No naps for a 3 year old at nursery=very tired DD!

[fifitot]

My DD is an early riser - anytime from 5.15! She likes a nap around 12ish and can sleep easily for 2 hours. At nursery she was napping for about 45 mins.

She is now in the pre-school room, with the early years foundation stuff and lots of other big kid things to do. They don't get a nap in this room as it's about preparing them for reception amongst other things.

She just isn't coping without a nap though. I suggested they take her out of this room for a nap but she doesn't like to be away form her friends so that won't work. She comes home shattered and instead of bath and bed at 7 she falls asleep on the sofa sometimes and I have to carry her to bed at 6!

I suppose I am hoping her body clock will adjust but this is about 2 months now and she still wakes early and is still knackered at night.

On non-nursery days I give her a nap and she seems to use this to catch up and then goes to bed at 7.30.

Should I just let things work themselves out and stop worrying about my tired DD? Anyone else experienced this?

[sammynixon]

sorry i haven't. im cutting my dd sleep out completely. she is getting extremely tired and ratty. i'm just hoping that her body clock will adjust. keep perservering if it's not working have a chat with the nursery to see what they suggest. {smile}

[slowreadingprogress]

Blimey no wonder she's tired, getting up that early and having a whole day at nursery without a nap

I have to say I think it's ridiculous that they don't get a nap in preparation for reception. Reception is preparation for school, and they start part time! All this preparing for preparing that we seem to do with kids nowadays makes me sad. Where is the understanding of child development?! Children develop and become ready for things. They don't need to practice this kind of thing when they're still at nursery!!

I'd insist she is taken out for a nap or ask that they re think the policy and allow all the kids some nap time. Those that won't can't be forced but quiet time won't harm them.

For many kids of pre school age, their pre school session "in preparation for reception!" is about two hours long; NOT a whole day like this. And mamy ime are going home for a nap!

[holdingittogether]

Nursery have to meet each child's individual needs. If your dd still needs a nap then they must arrange for that to happen. If she won't nap at nursery anymore because she is worried she will miss out on something then I guess that is a different problem.

[fifitot]

Thanks for your replies. To be fair, if the kids want a sleep they can have one but my DD is very stubborn and when they have tried to take her through to the 'quiet room' she has refused. The difference before was that most of the kids in her room had a nap so she was doing what others do. Now most of them don't nap so I guess she wants to do what the rest do.

I think I portrayed my nursery as inflexible and they're not - honest!

I think I will just have to hope she adjusts or begins to see she needs a nap in the day and gives in!

[MissisBoot]

I'd ask that she has a nap - don't they have quiet time or something similar after lunch when she could nod off?

[slowreadingprogress]

I'd ask the staff to insist more strongly. Obviously if she's brought to upset by the idea of going for a nap, then it's not worth pursuing but she clearly needs a nap.

If she gets too upset then I guess you can't really do anything different than you are already. How many days is she at Nursery?

[fifitot]

4 days pw.

She fell asleep last night at 5.45 and got up at 5.45 so has had 12 hours. I guess she might be less tired today with that much sleep.