DS starting nursery - v hard to put to sleep, what about naptimes?

[SilverSixpence]

hi, just wondering if anyone can offer any advice. DS is dreadful for getting to sleep (he's just turned 1), normally needs patting, singing to etc and even then it takes a long time (sometimes 30-40 mins).

He's starting nursery in 2 weeks, where they have a fixed nap time (from 12-2pm). There are 12 babies and they supposedly all go to sleep beautifully in the little cots, but i can't see DS doing this! do they normally just learn to go to sleep themselves after a while?

I'm not sure how it works now but when I used to work in a nursery a few years ago we used to have some babies who would just fall asleep when put into a cot and others who we used to have to rock/pat/soothe to sleep. It wasn't a problem, tbh there were a few days where we would all want to do the 'settling to sleep' job so we could sit down for 5 minutes!

My DS starts nursery in a few weeks and he usually has a sleep 11-12.30 but in the nursery they have a sleep after lunch, about 1.30 I think. My worry is that he won't stay awake through lunch!

They all adapt eventually though, I think its us parents who suffer more when they start nursery!

DS was a nightmare for getting to have a nap at home. At nursery he went down like a lamb with no trouble and they'd actually comment on how easy he was to get to sleep. I think the different atmosphere and all the others going to sleep as well helped.

depends on the nursery

the girls at dd's will pat and sing for as long as necessary and will often let

Peer pressure is a brilliant thing! DS can resist napping at home but at nursery will go and lie on his mat and fall asleep without his dummy! And if he doesn't someone will sit and pat his back until he does.

I worried about it as my DD would only BF to sleep, but she sleeps at nursery no problem.

Yep, it's the peer pressure. I used to visit DS's nursery at lunch time (nap time) and I'd see toddlers on their first day at nursery fast asleep with their bum in the air on their little bed on the floor.

I am so pleased you started this thread OP. This has been on my mind a lot lately and I have been dreading going back to work because of it.

My dd is 6 months and isn't going to nursery until she's one so I have plenty of time to worry about this (my pfb!).

At DS's nursery they don't have fixed times so they just let DS go till he's ready to drop then he lays on a mat (hates cots) and someone will pat and/or cuddle until he goes to sleep. But he does do that for other people (not me, I have to use the sling, pushchair or give magic milk!)