https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:40:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504772 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:55:57 +0000 catomd00 2504772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I'd talk with the teachers and director about why you guys can do given the situation. If everyone else needs to nap, it's not really fair if your kid is up and about disturbing them either. Perhaps there's another solution here, hard to say without knowing the specifics of your daycare setting. I'd say if they're Lying about things like fevers, then perhaps this isn't the best care setting for you guys.</p> <p>ETA my nephew was actually asked to leave his daycare or move to half days because he was so disruptive to the rest of the class during nap. Granted his mom SAH so they didn't need to worry about finding a different solution, but she totally understood that they couldn't cater to his needs at that time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504771 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:55:28 +0000 Autumnmama79 2504771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: it's tough to stand up and have the uncomfortable conversations but advocating for your child is an important skill to have, good to get practice now! I hope you get a favourable outcome to all this, keep us posted. </p> <p>@Truth Bombs: it's definitely a tricky situation. In the end I wasn't willing to back down or accept a 10pm bedtime for my LO. I'm not paying for people's breaks, that's why there are multiple teachers (no need for all to take a break at once). In the end it was a compromise, LO was in another room away from the napping children and doing something quiet, with relative independence. I didn't totally love it, but it worked out well enough in the end :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504752 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:28:27 +0000 Truth Bombs 2504752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: I think a lot of your points are much more applicable to a nanny situation than a day care situation. Sure, it's your child, but if what you want for your kid is vastly different than the needs of the average child in his class, a day care really can't cater to him. Most 2.5 year olds need a solid nap. If the teachers are having to actively work to keep one child awake, that will disrupt the rest of the class. I would not be happy if my daughter didn't get to nap well because the teachers are trying to keep another child awake. Obviously there are some other issues at play in this specific instance, but I think that in general if you want to be completely in charge of your child's schedule then you need to give one on one care (nanny or SAH). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504748 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:23:30 +0000 Modern Daisy 2504748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: thank you for the helpful feedback! This is my first child so I have no experience asserting myself with daycare providers. I've talked to the owner before about teachers showing kids videos (cartoons) on their phones at pickup and she got kind of defensive and immediately made excuses before saying she would look into it so I tend to doubt she will do much about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504745 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:20:16 +0000 Modern Daisy 2504745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: sadly from what I hear from other moms in my area these are pretty common tactics so switching to another daycare won't help. It's not like they do it every day and the truth is DS is prone to getting sick super easy so most of the time they are right, I've just caught them a handful of times lying about a fever when he skipped his nap and didn't give them a break. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504723 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:04:37 +0000 daniellemybelle 2504723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: Lying about fever and blatantly having him nap longer just because they don't want to deal with him is definitely not okay. I think having him nap is reasonable. So is having him wake up naturally. I would definitely tell them to stop actively doing things to have him nap longer than a reasonable 2.5 year old nap (I would say 1.5-2 hours) and talk to the director to have accountability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504680 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 18:16:08 +0000 Autumnmama79 2504680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I went through this very battle with DD's daycare when she was 3. They were insisting on napping her with the other children so they could have their break. As a result, DD was going to bed at 10pm, which is clearly insane and unhealthy. It took several very stern conversations for them to agree. Here is my takeaway:</p> <p>1. You are paying these people to care for your child and they should be respecting your wishes when it comes to his/her care. They work for you!</p> <p>2. You know your child best. You get to decide if and how long he/she naps for which then impacts the rest of his sleep schedule. </p> <p>3. Its important to stand up for yourself and your child. Occasions where you need to do this will come up over and over during your child's life, get used to it mama bear!</p> <p>Good luck going forward!</p> <p>ETA, I agree that if they are labelling him the most challenging charge and calling you to pick-up early, there are bigger problems with your current provider. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504654 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 17:42:40 +0000 avivoca 2504654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: If they are actually calling and lying about his fever, there are bigger issues at play. I would consider finding a new daycare provider of you are able. