2 year old preschool timings...

[DC1stTimeMummy]

Hello all,

I am planning to send my 2 year old toddler to preschool in September. He hasn't been to any nursery beforehand.

Initially I will send him for 2 mornings a week & then increase to 4 mornings in the week. The preschool only does mornings so the timings are 9:15am-12:15pm.

The timings of the preschool are different to what we do at home currently.

At home we do a snack at 9:30am, lunch at 11:30am & nap for 12:30pm for 2 hours (aim).

However, the preschool do a snack at 10:30am & there is no lunch. So I would collect my toddler at 12:15pm & give lunch & the nap at home.

I wanted to ask would I change the whole week so it matches the preschool timings (12:30 lunch & 1pm nap) or should I keep the normal timings (11:30 lunch & 12:30pm nap) when my toddler is at home in the week?

I don't want to confuse my toddler & hopefully he will adapt to the new preschool timings? I know consistently is important too!

I hope to hear back from what you think?

My toddler wakes around 7-7:30am which is why I give him his lunch at 11:30am & a nap at 12:30pm. This is a 5-5.5 hour awake window from morning wakeup.

I'd try and change it but see what happens. If they are hungry I don't see why you'd wait to give them a snack for the sake of it.

Would you still stick to the new 12:30pm lunch & 1pm nap when at home?

And give the snack if hungry earlier than 10:30am?

See what happens. Do you not alter things on weekends, days out etc anyway. My top tip for parents is not to be a slave to the schedule and remember once they hit 2-3 their pattern will change

Yes exactly, in the same way you might feel sleeper some days than others OP or hungry for lunch a bit earlier.

We do try our very best to stick to the same timings/ routine regardless!

I've heard when they turn 2, their routine will change & there are alot of changes that happen then too like dropping the nap completely, potty training & transitioning to a toddler bed. All which will impact routine.

I guess adapt the timings to suit my toddler so some days it may be an earlier or later lunch/ nap?

I know my toddler will be getting older too.

We do try our very best to stick to the same timings/ routine regardless!

Honestly, this is so unnecessary and tends to be something that people only do with their first child before realising it's a bit silly. Children are very adaptable.

I would just go with the flow. I've never adjusted timings that strictly to match nursery. It's never been an issue.

I would just go with the flow and not worry about what the clock says, really. We never had any strict timings for things, just vague sort of orders we did things in.

Thank you all for your responses back!

I will see how things go & adjust accordingly! I guess just be more flexible too!

There’s literally an hour between the times, it’s not a big deal just do what suits on the day.

I don't think it really matters too much with those timings. Also it's more about order as toddlers aren't clock watching!

My 2yo does two days at nursery on those days lunch and nap is earlier (lunch 11:30 nap started by 12:30). At home this is generally later to fit in with the baby (lunch 12:15 nap by 13:30). It doesn't seem to be an issue.

September is a long way off. He may not be napping by then.

Mine goes to nursery three days a week and has a completely different routine there to her four days at home. It's no drama, they know the difference between home and not-home.