2.5 Hour Naptime? Advice, Please!!

[Unregistered]

Moms & Dads,

I am new to the whole "Day Care Center" thing, my 3- & 4-yr-old have been in an in-home day cares since 8wks. I am looking for some feedback from some of you parents who are more experienced than me in this area, please...

I've been reading the "daily sheets" sent home with my 3-yr-old daughter and I've noticed the trend in her naptime. At first she was napping 12:30-1:30 or 12:30-2:00....lately she has been napping 12:00-2:30, daily! Over the past week it has been progressively more and more difficult to get her in bed at night, so difficult that she was awake until after 11:00 PM last night. This is becoming stressful for me as she is more cranky in the mornings and I, for obvious reasons, am getting frustrated with losing more and more sleep.

When I approcahed the Director this morning she informed me that by law she is required to implement a nap time no shorter than 2.5 hours. There is no budging on her schedule and they won't wake toddlers from their naps. HELP-have any of you guys or gals experienced this before??? Is it really the stance of MY CHILD'S care provider that she will not discuss the length of time MY child sleeps during the day at HER facility?

I read the GA Dept of Early Care & Learning Manual and there is no indication of a required length of time, did the Director lie to/mislead me to get me of fher back? Has anyone ever experienced this situation? I'm worried that before long she will be sleeping 3+hours during the day......my happy home depends on my babies sleeping through the night, ADVICE?

THANKS, EVERYONE!!!!!
-A concerned and confused Momma Bear

[daycare]

at that age a 2 hour nap or even up to 3 hours is normal.

I have nap time here from 1-3 and most of the time I am having the worst time getting the kids up from nap.

First thing that you need to understand that DC in itself is very stimulating for children, which makes them more tired than normal.

if your child is having a hard time going to sleep at night, it could be becuase she is not getting enough sleep.

here is a great link from baby center that talks about how much sleep your child needs at what age and why.

As for it being the law. I do not know what state you are in, but I do know that some states do have such laws.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much...ZnwyMDEyMDkyNQ..

[Country Kids]

Our state has it that we have to provide a rest time for the children. No specific length but I'm sure if a child is sleeping they need it.

Have you thought that she is possibly sleeping longer becasue she is going through a growth spurt? Mine who are not sleeping right now though just went through a growth spurt and were sleeping long and hard.

[Cat Herder]

I read the GA Dept of Early Care & Learning Manual

THANKS, EVERYONE!!!!!
-A concerned and confused Momma Bear

Look under the new section "Force or withhold naps". I found it on page 7 of the guidance manual. That is the one centers are "graded" on.
IMHO, If you DD is sleeping that long, she just needs it right now. It may be a growth spurt. It could also be that at 3 years of age she just wants more awake time with you.

I am sure there are kids that are awake by then, it simply is not possible to make them sleep if they are not tired.

[SunshineMama]

I put everyone down for a nap around 1:00, and usually end up having to wake some of them up at 4:00. They would sleep longer if i let them but I put a 3 hour cap on naps.

At daycare, all of the kids literally run around and play all morning. Think about how great a nap would feel to you if you ran around for 4-5 hours straight. On a side note, the ones who want to sleep longer are my 3 and 4 year olds.

[Unregistered]

My daughter slept 2-3 hours faithfully every day until she was 4.5 years old. By the time she started preschool, it dropped to about 1 hour per day but she slept almost every single day until she started kindergarten.

[rhymia1]

My state regs say I must allow a child up off the cot if they are not asleep after a 1/2 hour. But if they are sleeping, I let them sleep.

Are there other child care options (preschool type places?) that have shorter nap times? If your daughter seems really bothered by the nap or can't get to bed until midnight, then maybe you can explore some other options?

[BABYLUVER]

Moms & Dads,

I am new to the whole "Day Care Center" thing, my 3- & 4-yr-old have been in an in-home day cares since 8wks. I am looking for some feedback from some of you parents who are more experienced than me in this area, please...

