Nursery and sleep how would you manage this!

[Mumto1yearold]

my 2 year old had recently started nursery. He has autism so is still finding his way and settling( drop offs are awful) I requested mornings but this wasn’t available and I have been placed on a list of places open up. So ds is big on routine and would usually nap around 12 for a good 2 hours. Nursery starts at 1pm I have started trying to move his nap earlier so we can be ready lunch ect and get to nursery however this is becoming a problem. He’s either not tired enough to nap or asleep when I should be taking him. I’m praying mornings become available soon but wondering if anyone has experience with this or how anyone else managed this?

Are there no other nursery's or childminders nearby that could offer a morning?

Honestly if he's big in routine and you want mornings I would be looking at moving him to another setting. It's setting him up to fail being in for afternoons and disrupting his nap routine.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Quite a few however this nursery was recommended by his sen worker as having a really good reputation for working with asd. They are brilliant when he is there, and he seems to be settling a lot sooner than expected ( likes to be alone but not getting upset so I’m happy with that) it’s just the nap situation is becoming a nightmare, he still needs a nap but trying to manage getting him to have a decent sleep so he’s not tired and upset is becoming a nightmare.

My dd also naps from 12. On the days that she goes to the nursery afternoon session, which also starts at 1pm, I get her to sleep in the pushchair and then wheel the pushchair into the nursery room so she stays sleeping. Would your nursery also allow this? (I'm aware your ds might not like waking up at nursery without you though).

@Beees i know and I feel terrible about it, he has settled so well and it has taken a number of weeks getting us to the stage where he isn’t distraught the whole time been there. Now he has a cry at drop off but then goes over to his favourite corner ( car corner) and is fine. Changing settings may have a negative effect and we would be back to square one. As I said with his needs the nursery have been brilliant. Just wish they could accommodate the hours I need ( but I guess they can’t make exceptions I understand that)

Can you just take him at 2 for now after his nap and try and then ease earlier slowly?

@ingkir thank you, I have thought about doing this but as you said I think he would be very upset waking there. He still cries for a good while after been dropped off. And he cries if he wakes up anywhere other than home I.e family ect

@Workawayxx i was going to suggest this to nursery, they have a routine they follow and have stated they like all children there as close to 1pm as possible. They have been very accommodating to his needs so far ( ie he has to have different snacks, may not go to snack room. Sometimes may not want to go outside ect ) so I was worried they would think I was asking too much.