DS 2.9 in Sept and starting afternoon preschool but still naps in afternoon!

[Linz2]

DS will be 2yrs 9 months in sept when he starts afternoon sessions at my chosen local preschool (would have preferred mornings but that will be following year). He currently sleeps through approx 10 hours per night and has a 2 hr nap in the afternoon 1 to 3 which suits me just fine! However, will obviously not be able to have this nap in sept so would you start reducing/cutting out the nap now or wait until nearer the time. Do think he will be ok not having a nap at that age? and I assume his night time sleep will lengthen accordingly. Also the preschool starts at 12:15 (again a pain) so will be having to get lunch down him pretty quickly 11:30 ish does anyone find this a problem? They are open 4 days and have booked him in for 4 days but because he will be my only child and like spending time with himI like to take him swimming and we go to toddler group and do other activities I really would only like him to go for a couple of sessions a week am I being selfish? Would send him for the full sessions next year in his preschool year. Would appreciate any comments
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By nobodysfool on Wed 30-Apr-08 20:55:16

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Is there a reason you've started this thread again Linz. Were you not happy with the responses you got the other day?

[Linz2]

DS will be 2yrs 9 months in sept when he starts afternoon sessions at my chosen local preschool (would have preferred mornings but that will be following year). He currently sleeps through approx 10 hours per night and has a 2 hr nap in the afternoon 1 to 3 which suits me just fine! However, will obviously not be able to have this nap in sept so would you start reducing/cutting out the nap now or wait until nearer the time. Do think he will be ok not having a nap at that age? and I assume his night time sleep will lengthen accordingly. Also the preschool starts at 12:15 (again a pain) so will be having to get lunch down him pretty quickly 11:30 ish does anyone find this a problem? They are open 4 days and have booked him in for 4 days but because he will be my only child and like spending time with himI like to take him swimming and we go to toddler group and do other activities I really would only like him to go for a couple of sessions a week am I being selfish? Would send him for the full sessions next year in his preschool year. Would appreciate any comments

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[Linz2]

Just realised there was an actual topic regarding preschool and as you could see I am not as confident in making decisions as some people and like to get as many opinions as possible f rom people with children the same age as my DSbefore I make a decision...sorry

[pooka]

Hi there

DD was still having long afternoon nap when she started pre-school at 2.5. I just made sure she went to bed early after pre-school and she carried on having naps on the days she wasn't in (only had 2 sessions per week initially). She finally dropped the nap just before she was 4 - more to do with loss of dummy for sleeps than anything else.

[pooka]

I would go for 2 or 3 sesssion rather than 4 TBH - it really cuts into your life and freedom to have fun together IMO if you get into too many sessions too quickly.

[Coolmama]

DS (Same age as yours) also started on 3 afternoons a week as I found he got really tired because of the missed naps - on the days he didn't go, we did one morning activity and a big afternoon nap and he was fine - It will also only be for a short while as I am sure he will start in the morning quite soon afterwards and that will make things a lot easier.

[katebee]

I don't like the practice of nurserys offering afternoon places as many children need a nap after lunch or are not at their best at this time.

I think they should fix the schedules to fit the children's needs ie. main nursery session in the morning, with option of staying on to lunch, afternoon if a quiet room is provided.

I realise this may not be an option for you but I would firstly see if there is any alternative nursery that offers a good standard of care in the mornings and change to a different nursery. If this is not possible I suppose your child will end up falling asleep on the way back from nursery staying up later and maybe sleeping on later in the morning. I don't think the early lunch would be so much of a problem..sometimes offer lunch here at 11:30.

Please feel free to ignore my advice..it is just an honest opinion but I don't know all the ins and outs of your local nurseries!

[neolara]

This time last year my DD was sleeping for two hours in the afternoon. By September, when she started nursery, she had dropped the nap completely. A lot can change in 4 months.

It might be worth writing to the nursery to explain the situation and ask if they have any morning spaces free.