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Original poster

Nursery routine vs home routine

15 replies

Mummatoh · 29/11/2020 11:57

Are you supposed to do the nursery routine at home so that it’s the same for the child even at weekends, or are nurseries supposed to do the home routine at nursery?

I only ask as at the moment he is napping at 1pm at nursery (7 hour awake time), but at home he naps at 10 for 2 hours. He is 13 months old.

I’ve asked for him to be put down for a nap at 10ish but they aren’t keen as then he won’t nap at 1pm with the others. Not sure if i’m being unreasonable?

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Doublebubblebubble · 29/11/2020 12:44

I don't think you are being unreasonable for wanting him to have the same routine as at home but you have to remember that he isn't the only child there and it comes down to feasibility. Can they get all the children to sleep at 10am or is it easier to get them all to sleep at 1pm.
My hunch is that after lunch is easier, but I've never looked after 20 babies at the same time (my idea of hell lol) My DS now 5 but he went to nursery from 6mos until covid and then started school routine was similar to your DS (he went m,t,th,f) 7.30-1.30. And on a w, sat, sun, we'd just let him do whatever, sleep where he falls as it were. As long as their routine isn't detrimental to yours I don't see the harm in having him nap at 1pm.

How does he sleep (at night) after a day at nursery vs a day at home.

PotteringAlong · 29/11/2020 12:46

No, mine always had 2 different routines. I did what worked for me at home. As long as nursery hand them back happy and alive I let them crack on with what works for them.

Doublebubblebubble · 29/11/2020 12:51

@PotteringAlong

Grin Alive is always best lol

Original poster
Mummatoh · 29/11/2020 12:58

@PotteringAlong that made me laugh.

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Original poster
Mummatoh · 29/11/2020 12:59

@Doublebubblebubble hmm well he always looks shattered when i pick him up and is a right grumpy baby all evening until bed! But his sleep is ok, 7pm - 6am (it was 7-7)

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SillyOldMummy · 29/11/2020 13:00

I roughly mirror the nursery routine at home. Seems impractical to expect them to operate different routines for different kids.

Megan2018 · 29/11/2020 13:04

I vaguely follow the nursery routine for meal times and nap. DD transitioned to one nap at nursery at 13.5 months so we do that at home as it’s far easier. She sleeps after lunch for about 1hr40, sometimes oner 2hrs (roughly 12.30-2.10 at nursery, usually 1-2.40 at home as I can’t get organised for a 12pm lunch.
I know it’s a bit early for 1 nap but 2 wasn’t working for us and she seems ready for it.

ForeverBubblegum · 29/11/2020 13:10

Our childminder followed our routine for the first week or so while they settled in then gradually changed to hers. I imagine it would be difficult to get your DS to sleep while all the other kids are running round, plus he would miss out on the activities the rest were doing. Then in the afternoon he would need to play quietly by himself because the others are sleeping, which doesn't sound like much

Original poster
Mummatoh · 29/11/2020 13:13

@SillyOldMummy yeah totally, working to every childs home routine wouldn’t work. He’s just 1 of 3 young ‘babies’, the others are much older and i assume are now on 1 nap a day anyway. He was on 2 naps at home. I know other nurseries who do work to what each baby needs i.e if they look tired, pop them in a pram to nap in the corner, but didn’t know if that was a rare nursery!

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Mummatoh · 29/11/2020 13:14

@ForeverBubblegum i didn’t think of it like that, that he would miss out on the activities.

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Nichola2310 · 29/11/2020 13:20

At 13 months I'd think they should be matching your routine. That's certainly what mine did. Now that he's 2 he follows their routine, which is a nap at 12.30 whereas at home he goes for his nap at 11.

Original poster
Mummatoh · 29/11/2020 13:43

@Nichola2310 they certainly followed it when his awake time was less (he’d go down at 9.30 is for 45 mins and would then still nap at 1. However, now his awake time is longer they don’t want to put him down after 9.30 as it will mean he won’t nap at 1.

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Tumbleweed101 · 30/11/2020 18:04

At that age we try to match their home routine for naps. When they are over 2yo and in the toddler room they tend to be encouraged to have same nap time - mainly because of the activities and noise.

jannier · 01/12/2020 16:23

Most 1 year olds slowly transition to an afternoon nap naturally i wouldnt stress if he's coping but if he's too tiered say he needs more sleep....but going earlier would make him worse in the evening I would think.

SEE123 · 01/12/2020 16:50

As soon as we started settling in I transitioned our home routine to match the nursery's incl meal times. It actually works really well for us but I did need to get organised especially for an "early" dinner at 5pm

Do what works best for you

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