I've been reading the "daily sheets" sent home with my 3-yr-old daughter and I've noticed the trend in her naptime. At first she was napping 12:30-1:30 or 12:30-2:00....lately she has been napping 12:00-2:30, daily! Over the past week it has been progressively more and more difficult to get her in bed at night, so difficult that she was awake until after 11:00 PM last night. This is becoming stressful for me as she is more cranky in the mornings and I, for obvious reasons, am getting frustrated with losing more and more sleep.

When I approcahed the Director this morning she informed me that by law she is required to implement a nap time no shorter than 2.5 hours. There is no budging on her schedule and they won't wake toddlers from their naps. HELP-have any of you guys or gals experienced this before??? Is it really the stance of MY CHILD'S care provider that she will not discuss the length of time MY child sleeps during the day at HER facility?

I read the GA Dept of Early Care & Learning Manual and there is no indication of a required length of time, did the Director lie to/mislead me to get me of fher back? Has anyone ever experienced this situation? I'm worried that before long she will be sleeping 3+hours during the day......my happy home depends on my babies sleeping through the night, ADVICE?

THANKS, EVERYONE!!!!!
-A concerned and confused Momma Bear

We have a 2 hr rest period time frame we adhere to. They don't have to sleep, but they are to rest. Most of my dc kids slept from 11:30-1:00/1:30. Maybe she just needs to make naptime earlier? When I had my first child, naptime was 1-3pm at her daycare. I thought that was too late, and my dd never would go to sleep til about 10pm. When I switched her daycare, the new provider had 12-2 and she'd go to bed around 8:30. I think it could be a timing thing.

[cheerfuldom]

OP I think you will find this requirement very standard at centers. Home providers are able to tailor things to the kids better because they have smaller groups and a different environment. If you are unsure about the state laws, you can ask the director for a copy of the information that outlines why they have their nap policy as it currently is but I wouldnt expect them to change anything for your child. The reality is that if you throw a huge fuss about this, they still won't change anything and may tell you to find other care. You could also call a few centers and ask what their policies for naps are and will most likely find that they have the same policy as your current center.

As for naps in general, I have had many 3 and 4 year olds that regularly sleep 2 hours a day. They may also lay or play quietly for additional time each day.

Plus, my own 4 year old had started not taking naps here but now that she started prek, she will sleep several hours at school. She is exhausted by the new environment.

[crazydaycarelady]

I feel for you OP. Some children just don't need that much sleep and in my home daycare I have several 3 and 4yos who don't nap at all. I think it is fair that you (as the parent) should be able to request a shortened nap period. I know of no rule that says children can't be woken up or must have a 2.5 hour rest period. I have one lttle girl whose mother requested I wake her after 1.5 hours. I think I would have another talk with the director and if she is not open to helping you out then I would look for another place.

[angelicpretty]

Personally, if a child is asleep, it's because they are tired. It's not like you can force a child to nap. If your child is sleeping, it's because she is needing it. If she is in a center, most of the time the kids will all be sleeping in one room and the teachers use this time to rotate supervision and take breaks. The rule at our center is that even if you aren't sleeping, you need to be on your mat doing a quiet activity or resting. In my opinion the difficulty sleeping at night may be that she just wants to be awake and enjoying her time at home after being gone all day.

[canadiancare]

This is out of our day nurseries act. I am a home day care provider but as an ECE I follow the act for anything health and safety and anything else that I can as it applies.

My kids nap from about 12h15-2h30 Max but they arrive at 6 30 and go home by 4 30. Most of them are in bed at night by 7 without issue. If a parent asks me to wake a child up after a specific length of time I will do it but I don't like to as I feel a child sleeps because they need it. My 21 year old will have an afternoon nap if he could and my daughter who is now 15 often falls asleep after school on the sofa. Busy kids need sleep.


