2 Hour Naps @ Daycare?

[kitykids3]

I agree that if they fall asleep they needed it, or fell asleep from boredom of not being engaged by the preschool teacher, I did ask before I enrolled my son was told he did not have to sleep but had to be quiet during this time, ok fine. Since he started I struggle every nite to get him to fall asleep he is still awake very late, come to find out he is sleeping for 2+ hours everyday. No wonder I can't get him down at a decent time. We were spoiled at his previous school, Holy Cross rocked! But we had to move out of state, I'm talking to them tomorrow about these 2 hour naps at his new school, we may be on the search for a new place.

Which one? The 3 yr old or 6 year old.
I don't force a kid to nap - you can't make them sleep. However we do lay down on our mats for 2-3 hours, from approximately 12:30-3. All my kiddos are under 5 and sleep for 2+ hours on their own. Schoolagers I have had in past usually don't, but I do have them rest for a half hour. If they are still awake, then they can get up and do something quiet.
Those 2 hours of nap are needed for most kids under 5. Occasionally I have had some 4 year olds grow out of them, but if your 3 year old is sleeping, then let him sleep.
If it is disrupting night time sleep, then talk with the provider about it. It is standard for 2+ hour nap for 3 year olds. Personally I am curious as to what you are considering 'late' as far as bedtime. I would not be waking my 3 year olds up after 45 minutes. Communication with your provider is best for your child. Perhaps you both can experiment a little.
Also, although I allow it (with notification), visiting during naptime is very disruptive and I would not be happy with it either. Why would you be making unannounced stops during naptime? If you feel the need to check up, then you need to work it out with your provider or move on. I would not want clients feeling they needed to make unannounced visits just to check up on things here. You've got to be able to trust your provider and vice versa.

ETA: 2 hours IS standard for under 5. I let them get up after a half hour if awake. That has never happened with a 3 yr old with me, but 'quiet time' if still awake is standard too.

[crazydaycarelady]

I agree that 2 hours is the standard nap time but once my dckids outgrow a nap they no longer have to lay down. They usually do something quiet or watch TV so the younger kids can sleep. I can't even imagine that a 6yo would need a regular nap.

I have never laid a 6yo down for nap and I have been doing this a long time. I think if he was able to go to sleep at a decent hour at night he probably would not be so tired the next day.

[Country Kids]

I agree that 2 hours is the standard nap time but once my dckids outgrow a nap they no longer have to lay down. They usually do something quiet or watch TV so the younger kids can sleep. I can't even imagine that a 6yo would need a regular nap.

I actually napped every day at 6 years old. Fell asleep the same time every day in first grade (afternoon story time). To this day I can take a nap if given the chance. Some people actually are nappers and need them to function.

[providerandmomof4]

I actually napped every day at 6 years old. Fell asleep the same time every day in first grade (afternoon story time). To this day I can take a nap if given the chance. Some people actually are nappers and need them to function.

Me too! Even when I was in high school, I would come home and take a nap (unintentionally- I would just fall asleep) Can't anymore..dang it! Two of my kids are the same way, and then they want to stay up later at bedtime...so it can be a problem and a vicious cycle! During the week I have to try and keep them up and they can be really cranky! They are getting better the older they get but sleep is always an issue. If they don't get enough then we all pay! Oh if the world would just start a little later for all of us nappers::

[wdmmom]

After changing diapers, our group goes down at 1230pm. It usually takes 10 to 20minutes for everyone to doze off. The first one is usually awake around 245pm-310pm. Each and every child I have(youngest is 7 months, oldest is 4) naps AT LEAST 2 hours every single day.

[CozyHome]

My daycare children nap from 12:45ish for 2-3 hours. I let them sleep as long as their little bodies and minds need it. I don't allow pickups until 3:30 so I'm protecting their naptimes and have time to change all the diapers and feed them an afternoon snack.

Why do you feel you should pop in unexpectedly? Don't you trust your caregiver? If you don't then you should find one you trust completely.

