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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To make a ermmmm helpful(?) suggestion to nursery?

25 replies

Mosschopz · 24/09/2013 21:11

www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/23/midday-nap-helps-preschool-children-learn-new-study

DS is just 'phasing' out his naps at nursery as its the pre-school policy to have no structured sleep time and he moves in there next week. He's knackered by the evening and if I'm honest, I think it's a bit of a shame that he can no longer have that down time he once had in an otherwise busy day even though I'm buggered if he'll sleep for me

AIBU to send a link to this article to the nursery manager and ask her to consider a parent consultation on nursery policy on napping in pre-school? Or am I being a bit PFB and it'll rub her up the wrong way?

OP posts:

Groovee · 24/09/2013 21:12

Are the nursery insisting on cutting out his daytime sleep? Not really Child at the centre. I would definitely speak to them about it.

MummyBeerest · 24/09/2013 21:16

...so confused. ..why wouldn't they want him to nap? Or any child for that matter?

Yes, speak to the nursery. Their policy makes little sense.

Original poster

Mosschopz · 24/09/2013 21:17

I was offered the choice of gradually cutting sleeps out (by waking him after 30 minutes or so) or cutting out altogether. Opted for latter as he manages fine at home but nursery is busier, louder and more tiring, so sleep provides a much needed break.

OP posts:

OrganixAddict · 24/09/2013 21:19

My dd had the odd kip in reception last year - if they're tired, they're tired. Don't see why they'd keep tired children up. So yes, I'd ask about it.

LaGuardia · 24/09/2013 21:23

Naps in pre-school and Reception? Really? Surely school is for learning, not sleeping? Put them to bed earlier at night fgs.

Sirzy · 24/09/2013 21:26

pre-school policy to have no structured sleep time

Given that by pre-school age most children have naturally dropped naps then that makes sense to me. Letting children fall asleep if they are tired is fine but I don't see a need for any sort of structured sleep time.

Pipparivers · 24/09/2013 21:27

laguardia have you read the article?

Original poster

Mosschopz · 24/09/2013 21:28

I don't think they actively keep them up; I've passed the room at nap time and seen several being rocked or patted to get them off and DS is not the easiest but they DO benefit.

OP posts:

Meglet · 24/09/2013 21:29

The DC's nursery let the kids phase out naps at their own pace. Some older children would go into the toddler room for naps. It seems mean to stop them having a power nap at that age.

bearleftmonkeyright · 24/09/2013 21:29

I found that with my kids they had phases of wanting to nap when they were having growth spurts. They would just spontaneously fall asleep on the sofa. And I would just leave them to sleep. They still went to bed.

Mumof3xx · 24/09/2013 21:29

Is it just a pre school e.g school day hours or shorter?

Or a preschool in a private day nursery

My son napped at preschool in private day nursery but he was up at 6am and there 7-5.30. He needed it

mumofweeboys · 24/09/2013 21:39

At my boys daycare they just take the preschoolers who still nap into the room with the younger kids when it's nap time. My ds would sometimes go and have the odd nap even at 4, esp if he had been off colour the week before.

Original poster

Mosschopz · 24/09/2013 21:46

It's a private day nursery. He's there 8.30-5.00 so a longish day.

OP posts:

Mumof3xx · 24/09/2013 21:54

I would def be questioning why he couldn't nap then op

Sirzy · 24/09/2013 21:56

I don't think they actively keep them up; I've passed the room at nap time and seen several being rocked or patted to get them off

So then whats the problem? they aren't stopping him from napping then surely?

If anything it sounds like you need to clarify things.

BrokenSunglasses · 24/09/2013 22:15

At a nursery that acts as a pre school to children who are there until they start proper school, they should provide somewhere for children to rest. Even the older ones need it if they are there for such a long day.

I don't think they need structured nap times though, just a nice 'quiet area' that children could rest in if they wanted to.

Ragusa · 24/09/2013 22:16

If he needs to nap, he needs to nap.... the nursery are being daft.

IShouldNotBeHere · 24/09/2013 22:21

Laguardia. Its not the amount of sleep they get in 24 that makes the difference, its the amount of time they can be awake for before needing some shut eye. So sleeping an extra hour at night won't make any difference to whether they need a nap during the day to recharge.

Im guessing you don't have children?

My own dc goes to bed early enough to sleep for 12 hours but is always awake after 10. There is nothing i can do to make her sleep longer in one lump. She has on occasion still fallen asleep in class or assembly in reception and year one!

Mumof3xx · 24/09/2013 22:25

Enabling children to rest is part of the eyfs which ends after reception

TiredFeet · 24/09/2013 22:26

My son is at a pre school at a nursery. They have 'quiet time' after lunch when one room is available for the children to have a lie down in, and a sleep if they wish/need to. Ds tells me he doesn't sleep but just has a lie down. It is a long day for them and there should be an opportunity for them to rest/snooze if they need to. I don't think you are being pfb to question the nursery's policy. Ds carried on having naps right up until he moved to pre school, and the opportunity is still there now if he needs it.

TartanRug · 24/09/2013 22:26

I work in a private nursery and though most of ours have dropped their nap (on their own), some of them still need a nap so they have one.

Nanny0gg · 24/09/2013 22:31

Back in the olden days, in my first year at school (which would now be called Reception) we were all made to have a lie-down/nap after lunch.

My DGC is absolutely knackered after school so I think it's a good idea to let them have a kip.

ExcuseTypos · 24/09/2013 22:31

How old is he OP? Not that it makes much difference, if he needs to nap he should be allowed to.

pixwix · 24/09/2013 22:34

When Ds1 (2 and a half) and at nursery attached to the university where I was, they had a structured nap time. He was there for two days a week between 9-3, and after lunch, they got out the mats, pillows and blankets, and they all had a wee sleep for an hour.

I remember a lecturer being off sick, and me pitching up early to pick him up - I got there at nap time, and he was snuggled up on his mat next to his best mate Archie - the whole lot of em were dozing away! I didn't like to disturb him, so I went into the quiet room and did some reading...

And there was the odd kid in there that was in the older room, that really needed a kip...

hettienne · 24/09/2013 22:38

My 3.1 year old has just started at a nursery school and doesn't really get the opportunity to nap. He can lie down in the book corner if he wants to but obviously doesn't want to when all the other kids are playing! However, the other children in his class are all older than him, some will be almost 4, so most aren't napping.

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