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Original poster

Bit worried nursery won't manage - advice please?

14 replies

PumpkinPie2013 · 21/05/2014 09:20

Morning Smile

I'm due to go back to work full time mid August (doing a few days before that but dh is off then).

This means my lovely ds will have to go to nursery from 8am until 3.30pm/4.45pm latest each day.

Sadly going pt isn't possible - believe me I've tried the maths so many ways but even after childcare we are better off with me working. Pt or sahm mean we would struggle Sad

So, we have chosen an excellent nursery for ds which I'm happy with.

However, I'm starting to panic!!! Ds has never been a good daytime napper - he fights it majorly.

Over the last few days he has got into a pattern of nap around 9am (45 mins ish) plus an afternoon nap of around 1hr 30 mins but the time is a bit variable at the mo.

Problem is he usually either falls asleep on me after a bottle or in the pram/car. Tried putting him in his cot awake but he either gets upset or starts gurgling Smile
I can usually put him in his cot once asleep and he will sleep.

He sleeps great at night and can usually self settle unless he is teething/has a cold and needs an extra cuddle.

My issue is - what will nursery do?? Obviously I don't expect them to go for a drive or walk with him!!

Anyone experienced similar and been ok? I could take his pram to nursery each day so was wondering about trying to rock him on the spot to sleep as a nursery nurse might be able to do that?

Any tips gratefully received Smile I know it's a daft question but I'm so worried.

OP posts:
EnglishRose1320 · 21/05/2014 10:13

How old is your Ds? If he is going into the baby room of a nursery they should be very experienced with different sleep patterns and ways of settling.
My oldest Ds went to two different nurseries- the first one didn't have space for buggies but the second did so you would have to ask. At both though he had really good daytime sleeps (which he wouldn't do at home!) Even when he went up to the older room he still went down for a sleep at nursery although by then he had stopped having one at home.
I found the nursery really approachable and happy to discuss options. I know that where he would have slept on me at home they managed to settle him by rubbing his back at nursery- plus I knew he was sleeping because they were honest about his odd off days and I could see he was happy and not over tired when I picked him up- I didn't feel they were just telling me it was all fine when it may not have been, iyswim.
He also had to do 8-6 some days and they still coped.
My main advice would be to chat to the staff, establish who his key worker will be and make your wishes clear to them, obviously they couldn't take him for an hour long walk but most nurseries should be fairly accommodating and the longer he is their the more he will adapt to the daily routine of the nursery.

PatriciaHolm · 21/05/2014 23:20

They will have seen it all before. Children tend to be different for different carers, and fit into other routines in other environments for other people. Don't be surprised if he's sleeping like an angel for them within a week….

KnackeredCow · 22/05/2014 17:21

Don't assume your nursery won't take him out in the buggy. The nursery my DTs go to have their own pushchairs for the baby room and do take them out for a walk if they are struggling to nap. Perhaps worth asking?

ihaveadirtydog · 22/05/2014 17:30

He'll be fine - honestly they will have done it many times before.
i used 2 different nurseries for my 2 rubbish nappers as we moved house.
First was happy to push dd backwards and forwards in her pushchair which worked well.
Second said they didn't really like children sleeping in pushchairs (ds pretty much only ever napped in pushchair as he was always being dragged round after dd so didn't get a chance to nap at home). They made him a little nest inside a travel cot using a v pillow so it felt a bit like being strapped in a pushchair, stroked his tummy for a while and he fell asleep! Been fine ever since.
Neither of them were left to cry - both started sleeping better at home too. Nurseries are fab!

Original poster
PumpkinPie2013 · 23/05/2014 09:19

Thanks so much for all the replies and reassurances!!

The nursery do have cots and space for pushchairs which is great Smile

I've just rocked ds to sleep in his pram indoors for the first time as it's pouring down so can't walk.

Usually I would hold him on me to sleep but he's heavy and my back has had it!

He's currently managing to sleep through the water pump whirring every minute as dh is in the shower (we are on well water hence the pump!)

So I feel a bit better now Smile

OP posts:
Ruby1080 · 28/05/2014 21:53

This reply has been deleted

The OP has privacy concerns about this post, so we've agreed to take it down.

Thurlow · 28/05/2014 21:56

Mine slept like a dream with the CM. Still insisted on sleeping mostly on me or in the pram when at home but... like a dream with the CM Hmm

You will probably find that the first few days they are very tired as they are settling into the new nap routine, but give it a little while and it really will be fine.

PotteringAlong · 28/05/2014 21:56

My DS is 2.5. He will still only nap in the car / buggy for me. At nursery he just lies down and goes to sleep!

It was my one huge huge concern when I went back to work. I stopped worrying after his first settling in session when they sent me away because he was asleep in a cot. It was the first time he'd ever napped in a cot :o

TheMightyMing · 28/05/2014 22:01

My DS was the napper from hell!!! Within a couple of days he was happy to bed down on the little nursery mattresses on the floor with his pals. Used to make me laugh - I watched them, first lunch then after loo/ nappy all went and lay down like lambs and off to sleep! The routine is good for them. He will be fine!!!

Good luck going back to work.

Christelle2207 · 28/05/2014 22:01

My 9mo has just started at nursery- I was really worried about this. Would only go to sleep on me or in buggy. Anyway although his nap times and durations are all over the place essentially they get him to sleep no trouble. From what I can tell he behaves completely differently at nursery, eating really well for example which is odd as he wont with me! Apparently all normal.

TiredFeet · 28/05/2014 22:09

My son was the same, only ever breastfed/pram for naps. I was so worried what would happen at nursery but they were fine, he used to nap cuddled up to them while they did paper work/nap in a rocking chair and then they got him napping in cots/ on the floor on mats when he was older. Never got him to nap without a pushchair at home, until he asked to sleep on a mat on the floor like at nursery Grin

Original poster
PumpkinPie2013 · 29/05/2014 13:49

Just seen all the new replies and wanted to say thanks to everyone who has taken time to reply. Your messages have reassured me no end!

DS is starting nursery 1 day per week from next week until he has to go full time. Decided to do this so he can get used to the nursery staff and I can get used to leaving him before I go back to work.

I'll give an update next Fri to let everyone know how it went!

OP posts:
Original poster
PumpkinPie2013 · 06/06/2014 16:20

Thought I'd pop back and update Smile

Ds did 3 one hour settling sessions this week and 8am-3.15pm at his nursery.

He loves it and has been totally fine Smile

They took all babies for a walk today as well as stories and playing with toys and he loved the food Smile

He had two naps -45mins and 30mins which is great Smile

I'm feeling very relieved and hope this reassures anyone else reading [smile

He's going to continue doing Fridays until he goes ft.

OP posts:
TiredFeet · 07/06/2014 20:05

Great news Smile

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