How to Get a Good Morning Nap in but Still Get Baby to Daycare???

I had this one too!

My son started going to daycare, and they had a set nap schedule for older kids of 12 to 2:30pm. So, they asked us to start following their routine, and putting our son to bed later at night for his final goodnights. They were more than willing to accomodate a morning nap schedule, but as the switch was to be made at 14 months we didn't mind giving it a shot. Our schedule on the weekends became something like this:

wake up 6:30am
nap: 12:15pm to 2:30(ish)pm
bedtime routine: 7pm
asleep by 8pm.

It took me about three weekends, to get the switch over done on the weekends, but he started napping at school with the rest of the kids during the middle of the day and enjoying himself. It was tough to keep him up for those trips in the car, like you mentioned, but I got the Baby Einstein car caterpillar and hung it from the seat. We'd listen to sing-a-long music...adjusting any routine is tough, but do it with care and patience. You'll find any daycare will require some kind of adjustment period.

I would ask your daycare provider what their general schedule for naps is like...is heing nap in the afternoon okay? As they move up the ladder in daycare, they HAVE to migrate to one nap during the middle of the day, so usually that starts in infant care. Ask them for pointers, most of them are Mommies and/or have been doing this a long time!

My son isn't in daycare anymore, due to other issues, but we still maintain the same schedule for when he goes back in the Spring!

Good Luck.

This is normal for a 10 month old to need to nap at about that time. My son is the EXACT same way, and has the same bed and awake times as your son. Once my son wakes up in the morning, he NEEDS a nap 3 hours later. THIS is his pattern. He is now 26 months old, and he is still the same way. He gets tired within 3-4 hours of waking. If he does not nap, then it makes the entire rest of the day difficult.

Since you take him to daycare, and it happens to be at the time of his nap... well it can't be helped. The only thing would be if you manage to keep him awake in the car driving over...and then, IF the care providers are flexible enough to give him a nap when he gets there... since he is a baby, and given his age.

Since he is going to a Daycare... then, you will have to get used to the fact that his nap times, will be made different. AND.. that even as a baby who needs 2 naps a day.. .it will probably be whittled down to just 1 nap a day... and this nap being given later in the day. IF and how your son (and you) adjusts to this... is hard to predict. And you have to decide if this is "okay with you.

SOME providers have "default" generic nap times... and ALL the kids regardless of age, are put to nap at the SAME times, whether they are a baby or a toddler or child.

SOME providers, will accommodate the nap needs of your child...given his age and he is still a baby. Also, you want to be sure the provider is putting your baby to nap in a crib...or play-pen, some place safe and quiet. AND supervised and checked on, and a baby monitor in place, and that he is not just left there and ignored.

OR, you can find another provider. For me, I used to baby-sit 1-2 kids/babies when my eldest child was younger, and before I gave birth to my 2nd child. For me, because I had a SMALL group, just 1-2 kids in addition to my own (3 kids total)... I accommodated the nap needs/preferences of the Parent. I had no problem, putting a child/baby to nap at HIS/HER regular time.... and then for each child accordingly. So each child did have their own nap time. I had no problem with that. And as a Parent myself, I understood perfectly how important a baby's "nap schedule" was.. .because this is what they did at home too. I kept the same consistency when I baby-sat them at my home.

So, you COULD possibly find a babysitter... an at home baby-sitter that is a stay-at-home Mom kind of thing....and who only has 1 or 2 other kids she is watching.

OR, your other alternative would be to get a Nanny, just for your baby....therefore, you will have all the ability to keep your son on "his" schedule, and your preferences, since a Nanny is only watching YOUR son. And no other children.

Good luck,
Susan

Hi I have an opening at my daycare for your little one and I am open as early as 7:00 A.M. ..let me know if you are interested. ###-###-####

I feel your pain!!! Two of my three kids were that way. If they dozed off in the car, they'd wake-up when we got wherever we were going & wouldn't go back to sleep & then they'd be a cranky mess. I never did find a cure other than doing everything I could to keep them awake during the car ride so that they'd be exhausted enough to take a real nap once we got to our destination. Try rolling the windows up & down, talking in a loud cheerful voice and reaching back at stoplights & wiggling his hands or whatnot. Good luck!!!

Hi D.:
I'm a little confused,as to who he is cranky for. You drop him off at day care,so i'm assuming they are complaining of his crankiness? Maybe you pick him up around the time for his second nap of the day? Excuse me for seeming a bit dense,but the timing is a little confusing.I would stick with his regular routine. You don't want to throw him off,if he is a good sleeper at home.If he is ready for a nap,around the time hes suppose to attend day care, I'd keep him alert and awake,on your drive and then request he get his morning nap as soon as he got there.You can entertain him,or give him something that may keep his interest till you get there.It probably is a good idea to find a day care that opens a little earlier,but until then,i might try this,rather than chance disrupting his routine.I wish you and your growing son the best.