Childminder Clubs - Help re: NAPS

[HellyBelly]

I'm after some advice again please.....

My mindees naps are at different times of the day which is causing problems when wanting to go out. (My own ds (2½) hasn't had naps for ages but is a great sleeper at night. I'm trying to re-introduce an afternoon nap as I think he needs it with everything that's going on since becoming a childminder).

Mindee 1 (23 months) - requested by parent that he has his nap between 11 - 12.30

Mindee 2 (2½ yrs) - isn't ready for a sleep until after lunch

If I continue with this routine when the 2 mindees become more or less full time, the routine will be:

First mindee arrives 8.30am
Second mindee arrives 9am
9-11am: play/go out
11-12.30: Mindee 1 - Nap
Lunch
1.15-2.45: Mindee 2 - Nap
2.30pm - Mindee 1 - collected
3pm - School Run
5pm - School Mindee - collected
5.30pm - School Mindee - collected
6.30pm - Mindee 2 - collected

Doesn't really give much time for all to play at the same time (i.e. messy play) or attend groups/outings etc.

As I'll be having mindee 1 every day from October (was just 2 days), I don't think the mum will mind me changing the nap routine for him, so he goes after lunch. I've tried it today though, and am worried that because he was tired, that's why he didn't eat much lunch??? (not sure as never really eats that much anyway - he likes junk!)

Any experience in changing nap routines??? Does it settle down and work well after a while??

Not sure really what I want people to say, just some advice would be nice

hi do you have facilites for them to nap at same time?

If so is there any way of slowly blending them together AFTER asking the parents first

Naps do normally settle down....but often to just before lunch rather than after (so they sleep better at night) - I've got 5 going down after lunch somedays (each put down 10 mins apart)-

We never have time to go out etc 'cos of naps -but we go oncce or twice a week anyway

I have facilities to let 2 nap together (maybe try and get my ds to nap on sofa or something)

That's what I meant, trying to get them to nap together. Today won't be a problem though as the mum of mindee who normally naps in morning really isn't that fussed, just said that the 11 - 12.30 is what they usually do. We've done things like toddlers in the past which is 10 - 12 and by the time we get back it's time for lunch so he's napped after lunch. She's fine with this but he does get very tired. Maybe this will get better if he has a new nap time for all days???

Thanks Katymac, was worried about them missing out on things like toddlers as I thought this would be expected. Having said that, I could schedule them once or twice a week like you say as all my contracts are changing anyway so the 2 toddlers will be with me every day (well, one not on a Friday). I'm so used to having to go pretty much every day so that each mindee got to go at least once a week. That was when one was here Mon - Wed and the other on a Tuesday and Thursday. I suppose the group thing will be easier to manage from October when they start pretty full time.

Sorry, was just trying to work it all out as ALL 4 of my contracts have just been revised and my head is all over the place trying to work it all out!!!

You can tell I'm new to all this can't you

At least if I stick with the morning nap, I may be able to get my own ds to nap with the other mindee after lunch. I really think he needs it as he's getting more tired now he has all these kiddies to play with and also, his behaviour is worse in the afternoon!

Thanks guys!! Got loads more questions in my head but will save those for later. Off to grab a cup of tea whilst there's peace and quiet

Katymac - do you have a set lunch time or do you feed the kids depending on when they had their naps? I've only got 3 toddlers and am keen to stick with them eating together for table manners etc. Just wondered what you do!

Lunch is at 12 come hell or high water....I'm a bit anal about mealtimes I'm afraid....

Only under 1's are let off....everyone else is woken (unless they are poorly) - I'm a bit mean

do you find they eat ok if just been woken up?

btw, i don't think you're mean!

Normally they eat fine - but I don't encourage faddyness (iyswim) and pudding gets put on the table if you have someone who refuses their dinner...and they don't get any...we have rows for a day or two then everyone eats

Oh I'm the same - may get away with it at home but not in my house . If they want dessert, they have to eat their lunch/dinner first! Sounds cruel but it's not is it - just teaching them good manners and trying to get them to eat healthier!