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504627 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:37:02 +0000 pwnstar 2504627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others who posted that's if he's sleeping, his body needs the sleep/rest </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504625 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:34:11 +0000 Modern Daisy 2504625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: I actually know for a fact they do this to get a break because they have admitted it to me! They have told us that DS is the trouble maker of the group and gives them the biggest challenges all day. They also call and lie about him having a fever when he really doesn't just so we'll pick him up and then of course he can't come back the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504624 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:33:18 +0000 Jess1483 2504624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I'd rely on your conversation with the doctor and present the daycare with the info and say you don't want measures taken to extend his naps if he is stirring. I think that's totally reasonable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504621 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:31:05 +0000 Modern Daisy 2504621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: yes, he doesn't ever nap for us anymore at home and our Doctor said he doesn't need it! If he takes a small nap he's usually okay but 2 hours during the day is too much. He will still go to bed by 7 but he will be UP at 5am. And no we can't push bedtime back. He wakes even earlier when we do that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504610 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:21:55 +0000 Jess1483 2504610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I think you are well within your rights to say you don't want them to interfere to try to extend his nap. If he sleeps, he sleeps, but they shouldn't be trying to help him at this age if you don't want them to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504604 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:18:28 +0000 Modern Daisy 2504604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He is totally getting enough sleep at night and our Doctor agrees he doesn't need to nap. I know they have to have quiet time and can't technically force him to sleep, it's more that they brag about the tricks they use to get him to sleep longer, like rubbing his back when he starts to stir, etc. he really does not need a 2 hour nap and if he was home I would never let him sleep that long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504583 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:49:08 +0000 Jess1483 2504583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel ya! My guy (now 3.5) stopped napping at 2.5 when I realized that even a 15-minute nap often meant lying awake for 1-2 hours in the middle of the night. I did not think that trading 2 hours of nighttime for 30 minutes of napping made for a happier kid, so I have trouble accepting that only a kid who needs sleep will sleep. It's probably more the exception than the rule, but it was important that he not nap to us. He only does half day preschool, but it was difficult keeping him up when we got home. But any time I let him nap, I'd regret it (and he wouldn't cause problems in the middle of the night, just laid there quietly...I only discovered he was up because I'd check the monitor when nursing the infant.)</p> <p>I can't say what I'd do if I used full-time care. I'd probably ask them to keep him up or at least to shorten the nap, but having been a teacher, I understand the importance of that time, too. Maybe he could have quiet mat time, but you could send something a bit stimulating so he wouldn't sleep? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504574 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:33:07 +0000 daniellemybelle 2504574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others - you can't make a kid sleep. If you could, many parents would be MUCH happier! They are probably "bragging" because they know the struggle is often the other way - kids need sleep but don't.</p> <p>My experience is different because right now my 2.5 year old can nap until after 5pm and still go to bed at 8pm. So my stance is always - let them sleep. Kids will never sleep too much! But it has to be hard to struggle with bedtime or early wake-ups. Can you just push his bedtime later so he can sleep in a bit in the morning? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504496 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:06:04 +0000 Adira 2504496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What time does he go to bed and wake up in the morning? Most kids that age need 11-13 hours of sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504489 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:59:38 +0000 travellingbee 2504489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I understand. It's very hard for us that our guy naps at daycare for as long as he does. He won't go to bed before 10 o'clock at night which is totally exhausting when we also have a newborn. DH and I barely get to see each other because he has to stay up with the older one while I am putting down the newborn and going to sleep so I can get up in the middle the night with him. I really wish he didn't have to nap at school, but by state regulations they can't keep him awake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504486 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:56:43 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2504486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find that a lot of kids start resisting naps at home before they give them up at daycare. It think it's environment: quiet, dim, soft music, nothing else to do, etc. Is he really asleep the whole two hours? Sometimes I have kids who will lay awake for 30-40 minutes before drifting off to sleep.