Nursery naps

[erja]

Is this just something I have to deal with?

DS is almost 2. When he's home, he has an hour (ish) nap around 10-11am, and goes down for 7:30pm every night (has done since he was about 7 months old!).
He goes to nursery for 2 full days a week. On these full days, he's napping at around 2-3pm and I'm spending 1-2 hours at bedtime trying to get him to sleep.

Is it unreasonable to mention it to them? I feel like there's nothing they can really do - I wouldn't really want them to not allow him to have a nap as I want him to be as happy as possible there, but these 2 nights a week when I'm exhausted and have work the next day, washing to do, studying to complete are testing my patience! He's only 1/2 asleep now!

What is it that you would like for them to do? There is however many other kids in their care, if they are to follow everyone’s at home routine they would be spending most of the day trying to nap a child

What time does he get up? 10am seems quite early for a nap at 2yo

@Hidillyho no, I get that, hence my first sentence! I guess it was just a bit of a rant from a tired mum.

@Junglerum 6.30-7am. It is quite early but it works for him, a quick 45 mins- 1 hour and he's energised until bedtime!

My 2 year old naps around 11am at home and nursery.
Her nursery took notes of her home routine and try to follow it as closely as they can. Any changes to routine at home, if I tell them they change her care plan.
I'd speak to them about it and see if they can put him down earlier.

I don’t think it would be unreasonable to mention it. I’m sure they’re used to parents telling them about their child’s routine.

I would expect nursery to be aware of your home routine and to change his nap time to suit you, if you ask. Certainly the nursery we use has always been happy to.

That seems unusually late for a nursery nap. Every other nursery I've heard of does a post lunch nap around 12.30 ish. It's not unusual for a nap later than 2.30 to wreck bedtime at that age, I doubt you're the only one having issues. I'd have a word.

I would definitely mention it, they won't mind. 2-3pm is far too late.

It's not a 'naptime' at this nursery. The children just fall asleep when they need to as it's a baby wing he's in!

Well, that's ridiculous. But makes your argument easier. Your son needs to fall asleep earlier. They need to accommodate that. Problem solved.

I wonder how long they allow him to sleep? My DS would do three hours if allowed. Was a nightmare at nursery where “it was so hard to wake him”

If it’s a baby wing then they do usually follow at home routine so I would say something although at nearly 2 he’ll be going up a room I presume? Have you tried changing his naps at home? Slowly make them a bit later?
What is his current bedtime routine?

I don’t see why nursery can’t put him to sleep earlier; you pay a lot of money for nursery and they should have a decent enough ratio of staff to manage it.

Also the baby wings I’ve come across have a quiet area for sleep so it’s not like all the children are put to sleep at the same time

Mine naps pre lunch at home and post lunch at nursery. Can you ask them to encourage sleep earlier in the afternoon. Where does he sleep there? Does he not go in a cot?

Just speak to his key person and see if they can encourage him to nap at his usual time. Most nurseries will try to work around the needs of the family.

There is a chance though he’s enjoying himself too much to settle until he’s really tired which is why he’s falling asleep so late there.

They won’t change.

I work in a nursery and current ofsted guidelines say that it contravenes the human rights of the child to deny or force naps.

As a mum, I get your frustration though.

I worked in a nursery and in the baby room yes we would follow the routine, after that you can ask them to be woken after an hour or two.

That's a very early nap he has, mine would have been asleep by 5pm if they napped that early. Most nurseries like to do a post lunch nap at around 12. Definitely speak to them.

YANBU 2pm sounds late for nursery naps IME. A lot of nurseries have an early nap and a later one usually after lunch.

I wouldn't be happy with a 2-3pm nap for my 2yo. My DD doesn't nap at home but in nursery she naps 12.30-1.30 max. They will only let her have an hour. Some days she doesn't go at all.

Speak to your nursery. Ask them to put your son down earlier and to not let him sleep more than an hour. I've worked as a CM and nursery worker and they are meant to try to accomdate your child's needs as best they can.

Thehop - they wouldn't be denying him a nap though, just letting him have one at the time that suits him. It's responding to the needs of the child.

(EYP as well).

If it’s a baby wing then they do usually follow at home routine so I would say something although at nearly 2 he’ll be going up a room I presume? Have you tried changing his naps at home? Slowly make them a bit later?
What is his current bedtime routine?

I would expect nurseries to have an idea of each child's usual routine and try to follow it, though I would understand that it is a totally different environment.

I have to update paperwork every 4 months or so to advise nursery of my 18mo DS's habits and routines.

@Thehop i don't see how putting a child down for a sleep at their usual natural routine time is 'forcing' a nap. Surely it's not healthy to allow children of that age to just run themselves ragged until they're exhausted either?