2 Hour Naps @ Daycare?

[Blackcat31]

There have been studies that have been conducted that show that napping during the day affects sleeping during the night inversely. This is a result of this study conducted by the National Institute of Health.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21075238

This study actually shows that sleeping during the day affects cognitive skills adversely. The reason is that naps during the day (especially when they are not needed anymore) cause restless and less quality sleep at night, and this affects cognitive skills poorly. I don't think we need a study to figure this out as it is common sense.

I agree that all children need naps but to a point. Both of my children stopped taking naps at 3. They naturally weened themselves from napping. Now my 6 and 4.5 year old are at pre-school and the 4.5 year old is forced to rest/nap. He won't sleep at night and won't get up in the morning. We have very good routines. The 4 days he is not in daycare he sleeps on time and gets up by himself feeling energetic and happy. I can't say the same thing for the 3 days he is in daycare!

The nap laws were probably established because children were getting hurt in daycares. Let us rememeber that the laws in place to protect the children! Everyone needs a break, yes I get it! But if you don't get a break, the children get hurt. Remember the real reason why there are laws in place to begin with.

I also have learned that no one will raise your own child like you. Never forget that and never stop being an advocate for your own children because no one else will. And if your demands are not being honored I would suggest look arround until you find a high quality daycare that will honor them. It may cost more but it is worth it in the end!

The link says:

Naps (brief sleeps) are a global and highly prevalent phenomenon, thus warranting consideration for their effects on cognitive functioning. Naps can reduce sleepiness and improve cognitive performance. The benefits of brief (5-15 min) naps are almost immediate after the nap and last a limited period (1-3h). Longer naps (> 30 min) can produce impairment from sleep inertia for a short period after waking but then produce improved cognitive performance for a longer period (up to many hours). Other factors that affect the benefits from the nap are the circadian timing of the nap with early afternoon being the most favourable time.
Longer periods of prior wakefulness favour longer naps over brief naps. Those who regularly nap seem to show greater benefits than those who rarely nap.


So I am wondering where you read the things you posted as the link I clicked into seems to support napping as a benefit.

[Unregistered]

Wrong link blackcat! Geez sorry about that.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3095909/

This study was done on preschoolers.

[Blackcat31]

Wrong link blackcat! Geez sorry about that.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3095909/

This study was done on preschoolers.

No worries...

I think the article states exactly what most providers already know... if kids are given a good sleep routine at home ALL the time, their NEED for an afternoon nap will decrease as they age. It's the same for adults...if we get good restorative sleep at night, we don't need to nap, drink pots of coffee or energy drinks to stay alert and awake during the day.

Unfortunately most kids now days don't have good sleep routines at home. They sleep in the car, are kept up way too late or sleep with the TV on etc etc... and then need to get up early and go to daycare, thus causing them to be sleep deprived during our time with them....only to go home and have the same cycle repeated.

The article says "Restricting daytime naps in preschoolers who lack the opportunity or ability to increase their nighttime sleep might further impair performance significantly" and that part is SOOOOO important.

It's an issue that both parents and providers pass off onto one another and one that is easily solved by making sure both parent and provider are on the same page and have the same expectations for the child as well as open honest communication.

It's like you said.... YOU know your child better than anyone. If you don't believe your child should be napping at 5 yrs old, but the child care still requires it, then it's on YOU to find a care environment that provides the care your child needs.

I personally will NEVER use the argument that my daycare kids have to nap so I can get a break... (I actually cringe when I read that posted by providers but that's a whole 'nother topic of discussion ) and I don't believe nap laws were put into place for that reason.

I believe rest is required in care environments because the activities the children here participate in make them tired...both physically and mentally so they usually need a bit of down time. I don't require kids to sleep but I do require them to rest quietly (I play audiobooks to listen to) for a minimum of 90 minutes. During that time, I am usually feeding a baby or attending to those kids that rest twice a day and are awake during the older kids' rest time so for me that chunk of the day isn't devoted to me and my needs....

Anyways, it was an interesting article but it was done in a controlled environment with a lot of hypothetical elements added in but ultimately I do think the article was informative and useful. It clearly states that each child's brain and cognitive skills develop individually and not all kids mature at the same rate or pace so it's important that parents pay attention to this and find the care environment that best meets the current developmental needs of their child.

In my program, once a child matures beyond needing a nap, they have outgrown my program as a whole.

Thanks for sharing the article though....it was a great read and had some interesting points. I would love it if they conducted this same study in a clinical environment and see if the results are the same or even similar.