<br /> I also don't think they want a "break". Rest time is the only time of day for the teachers to do record-keeping, clean, &amp; prep activities. For kids that young, it's hard for them to stay quiet when awake, which often wakes other kids, making it hard to get anything done. That's part of the reason I do a 30ish minute time on their cots rule (it's also part of licensing rules), but I do wake up kids if they go past the end of rest period &amp; parents request it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504477 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:46:58 +0000 Truth Bombs 2504477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As others have said, nap time is consistent for the whole class. The majority of children still need a significant nap at 2.5. Heck, my kid is 3.5 and still takes a solid nap and sleeps 12 hours at night as well. So they can't adjust the whole class to a schedule that works best for your family. There are kids in my child's class who don't need a nap any more but they lay quietly on their mat with books or a quite toy to rest. They can't force your son to sleep so that fact that he is falling and staying asleep implies to me that his body wants that sleep time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504456 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:38:58 +0000 gingerbebe 2504456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most daycares just have a 2 hour "rest" policy at that age - they don't force the kids to sleep, but they have to lay there quietly or read in the corner. I don't think you can "force" a kid to sleep if they aren't willing or needing the sleep. I agree at 2.5, a good number of kids still need SOME nap. He may be transitioning out of naps, in which case I hear its very common for kids to alternate days where they nap or don't nap. The odd thing for you is that most of these kids skip nap daycare when they're around other kids, and then need the nap at home on the weekends! But he might have a strong monkey-see monkey-do reaction to seeing his friends laying down and going to sleep. Either way, I sorta feel like he's sleeping because he needs it. I'd be more inclined to push his bedtime on the weekdays a little later and put him to bed earlier on the weekends when he skips naps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504441 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:25:01 +0000 catomd00 2504441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, it may be in ten state regulations. I know our state requires a specified 2 hour rest period for 2 to 4 year olds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504404 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:01:06 +0000 hilsy85 2504404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be annoyed that they are just totally ignoring what you are saying--and I feel you, when my 2.5 was still napping, he wouldn't go to bed til 9:30pm some nights, it was rough. I think that is just a tough age for naps and sleep in general. Do all the kids nap for 2 hours? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504360 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:22:59 +0000 DesertDreams88 2504360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's probably not about them getting a break, it's probably about the fact that most 2.5 year olds need to nap and so it is more efficient to have them all nap at the same time for the same (general) length of time. Perhaps you could talk to them about letting your child just rest and/or read books on his cot during this time?</p> <p>Watching 10+ kids is hard. I don't know the ratio in your daycare, when I worked in one it was 1:10 for toddlers. The teachers need time to fill out those daycare logs, clean up the classroom, and set up any afternoon activities / supplies. They also have to probably cover each other during legally mandated lunch. Just some thoughts to consider. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504344 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:14:56 +0000 Mamaof2 2504344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do they have a policy on sleep? Ours says that they will not force a child to sleep nor will they keep them awake. They have to lay quietly on their nap mat for 30 mins and if still awake after that then they can get up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504336 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:10:56 +0000 catomd00 2504336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I understand your frustration, but at 2.5 I believe most kids still need a decent nap. I'm sure them wanting him to nap longer is less about their own needs and more about the needs of the other kids in the class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504331 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:05:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2504331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We somewhat deal with this at age 4.5 now. She still needs a nap but 2 hours is way too long. And we are going on 9pm bedtimes because she's just not tired (and wakes up happy around 7 to get ready for school). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-else-not-want-child-to-nap-so-long-at-daycare#post-2504316 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 11:49:38 +0000 Modern Daisy 2504316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 2.5 and really doesn't need to nap during the day for the most part. In fact, on weekends and days like today when I am home with him for spring break he violently refuses a nap. I don't mind because it means he sleeps longer in the morning and that is much better for our family.</p> <p>But every day his daycare sheet says that he napped for at least two hours. And his teachers have "bragged" to me that they know how to get him to fall asleep and stay asleep for that long. I've asked them to limit his naps because I really hate it when he wakes up at 5am, but they ignore me and make him sleep. </p> <p>Anyone else in this situation? I feel kind of annoyed because clearly they just want a break - but I am paying good money and he doesn't need to sleep! </p>