Nursery and baby only contact naps

[Peanutbutteryday]

I know this has been done to death on here but I am really really nervous about my Dc going to nursery. She will be one when she starts three days a week. Currently 7.5 months. She will only nap in my arms (fed to sleep) or in her pram outside.

I had a phase quite some time back where I tried everything (no luck) but gave up as I concluded she’d start napping on her own when she’s older.

I have re tried this week to get her in the crib. No luck. She wakes screaming immediately. I follow everything we do at night that works perfectly - black outs, white noise

I am so nervous about her at nursery as I think the likelihood is she still won’t nap on her own by then. Any reassurance please would be so welcome - ie:

• will be Dc be napping less at one such that it will be less of an issue?

• any nursery workers here who can shed light on what actually happens if you have a high needs baby? I’m terrified she’ll be left to cry.

• should I persevere now and try and get Dc to nap in cot? I really feel it’s going to be an up hill battle and I don’t relish the idea of spending my mat leave fighting with my baby (I’m usually quite baby led) to get her to do some thing she doesn’t want. But if the consensus is it is a must to do pre nursery I will do it.

I have a nursery meeting up coming so I am of course going to find out myself what they say, but the meeting isn’t for a month or so. For the avoidance of doubt the nursery is a really good one and I am happy with the choice, but I had to sign up pre Dc birth so I didn’t ask the high needs questions at the time.

thank you.

Nursery will work it out don't worry. Both of mine napped well at childcare including one at nursery twice a day on a cot mattress. Neither ever napped in a cot at home! Just do what works for you at home on your days and nursery will work out their days with their years of experience getting hundreds of kids to nap. Also 7.5 months and 12 months are very different ages.

Thank you everyone. It is really helpful to hear of everyone’s experiences who have been In the same situation.

My boy is a nightmare sleeper (he is being investigated for all sorts of things that might be wrong with him).

nursery have facilitated his contact naps (they quite enjoy them) and they have also found he will fall asleep on a beanbag. So they are happy with that and now he naps on a beanbag in the room with them.

they had no luck with him in the cot, he will wake up within 10 mins. I think they have given up to be honest.

for balance, my older DD slept well in a cot at nursery and well at home. So not a ‘bad’ nursery - it’s actually a fantastic one! He has really struggled to settle at nursery but is slowly getting there.

your lovely DD probably doesn’t have any of the issues my DS does but I just say this to reassure you if nursery magic fails for your baby like it did with mine. They won’t leave her to cry!

Thank you this is really helpful to hear as there was still somewhere in the back of my mind thinking surely there are still one or two babies that simply don’t settle and what if that is my Dc. I hope she will be ok as she can sleep well at night so she can do it. But her crying is something else if she thinks she’s on her own.

I hope you manage to get to the bottom of possible things that your Dc may have and manage to get any additional support that is needed. Thank you for sharing.