We've had a rocky week with naps, but today is awful. All 6 of the kids sleep in the same room, always have, they never wake each other up. This week for some reason, the 14 month old who has always been a bad napper has been waking up the 9 mo, and then the 2 yo wakes up and gets off his mat and wakes up the 3yo. The 7mo and the 18mo seem to sleep through it all, except today.
I put them down at 1:40 today, and by 2:20 the entire room was a zoo, all the kids in cribs were crying and all the kids on mats were up walking around. We've been going in every 5 minutes to reset them all, but they all start screaming again when they see us. I am FIRM that once they are sleeping well on a routine, they remain in their cribs for 2 hours, however, I am feeling torn about today. We have gotten 2 of them up, but the older ones are still sitting on their mats, and the 14mo is still sitting in his crib, quietly, until I go check him, then he screams.
I moved the 7mo into another room, and she is asleep, but the rest have not been asleep at all. Do I give up? It's raining, so we can't get outside, the rest of the afternoon is going to be horrid.
I'll also add that my own 3yo DD, who hasn't been napping for the past 6 months, is asleep in her room...of course.
Ugh had a big reply that got deleted.
First of all
to your ages in the group. I would be bald if I were you so kudos.
Secondly I would leave them because to me even a 5 minute break is worth the hassle.
That being said, I give myself a pass Friday if I mess up the routine. I know that parents will messs it up on the weekend anyway and the kids won't remember come Monday. I have my dcb,13mo a bottle today because he is sick and wouldn't drink without it. Well mom gives it at home so ill pick my battles on a Friday.
Have you tried sitting in there or standing in the doorway for a few just so the big kids know you mean business? I suppose if the babies see you that won't help....
In my early time this happened to me and I actually went in and whispered to each child that if they were noisy I was going to give them a time out.
IM not proud of it but they all went to sleep
kitykids3 12:46 PM 04-25-2014
Can you put a couple in different rooms to try to nap?
Ugh...this is so frustrating.
I know our ages seem crazy, but there are 2 of us here and we often split up the group through out the day, it's not so bad.
I kept them in there for the whole two hours. The 14mo fell asleep about 5 minutes ago, and I'm leaving him until his mom picks up.
The daycare is on the lower level of my house, and there are only 3 rooms, so I can do some separating, but I do not want kids napping in the play room, it makes me batty, and I feel like I don't get a break. I can split them into the main napping room, and our large motor room, maybe I'll try to come up with a plan for that... all the screamers in one room, all the sleepers in the other?
SignMeUp 01:32 PM 04-25-2014
That was pretty much my naptime yesterday
Our morning was fun. We did a bunch of glue &paper collages. My big kids asked if they could "broom" the floor for me
They were angels
And then...Dun...dun...dunnnnn...NAPTIME
But I am alive to talk about it
(and so are they
)
Stepping 04:54 PM 04-26-2014
Originally Posted by MCC:
Ugh...this is so frustrating.
I know our ages seem crazy, but there are 2 of us here and we often split up the group through out the day, it's not so bad.
I kept them in there for the whole two hours. The 14mo fell asleep about 5 minutes ago, and I'm leaving him until his mom picks up.
The daycare is on the lower level of my house, and there are only 3 rooms, so I can do some separating, but I do not want kids napping in the play room, it makes me batty, and I feel like I don't get a break. I can split them into the main napping room, and our large motor room, maybe I'll try to come up with a plan for that... all the screamers in one room, all the sleepers in the other?
Ugh! The no nap days are not fun
I have a similar system here. I put all the good nappers in a quieter, darker room and the not so good nappers in our playroom. Then I sit in a chair with a view into both rooms while my assistant gets a break, then switch over so I can get a break.
I have a special box of books and quiet activities that I get out if the non nappers wake up. If they get off their beds or make too much noise, they lose their quiet time activity. I have them sit on their cots for the full two hours because I don't want to create a situation where they stay awake because they know they will be able to get up and play.
itlw8 07:10 PM 04-26-2014
most states have a regulation about how long they can be made to stay on a cot or in a crib if they are awake. 2 hours awake... I think is too long. but I also think if you have a chair in the room for an adult to sit in most of they will fall asleep. plus some classical music.
1 hour is the max in my state if awake.