Babies / toddlers doing nap in their prams

[FreesiaFairy]

I went to see a childminder, they have around 8 children age from about 1-3/4. She said for the lunchtime nap quite a few of them always do it in their prams (either they take them round the block to get them off, or they just fall asleep when they get into the pram). They do also have travelcots to use which some of the children do.

I can't decide how I feel about it, part of me thinks that's great that they are flexible about doing that if it's needed (assuming wouldn't be an option in nursery?) But another part of me thinks maybe it's a bit odd - I have no experience with childcare / childminders yet! My little boy does a combination of pram and cot naps (would only be pram if we were out and about!), but I would prefer him to be in the cot if it was on a regular basis - just seems like might be better for his back or something?

I don't know, just wondered if that's normal for lots of the kids to be routinely doing their long nap in the prams, especially when they are over the age of 1? Obviously it's handy for them to be able to sleep in the pram if your out and about.

Is this a normal thing for childminders to be doing, or would it be preferable really if they were settling the kids in cots / on mats or whatever?

Thanks

Normal at ours. DD was very happy sleeping in the pushchair for years until she dropped her naps at 3. DS has just started and seems equally happy. No negative effects.

Our childminder doesn't have a very big house. Most don't - it is not a highly paid profession. Having loads of travel cots is not practical from a storage perspective.

Whatever works. Neither of mine could ever nap in a cot. If nursery hadn’t put them in a pram or a bouncer/rocker thing they just wouldn’t have napped at all. It’s fine for their backs. They napped upright in a sling with me a lot of the time.

You said she has cots as well?

More likely is that the pushchair children who need to be walked around aren’t used to self settling. This is more common than not in my experience.

Very few children that come to me now are used to just being popped in a cot and able to sleep, I do try and build them up to it here though and get them to a cot eventually.

Normal at our nursery. DD is 2.5 and has been going since she was 1. They magically got her to sleep really well when she was in a cot in the baby room (at home she needed a lot of rocking which they didn't have time to do) When she moved to the toddler room she didn't get on with the floor beds at first and they had to get her to sleep in a pushchair. She's an absolute demon without a nap so I think it's perfectly fine!

8 kids from 1 to 3/4? I'd be more concerned about the ratios...

What's the set up with adults/rooms accessible to the children? Check the paperwork for how many children are allowed to be minded

At the nursery both of my DSs have been to naps are in buggies. Completely normal and neither of mine have had any issues napping that way despite having their nap in their cot at home. They adapt really well.

My DD’s nursery used to put her in a pushchair for naps too. She had her naps at home in the pram, then pushchair in the hall too. Started by walking her round the block to get her to sleep and one day just put her in and went nowhere and she conked out no problem. Perfectly normal and fine.

That's good to know it's common practice and nothing to worry about.

It's funny because as a first time mum you hear so much about 'baby should be put down for naps in their cot awake in a dark room and settle themselves' type thing that you just assume that's what most people are doing and it gives you mum guilt if yours isn't doing that!

DS does nap in cot rather than pram at home and I'd prefer that to happen at the childminders too (or for them to be willing to aim for that) but he's far from self settling, I always put him down asleep after a brief period of rocking (usually doesn't take long!)

Do aloght

Ignore the last bit haha. Was just going to say I do worry about how well he'll sleep in a room full of other kids though.

On the ratio - they have 2/3 adults working there

Neither of my children napped in a cot ever. They're big strapping lads now. In other cultures, napping takes place outdoors as it's deemed healthier than a stuffy room. It's fine.

My CM puts them for naps in a pram, it suits her better. She said she could put my daughter in a cot but I sensed she wasn’t keen. Tbh as long as my daughter naps and is safe I don’t really mind where it happens! Previous CM had a cot and a pram available, so she went in the cot there like she did at home.

@Ffsffsffsffsffs
The op says they walk them around the block....this suggests more than one adult. Childminders can work with up to 3 other adults and be classed as childminders any more and they are childcare on a domestic premises.
The normal ratio is 1 to 3 under 5 and an additional 3 under 8....but there is room to self vary for a registered childminder up to s total of no more than 6 under 8...so in theory 6 under 3....which she may do if she has an assistant or two....up to 6 for her and 3 for each assistant....this depends on space risk assessments and meeting all needs....and cant be permanent.

Op if you prefer a cot say to her that's what you would like to work up to....but as you rock little one thats unlikely to work at your cms. Personally I would start gradual withdrawal as everyone wakes through sleep imagine falling asleep downstairs and waking in your bed you would be so confused and wide awake....your cm may be able to help with this im working with a family now its taken 2 weeks for me get lo to self settle here now mum is trying at home at night first night was an hour and a half by night 3 it was 15 minutes and they for the first time ever have sleep right through...he's 18 months now.

Ime at least half of children only nap in prams or held at home - loads start childcare unable to nap in a cot!
Nurseries definitely keep buggies for naps too.