Tweet
I have a 3yr old DCG who is here 6a-6pm Tues/Wed. I have had her since she was 4 months old. She has always been a great napper. She has always taken 2-3, even 4 hr naps. Even now at her age, she will sleep 3 hrs easily. Now her parents want me to wake her up after 1 hr. I have always been more of the believer that a child should wake up on there own, and if they are napping, they need the sleep. 12 hrs is a longgggggggggggg day, and the thought of having her up and about for 11 hrs of the 12, makes me nuts. So what should I do? Do I listen to the parents wishes and get her up after only an hr and deal with her crankiness the rest of the day, or do I just let her sleep and wake her maybe after 2 hrs? The parents dont have to deal with her, I do, and I feel for her, 1 hr is not enough.
-
-
Do you have something in your policy about how long nap time is? That should cover you. If the girl is there for 12 hours, you're right, that IS a long day. She should be napping for more than an hour. Especially since she can be a long napper. That could be a real shock for her. 2 hours is not unreasonable! -
Tell them what they want to hear and go on with your day. If you are spending 12 hours a day with the child, you do know what is in the best interest of that child, even though you are not the actual parent. Plus, get 1 up, and they all end up awake. Your business your rules.Comment
-
Sleep begets sleep. They probably want you to shorten her nap so that she'll sleep better at night. However, if you shorten her nap, she will probably sleep WORSE at night. Well-rested children rest well at night. I wouldn't shorten her nap, certainly not all the way down to one hour! At most, I would get her up after 2.5 hours or so.Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!Comment
-
WHY do they want to shorten the nap? My dcps could shorten their child's nap when their child is home with THEM.
I cut naps off at 3 hours, but not before then. I wake them up after three hours mostly so I can change them, give them some time to wake up, have their afternoon snack and get ready to go home.
Comment
-
I would cut her back slowly...probably 2.5 hours, then 2 hours. If I were to cut one of my daycare boys back to 1 hour on the first try, I'd be guaranteed a kick in the jaw, LOL!!! Kidding....but he wouldn't be happy at all.Comment
-
I don't provide services to children who don't need a full afternoon nap. That's 2.5 hours here and I set the time.
If they have outgrown nap they have outgrown my program.Comment
-
I would just agree with the parents and not say anything. You are looking for a battle with them. I will gaurentee they want her to go to bed early thats why they want her nap shortened. And I'm not sure with you all, but most of the kids don't fall asleep right away so how would you do that. Everyday she would be getting up at a different time. I set my nap from 1-3.30pm and I'm schedual and the kids always wake up happy and well rested. also, 12 hours is really long.Comment
-
When I get a request like that I answer...that won't work for me. I refuse to spend a day with a cranky 3 year old, just so they can take him home and shove dinner in him and put him to bed. I also don't wake them up early for anyone. I don't think it is fair for the parents to set their own child up for misbehaving. Being tired leads to misbehaving. I would be up front and tell them she is tired and needs the rest.Comment
-
just telling the parents what they want to hear is a bad idea IMO. they'll know the naps are long by what time their child goes to sleep at night. it's obvious. my MIL also believes "kids should sleep if they're tired and should wake up when they're ready" which would be awesome if she were the one dealing with them at bedtime. i've picked my son up before at 5 or 6pm to find him sleeping and she'd tell me, "he's only been asleep about 20 minutes" but when 10 or 11pm rolled around and he was still bright eyed and bushy tailed it was pretty obvious that was a flat out lie. i think you should either compromise with them (maybe 1.5 hour nap) or tell them NO and let them decide what they want to do.Comment
-
I know a lot of you will not agree with this BUT, I have just told parents what they want to hear. If the child is tired and need sleep then they will sleep. If they aren't tired then they'll wake up.( I always leave books for the older ones to look at quietly if they wake earlier than their peers) Naps should be over by 3pm, kids will always be tired for bed. The problem isn't how long they are napping (as long as it's within the 1-3 time frame), its a consistent bedtime routine and not giving in to the 20 requests for a drink, another hug, another story.
I always find it funny when parents tell me how well "little johnny" is sleeping at night now that his naps are shorter. All a frame of mind thing. Sorry to all the moms, but if you expect a bad night, you will get one.Comment
-
I had a similar request for a 2 yr old. They wanted to switch his 3 hr nap to 2 and schedule it at 10am bc that is when they lay him down during the day. I started out telling them that this wouldn't work with a group setting that all the kids need to be down all together and I needed my time for lunch and clean up time. It's important that I have my time for my self also...
We did try it out for a wk and it just wasn't working out so I posted on here about my dilemma...everyone gave me really good advise and encouragement to stick to my gut on this one. The following week I told DCM that that nap time wasn't working out on so many levels and that I don't mind giving him just a 2 hr nap but not at 10am...it messes to much with my schedule I have set down for the kids. DCM didn't quite know what to say but when DCD picked up he picked up way early and first thing that came out of his mouth was "Is he still sleeping"...as DCB runs a crossed to the gate to DCD smiling...I gave him a look that said "Of course he's a wake"...I wouldn't lie to them about nap time. But I am also not going to put his child down at 10am. The end of the week I had a talk with DCD about our signed agreement and a few other things and ever since then things have been pretty good.Comment
-
this is what I have in my policy:
Crucial physical and mental development occurs in early childhood, and naps provide much-needed downtime for growth and rejuvenation. Naps also help keep kids from becoming overtired, which not only takes a toll on their moods but may also make it harder for them to fall asleep at night. Not to mention that it is a major requirement for good healthComment
-
I am in the minority here.
I have limited nap times for some kids. There are some kids that I know spend time with their parents after dinner, they don't just shove them in bed at 7. If that's the case, and they still have trouble getting them to sleep at a reasonable hour, I will limit a nap.
I have kiddos that can sleep for 3 to 31/2 hours, and I'm sure that can keep them up at night. If that is the case, I will just have them be the last to lay down, let them read books quietly for a while, and wake them up after they have slept for at least an hour. If they don't want to wake up though, they can still sleep. I would never force a child to stay awake or to wake up. If it doesn't work our for me and the child, I would tell the parents I gave it a try and it didn't work.
I think it's reasonable for them to ask for naps to be limitedto a couple hours only , especially is she sleeps for 3 or even 4 hours.Comment
Comment