[Unregistered]

Refer to State Regulations

I have been a preschool teacher for over 15 years in Vermont. Our regulations state that children should be given a quiet rest/nap time for 30 minutes. Here is the actual quote from our regs,
"9. For children in care for more than five hours there shall be an opportunity to rest for
at least 30 minutes, but no child shall be forced to sleep. For children who don’t
require sleep, time and space shall be provided for quiet play."

It surprises me that so many people think regulations require hours on a mat. Certainly I agree some children need a long nap. In my program, if they are not asleep after 30 minutes to 45 minutes, I get them up off their mat.

[Starburst]

In CA we need to provide at least one 2 hour rest period for young children in our care. I think trying to force a a 6 year old to sleep on a mat for that long if they are not tired is bad but if the child is tired according to the NAEYC it is unethical to keep them up during a rest time just because they are older. I will have in my rules that children under 5 (children who are not yet in Kindergarten) will be required to take a nap- but if I notice a 4 or 5 year old frequently does not fall asleep than I will try to come up with a quite activity such as reading, coloring, posibly watching a movie once in a while. but it is still group care and if the child cannot remain quiet during this time and are constantly making it difficult for others to sleep, than they will need to lay on a mat quietly during that time. The other children have a right to a quiet environment to sleep in.

[Unregistered]

Naps at daycare.....

I live in Australia and my 4 1/2 year old son is patted to sleep everyday - much to my disgust..... he is a very active boy and has lots of energy; if he doesnt sleep at day care he is asleep in bed at 7.30-8pm at night and sleeps for a good 12 hours.
I dont believe all centres should have the policy that all children are required to sleep (happy with a rest or quiet time) - its like a one size fits all policy for clothing and it doesnt work.
When my 4 1/2 year old is still awake and hard to settle at 10.30pm at night - then I beg to differ on the sleeping policy. As a parent of 2 children - one who is almost 9 and is constantly getting disturbed by his wide awake brother late at night - then having the difficulty to get them out of bed in the morning as they've had a late night - its a viscious , unhealthy cycle.
I certainly do not think it is rude, selfish or inconsiderate of parent to request for their child not to sleep and some comments in this forum have really hit a nerve. Parents know their children best. My son is at daycare 6-7 hours a day at most, 2 of those hours are sleeping times - which like I said before is encouraged by rocking, patting and soft music - I dont agree at all. Just to appease the lunch roster, get time to do dishes or aleviate staffing issues - surely that cannot be a good enough reason to disrupt the childs sleeping patterns in an evening, which on a regular basis has an effect on a much grander scale in a family.

I wonder when the day care centre closes its doors a the end of the day, that they have any thought for the turmutulous evening faced by a lot of parents whos child has had a lengthy sleep at kindy.

[MissAnn]

In my program we have rest time for 2 hours as well. No child is required to sleep or even encouraged to do so. Kids bring a stack of books to bed. I keep lights on until they fall asleep. One child often stays awake for an hour.

7:30 bedtime seems pretty early. Maybe there is a compromise. If center would let him read he might stay awake longer at nap and maybe your son could go to bed at 8 or 8:30. That would give you a little more family time as well.

[MyAngels]

I live in Australia and my 4 1/2 year old son is patted to sleep everyday - much to my disgust..... he is a very active boy and has lots of energy; if he doesnt sleep at day care he is asleep in bed at 7.30-8pm at night and sleeps for a good 12 hours.
I dont believe all centres should have the policy that all children are required to sleep (happy with a rest or quiet time) - its like a one size fits all policy for clothing and it doesnt work.
When my 4 1/2 year old is still awake and hard to settle at 10.30pm at night - then I beg to differ on the sleeping policy. As a parent of 2 children - one who is almost 9 and is constantly getting disturbed by his wide awake brother late at night - then having the difficulty to get them out of bed in the morning as they've had a late night - its a viscious , unhealthy cycle.
I certainly do not think it is rude, selfish or inconsiderate of parent to request for their child not to sleep and some comments in this forum have really hit a nerve. Parents know their children best. My son is at daycare 6-7 hours a day at most, 2 of those hours are sleeping times - which like I said before is encouraged by rocking, patting and soft music - I dont agree at all. Just to appease the lunch roster, get time to do dishes or aleviate staffing issues - surely that cannot be a good enough reason to disrupt the childs sleeping patterns in an evening, which on a regular basis has an effect on a much grander scale in a family.