[Unregistered]

What many child care centres fail to realise is that you cannot force a child to sleep at night if they are not tired. You can have all the bedtime routines in the world, soft music, mummy lying there, it wont work if your child is not tired because they had a long afternoon nap. It is common sense.
What they also fail to realise is that a child going to bed late at night is not only difficult for parents, but it means the child GETS LESS SLEEP. The child wakes at 5.30am as per their normal body clock, gets a total of 7 or 8 hours sleep and is sleep deprived, irritable, uncooperative, difficult and unhappy. The child suffers. The child is not getting enough sleep.

I have read a lot on this thread about 'the child needs to nap' 'the child must need the sleep' but timing that sleep so that the child is able to receive a good 12 hours within every 24 hours, is very important.
My child naps at daycare, she then doesnt get enough sleep at night, we call the following day 'disabled day' - I know my child better than my left hand. I have a bedtime routine that works very well when she doesn't nap during the day. Why would she go to sleep at night if she is not tired?? she doesn't and either would I.

AMEN!!!! My 3 year old (and 10months... So almost 4) just fell asleep at 10pm because his daycare insists he nap for two hours every day! He doesn't nap at all on weekends and goes to bed like a charm by 8pm! I AM SO TIRED of hearing their excuses for why he has to nap!!did any of you brainiac daycare workers consider the fact that some children are napping because they aren't tired at bedtime because they are awake until 10pm, OF COURSE THEY ARE TIRED BY 12:30pm.... They only got 8 hours sleep the night before!! I do not have the option of another daycare as none in my area offer an early drop off other than this one.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED

[daycare]

AMEN!!!! My 3 year old (and 10months... So almost 4) just fell asleep at 10pm because his daycare insists he nap for two hours every day! He doesn't nap at all on weekends and goes to bed like a charm by 8pm! I AM SO TIRED of hearing their excuses for why he has to nap!!did any of you brainiac daycare workers consider the fact that some children are napping because they aren't tired at bedtime because they are awake until 10pm, OF COURSE THEY ARE TIRED BY 12:30pm.... They only got 8 hours sleep the night before!! I do not have the option of another daycare as none in my area offer an early drop off other than this one.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED

If America only knew how sleep deprived they are all this argument wouldnt exist.

Sorry but your 4 year old who's brain, organs, immune system and the rest of his body is still growing at a rapid rate and the only things that will allow your child to do this in a healthy major is with sufficient sleep.

Perhaps you can familiarize yourself with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The first thing on it is SLEEP, without it we would die. And without sufficient sleep we can not function with success
I'm not going to get into it and debate this. All children under 5 need naps. I'm 42 and I need naps when I miss sleep.

[bklsmum]

AMEN!!!! My 3 year old (and 10months... So almost 4) just fell asleep at 10pm because his daycare insists he nap for two hours every day! He doesn't nap at all on weekends and goes to bed like a charm by 8pm! I AM SO TIRED of hearing their excuses for why he has to nap!!did any of you brainiac daycare workers consider the fact that some children are napping because they aren't tired at bedtime because they are awake until 10pm, OF COURSE THEY ARE TIRED BY 12:30pm.... They only got 8 hours sleep the night before!! I do not have the option of another daycare as none in my area offer an early drop off other than this one.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED

Us "braniac daycare workers"? Seriously? You may not have the option of another daycare but maybe you should stay home with your special snowflake and open your own daycare and be the bestest most specialist smartest daycare provider ever!

[Unregistered]

As a registered provider, it is mandated that a minimum 2 hour rest period be allowed for children under age 5. I also prohibit drop ins during the nap period as it disrupts the other children. If a child needs to leave early, the parent texts me and I quietly remove them from the nap room and meet the parent at the door with the child. I don't require age 5 and up to nap, but they must have a quiet period during this time as to not disrupt the others. As a group care environment, we cannot make individual accommodations, so please don't request that when you already knew the routine of the program before enrollment. We are not your employee, and our program won't be modified to your requests. You pay tuition to attend our program...just as you pay a dance instructor for your child's dance lessons...you are paying for a service, not my employment. I will be employed regardless of your child's enrollment. Perhaps a nanny you could employ would be a better fit for the OP?

[NightOwl]

Us "braniac daycare workers"? Seriously? You may not have the option of another daycare but maybe you should stay home with your special snowflake and open your own daycare and be the bestest most specialist smartest daycare provider ever!

Bahaha! What she said.

