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if this child needs a nap, or your friend just needs/wants that quiet time, then I suggest having him lay down quietly to read a book or listen to music or something. If he falls asleep he needs that nap but don't let him sleep for more than 20 minutes or a half hour. A little cat nap. It might be that if he's falling asleep at 1 and allowed to sleep for 2 or 3 hours then he getting too much of a nap in the pm.
I would also consider maybe the fact that this kid could be hitting his second wind in the evening, and therefore no longer tired and wired to go. Or maybe there's a sugar intake maybe mom or dad isn't aware of?
My own kids stopped napping around 2-3 yrs. But they will sometimes lay down for a nap in they are tired at some point during the day. And we let them. The harder they play outside, the more they want a nap. Usually my 3 yo is the one to pass out at 3pm or sometimes 5 pm for a little cat nap. and he never has troubles sleeping at night.Comment
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Yep, especially since it seems that this kind of doctor recommendation is more and more common. I doubt that the parent told the doctor that the child was in DC. When my daughter was having sleeping problems at a younger age (before I did daycare) my doctor also recommended that I keep her awake during the day or shorten her nap. I told him that she was in DC and that it wasn't doable and he seemed to really understand that and recommended a lot of "vigorous play" before bedtime. Either the ladies doctor doesn't know that the child is in DC or he doesn't know how DC works.Comment
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Is this 5 year old going to kindy in 5 weeks?! If so, I'd tell the parents that a nap is required, however, to accommodate the sleeping issues, you will only lay him down for an hour and a half so that way he's only sleeping for maybe an hour.
If he's not going to kindy...buh, bye little buddy. You outgrew my program! Best of luck to you!Comment
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love the idea of passing the buck back to the parent if you are the provider. They can wake their kid earlier in the morning so they DO need a nap by then, instead of asking the provider to keep kiddo up all day. You can bet how well that would go over with parents. "What? me solve a problem? isn't that what i pay you and the doctor for?"Comment
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My 4 to 6 year olds aren't required to nap unless they are sick or were up too late the previous night. I have an assistant play with our "older" children in a different room while the little ones are napping. I don't think my DP's (of the older children) would be thrilled if their (older) child were sleeping 2 to 3 hours during the day. But, that's just my opinion.Comment
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The doctor's note is of no importance to me in this matter. The doctor is only good for looking in a kid's ear and writing out a prescription. LOL. That's exaggerating, but you know what I mean!
However, the kid is FIVE for heaven's sake. He's not TWO. If he doesn't need a nap, don't give him a nap. Simple as that. Most kids stop needing them by the time they turn FOUR. I'm more befuddled that your friend was making him take a nap, than I am about the doctor's note. Just stop the naps. End of story. He's the first one to fall asleep because he's awake till 1 or 2 am BECAUSE he took a nap. It may be hard for a week or so, but once he's back on a good schedule withOUT naps, he'll go to bed at a decent time and be well rested in the morning.Comment
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It's required in my daycare that ALL children 5 and under nap. All of them do, and all of my current parents encourage it. My 0-2 years kids nap in the am from 9-10 and everyone (but me, of course :
naps in the pm from 1-3. We have a little snack and go outdoors to play! I think more doctors needs to prescribe physical activity instead of not napping 
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My kids nap until the day before they go to Kindergarten.
I can't even IMAGINE having kids up during nap. It's beyond my comprehension. There's nothing "simple" about having kids up needing direct care an additional two/two and a half hours a day in a ten/twelve hour day.
When I start newborns it takes me a couple of weeks to get them onto our routine. Every day is a step closer to meshing them into our schedule which is rooted in one key ingredient to success: EVERYBODY sleeps during nap.
Just the couple of weeks it takes me to get the newborn on our gig just KICKS my rear end. I can't IMAGINE knowing every day I was going to have a four or five year old up. I would rather have a baby up than an older kid any day of the week.
If I had to have a kid up during nap it would affect me so profoundly that I wouldn't be able to do the job I do every day. I know "I"M" not cut out for that so I don't offer the service. If I need to have a kid up because of illness or special circumstance for a day or so... then that's part of my gig. Having an older kid up every day is NOT. I don't charge for it... I can't do it... I don't offer it.
Now that is simple.Comment
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I would personally suggest, that if this kid is tired enough that he NEEDS his nap in the afternoon, and then can't fall asleep at night, then tell dcm and dcd, that on saturday, they can wake him up early or let him sleep in, whatever floats their boat, and then not let him nap, and put him to bed at a decent time. They do this saturday and sunday, and by monday maybe he'll be better.
I don't think it's fair to your friend that she has to suffer and keep this kid awake if he is wanting this nap. I'm not sure if he's moody and tired, or if he'd be fine. But she still deserves her half hour to an hour of quiet time too. So he can sit and play with a puzzle or whatever else STARTING monday. Mom and dad can change the routine at home, your friend shouldn't have to.Comment
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Wow, a lot of providers seem like they couldn't survive without all their children napping. When I first read the comments I thought it was "just a saying" but you really CAN"T have a good day if a 5 yr old doesnt nap?! What happened to adapting a little? These are kids, not robots! Every day, and every kid is different.
There is obviously more going on with this kid, I doubt the doctor just booted him out the door. It makes sense to me...want the kid to sleep at night? Don't let him sleep 2 hrs during the day! I would think differently if the child was younger, but 5 is pushing it.Comment
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I agree. My own kids dropped naps around 2 1/2. If they slept even a 1/2 hour during the day they were running around their rooms until midnight.
And totally agree. I had a DC mom who insisted I nap her child even though he was 5 and the situation was very much like what I bolded. She's a teacher so he's home over the summer, I hope she's weaning him from the nap or Kindergarden is going to be brutal.However, the kid is FIVE for heaven's sake. He's not TWO. If he doesn't need a nap, don't give him a nap. Simple as that. Most kids stop needing them by the time they turn FOUR. I'm more befuddled that your friend was making him take a nap, than I am about the doctor's note. Just stop the naps. End of story. He's the first one to fall asleep because he's awake till 1 or 2 am BECAUSE he took a nap. It may be hard for a week or so, but once he's back on a good schedule withOUT naps, he'll go to bed at a decent time and be well rested in the morning.
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I too go by the rule...if you have outgrown my nap, you have outgrown my daycare, for all children not attending school yet. I have a just turned 5 yr old. Will go to kindy in the fall. She has always fought her sleep, always. If she doesn't nap, she is a little witch, trouble make, grouch, etc. I can certainly tell when she "hasn't had a nap". I had this child 9 hours a day 5 days a week. I was the one dealing with the disruption at nap time, not mom. Typically she would fight sleep till 2/2:30, to which she would then fall asleep, and then she was harder than hades to wake up. I now have her 2 days a week. She has the choice to lay down or go outside to play during nap. Normally she chooses outside, but when I bring them in for snack and wait for parents,,,,,she lays on the floor and falls asleep. She still needs a nap. Parents just need to step up and be the parent and not the little friend. They also need to get the tv's and other distractions out of the bedrooms. A child gets put to bed and they are to stay there. period.Comment
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