I wonder when the day care centre closes its doors a the end of the day, that they have any thought for the turmutulous evening faced by a lot of parents whos child has had a lengthy sleep at kindy.

I'm curious as to why you have not looked for another care situation that would allow your child to stay up during the day? It seems like that would solve a lot of problems that you are having in the evening.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Mine generally nap for 3 hours. I try not to do school age but on snow days etc they seem to need that nap as much as my little ones! I am a home provider so it is just me. I do need nap time since I do care 6:30- 6:30! But, I feel it is important for my little ones. Most are out of bed before 7 every morning and we play hard! I am lucky to keep them awake through lunch some days. They are down for nap by 12 and up by 3. I do think an early nap is important. That gives them about 5 hours before bed and an hour (at least) of play outside during tht time. My parents like a good nap time so thy don't have crabby kids at night! When they don't get a good nap they tend to fall asleep on the way home, then woken up and are then crabby.
I would have a huge issue with you popping in at nap time. My parents know if they show up they are taking their kidlet with them and if it during nap time I need to know in advance what time and I will bring them out to th driveway. They are not to come to the door!! It is not fair to me for them to wake my kidlets!

[Unregistered]

Because a child takes a nap at daycare, has nothing to do with a child not going to sleep at night. It is nothing but a blame game by the parents. Be a parent, not their best buddy and parent your child. So many times over the years, I have been confronted with...Please don't let Susie sleep more than 45 min, she doesn't go to sleep at night. I do nothing different, Susie still sleeps 2 to 2.5 hours per day, BUT I tell parents she only slept 45 min and amazingly her sleep issues have subsided. No change in sleep at daycare and a little white lie to parent, works everytime.

And special requests to keep Susie up, when you are a one person team with 1 daycare space in your home, it is very hard to allow 1 child to stay up while the others sleep. It just doesn't work. 1 kid stays up then you have 2 wanting to stay up. Nope, not going to happen. Most home daycares are small group care. If you want special you need to hire a nanny for one on one care. A provider has to do what is best for her and her group, not 1 individual child.

I never understood why parents would put their kids to bed at 7:30/8, don't they want to spend time with their kids? My own kids never slept 12 hours at a time and they were in daycare for 8 years, went to bed at 9pm and up at 5:30, napped everyday till went to school. Sometimes parents need to step back and regroup and ask themselves if their request to their provider is doable in a group setting.

[mrsnj]

Two hours here too. Sometimes slightly longer if they are knocked out and still sleeping at wake up time..... I might leave them slightly longer. HOWEVER, I do not make school age children nap. The 6 yr old would not be REQUIRED to take a nap. He could bring a sleeping bag and pillow to rest if needed (I too have had 6 yrs old still want a naptime) but they are not forced too. They can lay and watch tv, read a book, sleep, play, whatever. Children prek and younger however are required to take naps.

[renodeb]

When you showed up unannounced what did you witness? In most states we are required to have a nap/rest time. I think it is wrong of your child care to "force a nap". It is more unusual for a 6 year old to not fall asleep at all. I must say that I don't have many older kids in my care but in the past I would have the tv on real low or have them read or something quiet while others were asleep. They didn't have to sleep but they had to be quiet. My nap/rest time is two hours as well and most do sleep for that whole time. If they wake before the others they have to be quiet until the others wake but they certainly don't have to sleep. Are you saying that there forced to sleep that whole time or just be on there mat the whole time? (big difference!. Most daycares are around two hours depending on age groups, that does seem a little long for a 6 y/o! I would maybe start looking for new dc? No child should be forced. Is it a home dc? Mixed ages? That may make it harder to have seperate spaces where the older child can just do a quite activity til others wake. It seems that this Dad is being ganged up on a bit. I think 2 hours is the norm in most dc's. They may not sleep the whole time but they have to be quiet.