Naps at nursery...

[whatwouldnigellado]

Has anyone any advice on how to improve naps at nursery? My 11 month old boy has just started nursery and seems to love it. However he will not nap there! He's always been an awful sleeper and napper and we have had to do a lot of work to improve this. Most of the time at home he'll have two naps of about an hour-90 min, sometimes in me, sometimes in the car and on a good day in his cot!
However at nursery (he's there 730-445) he has only had one 30 min nap which considering he's up at 5 am is not a lot. He's absolutely shattered when he gets home even with a car nap on the way back.
I've spoken to the nursery team who are lovely and understanding but just report he doesn't seem to want to nap there (they don't do pram naps there).
Anyone else had this? I'm aware it might just take time to settle there but he's always been so awful at sleeping that I'm
Anxious about it going backwards from the tiny progress we have made in the last 11 months!!

Does he need to nap? I assume the non daytime napping must be followed by early to bed and not too much waking at night, so I'd be making the most of it!

Does he have a favourite cuddly toy or blanky that he could take in? My DS wouldn’t settle at nursery for naps without his special cushion, I think because it smelled like home it settled him.

Honestly, unless the nursery is amazing in every other respect I’d look for one who will work with you on this. My DS started nursery at 9 months and would only nap in a pram/ buggy or in the car. They started him in the buggy pushing it, then leaving it parked, then tried a couple of other things and a few months later he was sleeping in his cot. He now naps beautifully for them but still needs the motion of the buggy at home! Some nurseries are definitely more flexible.

Thanks all for replies.
Yes he takes a toy from home abs I've tried a blanket but doesn't seem to help.
Unfortunately no napping doesn't mean better night sleeping for him.
The nursery is right next to my work and seeks great in other ways but will keep in mind about moving him if no improvement. I think it's likely rust he's having a lot of fun there and doesn't want to stop for a nap whereas at home I can make it very boring around nap time!

Does nursery put all the children down for a nap together, or just as they need it individually?

I think this is what encouraged mine to be such good nursery nappers...they're little sheep who like the routine! It took a good 3-4 months of settling in before they were consistently napping there though.

I guarantee that within another few months this won't be an issue anymore. Just make sure your DC has a good consistent routine for bedtime at home and top him up with naps at weekends until he settles.

If he's only just started I'd expect it to take a while for him to settle into the nursery routine. Both my sons started nursery around the same age and barely slept at first but within a month or two were sleeping better at nursery than they did at home. They have to learn to sleep with other children being in the room/different sounds etc... but I'm sure once he gets used to it it'll get easier for him.

Thank you all, good to know mines not the only initial nap refuser! I'll give it some more time, he always needs a while to get the hang of things