[Blackcat31]

AMEN!!!! My 3 year old (and 10months... So almost 4) just fell asleep at 10pm because his daycare insists he nap for two hours every day! He doesn't nap at all on weekends and goes to bed like a charm by 8pm! I AM SO TIRED of hearing their excuses for why he has to nap!!did any of you brainiac daycare workers consider the fact that some children are napping because they aren't tired at bedtime because they are awake until 10pm, OF COURSE THEY ARE TIRED BY 12:30pm.... They only got 8 hours sleep the night before!! I do not have the option of another daycare as none in my area offer an early drop off other than this one.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED

Nooooo, your child had to nap because HIS PARENT has him enrolled in a child care facility that does not meet his needs.

If he truly does not need a nap, why are YOU keeping him there?

In my opinion that decision falls on the PARENT not the provider.

The child care facility has a right to have AND enforce any rule they want....including requiring ALL children to nap.

As a parent YOU have a right (and an obligation) to do what's best for your child.....so WHO'S fault is this?

The 'brainiac' provider or the 'irresponsible' parent???

[mommyneedsadayoff]

AMEN!!!! My 3 year old (and 10months... So almost 4) just fell asleep at 10pm because his daycare insists he nap for two hours every day! He doesn't nap at all on weekends and goes to bed like a charm by 8pm! I AM SO TIRED of hearing their excuses for why he has to nap!!did any of you brainiac daycare workers consider the fact that some children are napping because they aren't tired at bedtime because they are awake until 10pm, OF COURSE THEY ARE TIRED BY 12:30pm.... They only got 8 hours sleep the night before!! I do not have the option of another daycare as none in my area offer an early drop off other than this one.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED

So, when your kid is at daycare, he sleeps for a 2 hour nap and then goes to bed at 10 pm and gets 8 hours of sleep. So 10 hours of sleep in a day. And when you have him on the weekend, he goes to bed at 8 pm, or 2 hours earlier, which is the same amount of time as he would get in a nap. I am sure he may get to sleep in later on the weekends, but what this tells me is that he actually needs MORE sleep, not less, especially if he sleeps in on the weekends. At 4 years old, I still think getting 12 hours or more is very beneficial, whether that includes naps depends on your daycare or childcare situation. And it is very rude to call people brainiacs in such a negative way. Would you say that to your doctor? Because many of the people on this board have 30+ years in childcare, so you should take their advice and maybe they can help you with your situation. Until then, enjoy the extra 2 hours with your son and let him do his sleeping at daycare, so he can spend time with you when he is awake at home. It doesn't even get dark in my are until almost 11 in the summers, so we use the extra time to hang out and have campfires and watch fire flies. Enjoy it! Don't be frustrated with getting more time with your son!

[NightOwl]

Nooooo, your child had to nap because HIS PARENT has him enrolled in a child care facility that does not meet his needs.

If he truly does not need a nap, why are YOU keeping him there?

In my opinion that decision falls on the PARENT not the provider.

The child care facility has a right to have AND enforce any rule they want....including requiring ALL children to nap.

As a parent YOU have a right (and an obligation) to do what's best for your child.....so WHO'S fault is this?

The 'brainiac' provider or the 'irresponsible' parent???

:: Also, what she said.

[daycarediva]

AMEN!!!! My 3 year old (and 10months... So almost 4) just fell asleep at 10pm because his daycare insists he nap for two hours every day! He doesn't nap at all on weekends and goes to bed like a charm by 8pm! I AM SO TIRED of hearing their excuses for why he has to nap!!did any of you brainiac daycare workers consider the fact that some children are napping because they aren't tired at bedtime because they are awake until 10pm, OF COURSE THEY ARE TIRED BY 12:30pm.... They only got 8 hours sleep the night before!! I do not have the option of another daycare as none in my area offer an early drop off other than this one.

BEYOND FRUSTRATED

With that logic, he would NOT need a nap on Monday at daycare because he would have gone to bed like a charm at 8. Why as a daycare provider do I HAVE to set aside additional time for rest time on Mondays, and it gradually decreases by Friday (3 hours Monday-60/90m Friday)

Also, you cannot FORCE them to sleep at night and we do not/cannot FORCE them to sleep at nap if they aren't tired. I am legally obligated to provide rest time accomodations, and if a child sleeps, they obviously need it.

If America only knew how sleep deprived they are all this argument wouldnt exist.

Sorry but your 4 year old who's brain, organs, immune system and the rest of his body is still growing at a rapid rate and the only things that will allow your child to do this in a healthy major is with sufficient sleep.

Perhaps you can familiarize yourself with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The first thing on it is SLEEP, without it we would die. And without sufficient sleep we can not function with success
I'm not going to get into it and debate this. All children under 5 need naps. I'm 42 and I need naps when I miss sleep.

Nooooo, your child had to nap because HIS PARENT has him enrolled in a child care facility that does not meet his needs.

If he truly does not need a nap, why are YOU keeping him there?

