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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

How do you rearrange things when a child's daytime sleep pattern changes?

6 replies

ACMDowding · 17/03/2011 13:26

16month old mindee. He's never (hardly ever) slept more than 10 mintues during the 9-10 hours a day that I have him.
He hasn't ever slept in cot - screams until he's sick, even starts screaming at bottom of stairs and is sick by the time we reach the top, so that's a no-no.
He will only sleep in buggy, in upright position (not reclined)
His routine at home was - put him in car seat/buggy in dining room with tv on, his older brother under a blanket on flor and leave till they fell asleep.
He gets picked up from here at 5.30 every day and is bathed and bedded by 6pm, 6.15 at latest. He is, therefore often awake by 4am So now he's wanting to sleep by 11am, and , if left will sleep till 1pm ( 3 hours max). However, the problem is his older brother is picked up at pre school at noon. So if he's sleeping I have to waken him,(which result sin cligning scremaing crying all afternoon, and I mean all afternoon) if he's not sleeping then he won't go over till about 1pm, then will only sleep for 10 minutes, then spend the rest fo the aftenroon clinging to me, screaming if I move, etc. I spent 4 hours sitting on the floor with him yesterday as if I tried to move he made himself sick screaming, this obviously isn't good for the other mindees I have.
Could appreciate some advice on how to deal with this

OP posts:
ACMDowding · 17/03/2011 13:38

The mum has 2 stock answers to me ringing up and saying "oh he's been screaming for 3 hours".
1 - give him warm milk and put him in cot, he'll go over " er no he won't

2 - it will be his teeth Ill give him calpol"

OP posts:
thebody · 17/03/2011 13:55

I am so sorry but as a cm I would give notice.. these children sound very difficult...

now before I get flayed I have a very busy setting, 4 on most days under 5 and simply COULD NOT give that one child so much attention.. it wouldnt be fair on the others..

why should you put up with a working environement like this??? of course all toddlers have their moments but this sounds awful..

sorry not to be more constructive but i do feel that sometimes cms need to remember that they SHOULD NOT feel that any behaviour is acceptable, or that they HAVE to cope with any child who joins the setting..

I couldnt cope with this myself.. not a one to one nanny or surrogate parent..

good luck to you ..

poopnscoop · 17/03/2011 14:19

I am in 100% agreement with the body. Far too detrimental on the other kids, plus my sanity.

RosieGirl · 17/03/2011 18:06

Agree with the others, although is it worth making a specific appointment with mum to discuss it further, warning her that it cannot go on for much longer as you may have to give her notice. If she is willing to put him to bed later so sleeps a bit longer in the morning. If she refuses to budge then you may have to let him go.

thisisyesterday · 17/03/2011 18:09

take a walk at 11 to get him asleep in the buggy, then leave him in it to go and get older brother from pre-school

Grabaspoon · 17/03/2011 20:09

Agree with thisisyesterday.

Otherwise I would just try and keep him awake/occupied until you get back from the nursery run at noon.

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