Every operator shall ensure that the daily program in each day nursery operated by the operator and in each location where private-home day care is provided by the operator is so arranged that,
(a) each child over eighteen months of age up to and including five years of age that is in attendance for six hours or more in a day has a rest period not exceeding two hours in length following the mid-day meal;
(b) each child under thirty months of age that is in attendance for six hours or more in a day is outdoors for sleep or play or both for a period of up to two hours each day, weather permitting, unless a physician or parent of the child advises otherwise in writing;
(c) a child under 44 months of age as of August 31 of the year and who is unable to sleep during the rest period is not kept in bed for longer than one hour and is permitted to engage in quiet activities; and
(d) a child 44 months of age or over and up to and including 67 months of age as of August 31 of the year and who is unable to sleep during the rest period is permitted to engage in quiet activities. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 262, s. 53 (5); O. Reg. 505/06, s. 11 (1).

[tutranzz]

nap time issue

Dear Parent and Day Care Provider,

As parents, we want to do what is best for our children's well being and we don't want the government to dictate to us how and when our children should sleep or nap.

My child has not been napping at all since he turned 3 and he was allowed to participate in normal activities with other older children at a Montessori School; this year the new Administrator insists that he has to lay down on the cot for at least 30 minutes and if he falls asleep then they will let him sleep.

As for myself, if you let me lay down for 10 minutes then i will nap/sleep and there is no telling when i will wake up.

In the daycare handbook, it states that a facility should have a designated rest period and rest area BUT no where does it states that a child should lay down on the cot for 30 minutes.

To me, each daycare center can interprets and states their policy and communicates this clearly with the parents so there is misunderstanding.

As parents we should be able to find a Daycare center that understands the exceptions and work with us to ensure that our children get what is best for them whether it be rest or learning. There should be no one size fit all mold.

As business operators, you should be able to operate in ways that would benefit you as well. It may be advantageous for a Daycare facility that separate themselves from the rest by providing exemptions to this nap time.

I am in the process of writing to the Governor to get a clarification to the law and how it is supposed to be interpreted.

[Cat Herder]

As parents we should be able to find a Daycare center that understands the exceptions and work with us to ensure that our children get what is best for them whether it be rest or learning. There should be no one size fit all mold.

You can currently. You simply have to choose a center that is exempt such as a private school. There are many business models out there. You just can't expect one to change their chosen rules for you after you have already agreed to their contract.

As business operators, you should be able to operate in ways that would benefit you as well. It may be advantageous for a Daycare facility that separate themselves from the rest by providing exemptions to this nap time.

We can, we just have to decide what business model we want to pursue.

I am in the process of writing to the Governor to get a clarification to the law and how it is supposed to be interpreted.

I would love to hear the response. It seems each County and State interprets them differently.

[Heidi]

Dear Parent and Day Care Provider,

As parents, we want to do what is best for our children's well being and we don't want the government to dictate to us how and when our children should sleep or nap.

My child has not been napping at all since he turned 3 and he was allowed to participate in normal activities with other older children at a Montessori School; this year the new Administrator insists that he has to lay down on the cot for at least 30 minutes and if he falls asleep then they will let him sleep.

As for myself, if you let me lay down for 10 minutes then i will nap/sleep and there is no telling when i will wake up.

In the daycare handbook, it states that a facility should have a designated rest period and rest area BUT no where does it states that a child should lay down on the cot for 30 minutes.

To me, each daycare center can interprets and states their policy and communicates this clearly with the parents so there is misunderstanding.

As parents we should be able to find a Daycare center that understands the exceptions and work with us to ensure that our children get what is best for them whether it be rest or learning. There should be no one size fit all mold.

As business operators, you should be able to operate in ways that would benefit you as well. It may be advantageous for a Daycare facility that separate themselves from the rest by providing exemptions to this nap time.

I am in the process of writing to the Governor to get a clarification to the law and how it is supposed to be interpreted.

You are writing your Governor? Honestly, please don't take offense, but I highly doubt the Governor of your state is going to read the childcare reg manual and give you an opinion. :confused:

If you have a question, you ask licensing, if you don't get satisfaction, you ask the head of that department.