To ask about Childminder Vs Nursery for a Sleepy Baby

[AnotherNewName1]

This is probably an odd question...

We have an 8.5 month old, she loves to sleep. Consistently has 2 naps during the day, one is usually 2.5 to 3 hours long the other 1.5 to 2 hours.

But she absolutely will Not sleep in a carseat in the car or a pushchair, she must have a cot of some sort to sleep in.

Which environment is more likely to provide her the ability to nap soundly? Nursery or CM?

We've been looking at CM's because we think the smaller environment fits our daughter's temperament better but all of their profiles make it sound like they're out and about all day. 🤔

Our daughter can usually only manage one big outing a day.

Nursery with a dedicated sleeping room.

I would say nursery, I can’t see any child minder being willing/able to be grounded for a day. Much easier for nursery to go about their normal business because even if they go on walks someone can stay behind.

You may find that childcare completely changes her routine though!

I would think nursery tbh. Only based on our own nursery - cots were in a separate room, and I imagine you could tell them how long you wanted your dc to sleep for.
Both my dds slept a lot; when they went to nursery they switched easily to just having one mid day nap but instead tagged the sleep lost on to their night time sleep.

Nursery definitley would be able to facilitate her routine better. All the nurseries I've visited had sleeping rooms and they all have their own cot

Yeah nursery. Ours has a sleep room with cots next to the main room which they keep dark and play white noise.

I would say nursery if they have a room set up with cots. I am a cm and yes, we are out and about each morning at groups/library/park etc however little ones do adapt and start sleeping in the buggy (even if they never do this at home)

Another thing to consider is that her sleep routine will start to change around the 12 month mark, perhaps moving to one nap in the middle of the day.

Most cm 's can accommodate lunch and nap at home, I personally use this as quiet time for my toddlers anyway after a busy morning.

Hope this helps x

This is a temporary problem; she’s not going to nap like that forever.

Nursery if they have a separate sleeping room for babies. You'll want to check what age they move them up into the next room as that didn't have a separate room at any of the nurseries we looked at, they all nap after lunch on the floor together.

They can be quite a bit older than 12 months before they go down to 1 nap - DS was 18 months before he dropped it at home although he did go down to 1 nap at nursery from about 16 months.

On balance I'd say a nursery. But the right nursery. Ask lots of questions about their set up for sleep and how it works, not just in the baby room, but in each room as she gets older.

DD1 went to nursery and loved her sleep. In fact she wanted 3 x 2-3 hour naps a day until 1yo. Nursery didn't want to facilitate this once she was 10mo as she moved up a room and their nap times were different. I had to fight tooth and nail until she left to get her the sleep she needed. The nursery now as I understand it have a more holistic approach with a new manager.

DD2 also slept quite a bit but only in a cot and never ever outside. Even a whiff of cold air and she'd immediately wake up. She went to a childminder because of circumstances. Nursery wasn't an option. The childminder tried naps in a cot but it would not work at all. Somehow she got her napping in her buggy. I literally couldn't believe it - 13 months of refusing to sleep in a buggy or on the move and the childminder cracked it. Became very handy as time went on.

So I would say find the right nursery but also don't rule out a childminder, nothing is impossible.

Usually I'd say childminder for little babies but unless you can find one who has mainly younger babies a nursery might be better for yours. If she's doing to be asleep for a long period of time there anyway the noisy environment might not be a problem for her anyway.

But she absolutely will Not sleep in a carseat in the car or a pushchair, she must have a cot of some sort to sleep in.

As a childminder I have had lots of babies who "will only […]" in terms of sleep or food etc. Except that they really do not behave in the same way for other people as they do at home. In terms of childcare choose the best place for your child in general, don't base it on what she will or won't do right now because she might not be doing that next month anyway, or she might do something unexpected in a different environment.

A little boy I looked after "would only" nap for short 20 mins stretches at home but slept for a full 3 hours at my house. Another child "would only" eat certain things at home but ate a much more varied diet at mine. There are lots of instances - and no, I'm not a dragon who "made" them . Children adapt much more easily to their new surroundings than their parents ime

I'd say nursery too. My daughter was like that but dropped the second nap just before she started nursery. A good nursery baby room with gave the right set up.

Definitely nursery

My DD's nursery has cots and different areas to suit the way the different babies prefer to sleep. That said, she's a big napper at home but does about 20 mins some days! I'd expect her to be totally shattered but she seems to manage it, think it's all the excitement and other kids

Thank you for the quick and thoughtful responses.

I know she won't sleep like this forever but the older and more mobile she gets the more sleep she seems to need.

Her routine seems very important for her to be happy and well and it's really her own routine, not one we set up.

Most of the CM's I've talked to have all ages of children not just babies.

Maybe a nursery is a better fit until she's older and can handle more adventures.