In my opinion that decision falls on the PARENT not the provider.

The child care facility has a right to have AND enforce any rule they want....including requiring ALL children to nap.

As a parent YOU have a right (and an obligation) to do what's best for your child.....so WHO'S fault is this?

The 'brainiac' provider or the 'irresponsible' parent???

'brainaic' parent?

So, when your kid is at daycare, he sleeps for a 2 hour nap and then goes to bed at 10 pm and gets 8 hours of sleep. So 10 hours of sleep in a day. And when you have him on the weekend, he goes to bed at 8 pm, or 2 hours earlier, which is the same amount of time as he would get in a nap. I am sure he may get to sleep in later on the weekends, but what this tells me is that he actually needs MORE sleep, not less, especially if he sleeps in on the weekends. At 4 years old, I still think getting 12 hours or more is very beneficial, whether that includes naps depends on your daycare or childcare situation. And it is very rude to call people brainiacs in such a negative way. Would you say that to your doctor? Because many of the people on this board have 30+ years in childcare, so you should take their advice and maybe they can help you with your situation. Until then, enjoy the extra 2 hours with your son and let him do his sleeping at daycare, so he can spend time with you when he is awake at home. It doesn't even get dark in my are until almost 11 in the summers, so we use the extra time to hang out and have campfires and watch fire flies. Enjoy it! Don't be frustrated with getting more time with your son!

spend time with your child. I find most of the issues with bedtimes at home are directly related to lack of routine and low behavioral expectations vs. napping at daycare. Also, your children miss their parents during the day, they WILL try to stay up, be disruptive, act up to get your attention that they didn't receive that day.

[Unregistered]

Every child is different

It is a silly policy to regulate naps. Every child is different. Those of us that have more than 1 child know that. In fact, I have twins. 1 twin needs about 1 hour more sleep than the other. As they are preschoolers, they fall into the cdc definition of "needing" 11-12 hours. So, one of my twins actually is smack dab in the middle (needs 11.5). The other is on the lower end, needing only 10.5. A daycare that forces a policy of 2 hours at naptime therefore ensures this child doesn't fall asleep until 9:30 or 10pm at night. That's not healthy.

[Unregistered]

Ok, what time should a teenager go to bed?

So, when your kid is at daycare, he sleeps for a 2 hour nap and then goes to bed at 10 pm and gets 8 hours of sleep. So 10 hours of sleep in a day. And when you have him on the weekend, he goes to bed at 8 pm, or 2 hours earlier, which is the same amount of time as he would get in a nap. I am sure he may get to sleep in later on the weekends, but what this tells me is that he actually needs MORE sleep, not less, especially if he sleeps in on the weekends. At 4 years old, I still think getting 12 hours or more is very beneficial, whether that includes naps depends on your daycare or childcare situation. And it is very rude to call people brainiacs in such a negative way. Would you say that to your doctor? Because many of the people on this board have 30+ years in childcare, so you should take their advice and maybe they can help you with your situation. Until then, enjoy the extra 2 hours with your son and let him do his sleeping at daycare, so he can spend time with you when he is awake at home. It doesn't even get dark in my are until almost 11 in the summers, so we use the extra time to hang out and have campfires and watch fire flies. Enjoy it! Don't be frustrated with getting more time with your son!

=====================================================
As a teenager I think my bedtime was 10pm. Putting a 3 or 4 year old to bed at 10pm is ludicrous.

[Unregistered]

Generalizations are not all that helpful

If America only knew how sleep deprived they are all this argument wouldnt exist.

Sorry but your 4 year old who's brain, organs, immune system and the rest of his body is still growing at a rapid rate and the only things that will allow your child to do this in a healthy major is with sufficient sleep.

Perhaps you can familiarize yourself with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The first thing on it is SLEEP, without it we would die. And without sufficient sleep we can not function with success
I'm not going to get into it and debate this. All children under 5 need naps. I'm 42 and I need naps when I miss sleep.

=================================================
Just as the cdc indicates preschoolers need "in general" 11-12 hours of sleep daily, the generality of the statement implies it likely covers a lot, but not all, kids. I have twin 3 yr olds. One needs about a 90 min. nap daily, the other 30 min. This ensures they go to sleep at night at a healthy time (asleep by around 8-8:30pm). Falling asleep at this time is healthier for them, as they get a longer chunk of total sleep at night (from 8pm to 6am). A daycare that forces my child to nap 120 min. "steals" her nighttime sleep away from her. Then, she only sleeps from 9:30pm to 6am, becomes super cranky and is tired all day. Then, the daycare will 'let her nap' for 2 hours because she is tired. The daycare needs to work with the parents to ensure the best health of each child.