents choice is let you nap her or term the child."

What's up with "I won't feed her pudding"?

[SilverSabre25]

What's up with "I won't feed her pudding"?

That would be because this is the family that, a couple weeks ago, brought me a package of pudding to feed this 8 month old for lunch. Regular old pudding, like you'd put in a grade-schooler's lunch.

Sad part is they probably think baby will go to bed earlier with out that nap I have always gave my kids 2 naps a day morning and afternoon and maybe a catnap later. I think the more sleep a child gets the more sleep a child needs. I have always had my daughter sleep 8-8 and take 2 naps when she was younger. I would just give her the nap because you have too be the one watching her during the day. If you are stressed then you will end up resenting this poor baby cause she cries and is tired. Id say the parents choice is let you nap her or term the child.

Before she started with me, she apparently wasn't napping much at home--one 1 hr nap a day at 1 PM! Now, whether they lied to me, or if she doesn't get enough activity at home to wear her out, I'm not sure. I do know she doesn't get much floor time at home and spends a LOT of time hanging out in baby equipment.

They have also told me, during these nap conversations, that she gets really fussy in the mornings and that you have to hold her and bounce her and rock her and do things like put on a cartoon show or one of her Mickey DVDs for her. Well...she's fussy because she's tired, I don't do TV (unless it's a quick Signing Time DVD while I get lunch on busy days), and moreover, if I don't put her in the pack n play, she passes out in the middle of the floor!! I have no choice but to nap her, one way or another, .

Sleep definitely begets sleep, and I don't know how these parents managed 8 months with not napping this kid enough...unless they are lying to me which I do NOT put past this family.

I am actively searching for a replacement child, but they're hard to come by in my area due to TONS of home daycares in the area...many of whom charge only $10-$15/day for childcare.

[momofboys]

I agree with you & I think she definitely still needs at least a short morning nap. I don't normally advocate lying but the child truly needs it (the nap) maybe you could just not tell them she is napping in the morning. Flame away.

[Blackcat31]

And I won't feed her pudding.

!!!::::

[momofboys]

HA! She's 8 months old, folks, I have news for you: not only does she NEED that morning nap, she WANTS it and if I delay in giving it to her she falls asleep in the middle of the floor! Why else do you think she gets REALLY fussy sometime around 8:30/9 AM and screams bloody murder and rubs her eyes? Hmmm?

Sorry parents, this is ONE nutty request that I refuse to obey. Two naps a day for those under 1, no questions.

I will deal with the dirty looks and the sighs you give me when I tell you she had a great morning nap and a great 2-hour afternoon nap (even though you insist that at home she only takes an hour nap in the afternoon) because I am doing what I KNOW is best for your sweet baby.

And I won't feed her pudding.

An 8-month-old DOES not need pudding. I would not feed it to her either!

[MyAngels]

My policies are written in such a way that the parents don't get to decide when the kids nap, I do. I don't have it in front of me, but it's something to the effect of "Infants are allowed to follow their own nap schedule, resting when they are tired. When I feel it is developmentally appropriate I will transition them to the schedule of afternoon napping that the older children follow."

It may be too late for this family, but maybe you could implement something like this in the future?

[SilverSabre25]

My policies are written in such a way that the parents don't get to decide when the kids nap, I do. I don't have it in front of me, but it's something to the effect of "Infants are allowed to follow their own nap schedule, resting when they are tired. When I feel it is developmentally appropriate I will transition them to the schedule of afternoon napping that the older children follow."

It may be too late for this family, but maybe you could implement something like this in the future?

Oh I have that in my policies, believe me. The parents knew it coming in, too. They just think that the rules don't apply to them, or something. Policies don't stop them from asking and making the request, though. They are a big thorn in my side (the mom still calls to check up on dcg at least once a day, every day, and this is the 4th week of care) and I've already had more trouble with them and my policies than most of my other families combined.

If I didn't so desperately need the income from them, they'd have been gone in the first two weeks. But my family can't survive right now without their $120/week, so I'm stuck until I get a replacement.

[MyAngels]

Oh I have that in my policies, believe me. The parents knew it coming in, too. They just think that the rules don't apply to them, or something. Policies don't stop them from asking and making the request, though. They are a big thorn in my side (the mom still calls to check up on dcg at least once a day, every day, and this is the 4th of care) and I've already had more trouble with them and my policies than most of my other families combined.

If I didn't so desperately need the income from them, they'd have been gone in the first two weeks. But my family can't survive right now without their $120/week, so I'm stuck until I get a replacement.

Ahh, I see. What a pain. Hopefully you'll find someone to replace them soon.

[Unregistered]

When little ones are sleepy like that they tend to fall asleep ANYWHERE...i.e. the middle of the floor. You should tell them that you might as well lay her down so the other kids don't step on her FACE!!! It's really common sense parents...LOL!!!

[Lianne]

I always tell the parents that at my house their child and I will find a schedule that works best for both their child and the rest of the group. Sometimes that means a morning nap and sometimes it doesn't. Parents may choose to do things differently at their house but here, we do things that works for the group as a whole.

[missnikki]

If they don't know how badly you need them, you could do a little 'intervention', where you schedule a meeting, sit with them, and explain the observations you've noticed. Ask them, about their home schedule, etc... kind of like a parent/ teacher conference of sorts.

Then you should be able to put your cards on the table and explain your expectations and how you would like to clear the air with your policies.

Sort of a reset button.

[heyhun77]

I've had infants who do not take a morning nap. Since we are supposed to follow the child's lead for naps and meals until about age 2 you just go with it. It's part of caring for infants and toddlers, their schedules will not typically be consistant extreme consistancy from all caregivers.

As much as I like a little downtime from infants/toddlers I won't fight their not sleeping or their need for a nap. If they are giving cues that they need a nap, they get a nap. If they don't need a nap then they stay up. It's a pain in the butt when their schedule doesn't work with what I want but it's part of caring for that age children.

I WOULD NOT feed them pudding though at8 mo. I don't even do pudding at all becase it's unnecessary empty calories.

[littlemissmuffet]

I've had infants who do not take a morning nap. Since we are supposed to follow the child's lead for naps and meals until about age 2 you just go with it. It's part of caring for infants and toddlers, their schedules will not typically be consistant extreme consistancy from all caregivers.

As much as I like a little downtime from infants/toddlers I won't fight their not sleeping or their need for a nap. If they are giving cues that they need a nap, they get a nap. If they don't need a nap then they stay up. It's a pain in the butt when their schedule doesn't work with what I want but it's part of caring for that age children.

I WOULD NOT feed them pudding though at8 mo. I don't even do pudding at all becase it's unnecessary empty calories.

The child is falling asleep in the middle of the floor. She's tired. She does need a nap.