Question about sleep for 15 month old at childminder's

[missrose]

Dh picked up dd from childminder's today and was told dd had slept for 45 minutes before she was woken up to be given her lunch.

She normally sleeps for 2-3 hours with me and I'm a bit surprised CM woke her up as she knows she doesn't get enough sleep there.

It's not ideal that she doesn't get enough sleep but the CM has her daily routine which I'm fine with. They tend to go out for a walk in the morning, then lunch then out to groups etc in the afternoon. She has two other mindees, both of whom don't nap in the day at all.

I'm going to have a quick chat tomorrow morning when I drop her off. I do expect dd not to get enough sleep as there's a lot going on, the timings aren't going to be always going to be right for her and there are other children to look after. Having said that I would prefer her not to be woken up if she has managed to get to sleep.

Do you think it's acceptable to ask this even though there are other children to consider and it may delay them getting out of the house for a bit? Apparently dd was very clingy this afternoon and I think it may have been because she was tired.

Would you have preferred her not to have lunch though? If the CM had planned to go out somewhere then she might not have had time to give her lunch later.

Did you know that the CM wasn't able to accomodate a nap after lunch when you signed up with her?

Was this not discussed at your initial meeting? My day routine works around sleep times, nappy times and meals... kids need to have their sleep!

Elizabeth - it was discussed but DD's nap habits have changed quite drastically since we started - she used to do two 30-40min naps early morning and late afternoons so I guess it fitted a lot better with the routine of the day.

Rita, I wouldn't have minded if she had her lunch late if it meant she got her sleep but it does depend on why she was woken. I'll find out tomorrow. It's a difficult conversation as I feel as if I'm asking for my child's needs to be put before the other children's.

I have to think about the best way to phrase it but it is important that she gets enough sleep. Maybe I should ask if we can meet at some point to discuss it instead of doing it at the handover. I really like and trust the CM, it's just the sleep issue worries me.

It is a difficult one as yes sleep is important. But I suppose she has to look at the needs of the majority. Having to get to afternoon groups on time for example so they get in to them or has a longer play maybe?

Is it possible for your child to go back to sleep after lunch say in a pushchair while out? That way your child is sleeping and the others are playing. I suppose if your child was left to sleep longer ie the 2 - 3 hours then the other children wouldn't get to play in these groups at all. It might not be worth the while going in the first place. It would be a shame for social development to be lacking. Also when your child wakes up she can join in too.

oh and some cms find it easier to have lunch together. So they all learn from each other, they only have to clean up once .. etc etc.

If a child was asleep I would leave them and if we were going out take them a pack up and maybe feed them wherever we were going (if I could) unless they had to eat before we went or keep them awake until fed/feed them earlier then it wouldn't matter.

I have had to change my routine several times over the years, to accommodate different sleeping/eating patterns.

However ... as some of the others have said, CMs also need to take into account the needs of the other children, the benefits of all eating together, etc.

(I would have let her sleep)

Have a chat to your CM and see if some kind of comprimise can be reached.

Oh, my god. The cm has a routine...., I know you have to take the other children into consideration. But that child is also really important too. If it was me, I would give that child an earlier lunch, Let her sleep in the pushchair, although not ideal and then transfer to car or walk to groups. Allowing the child to sleep. Slowly getting routine together, so lunch is at
set time and the child sleeps at the group. Children from 1 ish to 2 ish always sleep in the afternoon after lunch.

It is a difficult one as. CM has to balance a
All the childrens needs and it does sound like ur dd needs her long nap .

I would have left her to sleep and taken a packed lunch but at the end of the day u can't keep all children in to Accomadate the needs of one child.

Chat anyway of course.but you may need to compromise

i find it strange that the groups are in the afternoon most childminders i know including myself go out in the mornings to groups ect and then home for lunch then nap. then back out for school run.

mrs its not strange at all. I am a cm and only go to groups in the afternoons, this is because I find mornings so stressful trying to get everyone ready to leave and be there on time. Afternoon groups are much easier, I wish there was more of them.