My 23 month old just wants to eat crisps and chocolate and it was really hard in the summer hols because the mum put about 3 packs of crisps in the bag for him and his brother (5) to eat and it was torture for the other kids. I need to have a think about how to handle this for the October hols - I don't really want junk bringing into the house. Any advice???

as well as crisps......sausage rolls, chocolates, sweets (to be shared round the kids)

"one of the children has an allergy - I can only serve 'safe' foods that have been checked, It's wonderfully kind of you to put such lovely foods to share - but maybe it would be safer if I provide all the food"

d'ya think?

She says it's because the 5 year old eats loads so I'll tell her what you suggested and say if she's really that bothered about all my food being eaten, maybe she could just pay a tiny sum to cover the extra costs.

Will try that!! BTW, she used to be a childminder herself.

I go out somewhere most mornings (toddler group, music, soft play), and usually do a morning and afternoon school run. I've always explained this to parents. All parents who have chosen me to be their childminder know that we are out and about, and are fine that their children may therefore be asleep in a buggy or on a car journey. I think I would find it nigh on impossible to accommodate everyone's "ideal" day in my house unless we stayed in all the time.

If parents definitely want children asleep in cots for a fixed time, then they will probably choose someone else!

The children's usual routines often change anyway once they are with other children, or we are busy out and about.

HellyBelly - youcould always try making the morning nap 15 minutes later each day til they coincide. My 3 or 4 all go down straight after lunch (playgroup pick up at 12, lunch 12.15ish, in bed by 1!), all in the same room. Didn't take long to get them used to the idea. Up at 2.30-2.45 to get ready for school run. It is lovely to have a short break in the long day (after I've spent an hour wiping food of every horizontal surface in the kitchen, mopped up spilled water etc etc!)

Hellybelly - I have just taken on new mindee and he too eats junk food from time to time, he also eats pretty healthily too but when his mum told me what she gives him sometimes and told me what she would send in his bag in case he got hungry in between meals, I just said that it would be healthier if she could provide only fruit.

Katymac; perhaps I should have sought advice from you as you seem much more diplomatic!

Hi Hellybelly!

All the toddlers I know ( which is only a few ) have naps after lunch.

Certainly if they were at nursery, lunch would be at 12, swiftly followed by a nap.

What they do at the nursery is get them on their own little mats with a blanket & they rub their backs - not suggesting you do this of course! but perhaps, if you can put them for a nap at the same time, they might all want to have one ?

I'd say, you're the childminder, you're in charge. I wouldn't ask nursery to give my DD different treatment to the others !

Perhaps just try getting them to sleep at the same time & see how it goes ? I don't think it will impact mindee 1's time with his mum either way.

Tan - you mean I lie well?

Hiya MoJo, been meaning to email you. Cheers for the advice, I definitely want to get the naps together so we can do things in the morning! My next problem is space!! I think I may try another travel cot in the lounge that is quickly put up for ds's nap each day (a pain but I really want him to have naps again, he has done the last 3 days!! which is really progress for him!!!). Will speak to the morning naps mum and also ask for healthy snacks if she really wants to provide some! Wish me luck

Can you not put your ds down for a nap in his normal cot/bed?

No because that would have to be used for one of the mindees. The first mindee used to use it anyway (parents were fine about this) so I'm used to waking up and swapping bedding (although its a pain!).

Reason being is that I only have a 2 bed house and there's no room in our bedroom for a travel cot and only one travel cot will fit in ds's bedroom with his cot in there We're hoping to move to a bigger house next year but it's a pain in the meantime. I could put a travel cot in the lounge once the others have their nap but whether or not my ds will nap in it is another question!!

Would so love it if I could manage to get all 3 to nap together as I've not had a break in the day for the best part of a year - just 10 mins to eat a sandwich would be BLISS!!!

Would any of them sleep in a buggy?

Nope, all a bit big for that now (23 months, 2.6, 2.7) I'm afraid. Will have little sleeps in pram out and about but wouldn't go down for sleep in pram at nap time IYSWIM. Am going to see if any furniture can be removed to make room for another cot!

What about a folded up quilt/blanket on the floor or a little mattress?