12-18 month toddlers in daycare (nap question)

I am going to have to go back to work and put my 14 month old DS in daycare.

Right now he still takes 2 naps, one at 9ish and the other at 2ish. I know he's in the process of transitioning to one nap because it's become harder to put him down for the afternoon, but he sleeps at least an hour and a half in the am, and at least an hour in the pm.

Every daycare says in toddler room they take one nap around noon for a couple of hours. I'm worried about how he'll transition and how your daycare handles napping issues.

Also, I think more importantly. They sleep on cots?!?!? I'm not worried about him hurting himself I know they're only 2 inches off the ground. My thing is, DS is still in the crib at home of course and he's ALL over the place when he sleeps. How on earth is he going to fall and stay asleep on a cot?!?! DS doesn't just fall asleep easily...he moans, rolls around, stands up, throws his toys, moans again, rolls around....how does this work on a cot??? All I'm picturing is him falling off, getting up and running around and never going to sleep....

Re: 12-18 month toddlers in daycare (nap question)

I remember having the same fears with my now 3 yr old

I was beyond upset:--how would he adjust? would he sleep?

Rest assured (no pun intended) everything worked out. The daycare at that age had naps from 12-2 and the kids all slept on cots. I actually stopped by during lunch one day just to see this since I didnt believe my child (who mind you is still in a crib at home) would sleep on a cot and take one nap

I swear--these kids amaze us--your child will go with the flow and fall into a nap routine....promise!!

Re: 12-18 month toddlers in daycare (nap question)

My DD is not in the toddler room yet as she's not yet walking.

Everyone I know though that has their kid in the toddler room, had the same fear, but for some reason, the kids just do it and don't have a problem with it.

I do think my DD will be the exception though because she's a little Diva...


We have one of those little toddler couches at home that flip open, and she likes to lay on that and "rest" She doesn't sleep there, but she will just rest. I'm hoping that will help with the daycare room transition...

Message edited 4/27/2010 9:57:08 AM.

Re: 12-18 month toddlers in daycare (nap question)

I don't think I'm even worried so much as I can't fathom how he's going to actually do it. I just watched him fall asleep in the monitor for his first nap...it took him forever (like always) and he got up, rolled on his back, banged his legs on the crib, stood up and yelled for awhile, layed back down, rolled back and forth...with all it takes him to settle down I just can't imagine how he's going to do it all on a cot w/o falling off a million times or just running around the room..

And what if he yells alot (he does this too)? Won't it disturb the other babies in the class?? It's not like you can tell him to shhh, he's only 14 months...

Re: 12-18 month toddlers in daycare (nap question)

We had to move my son to a new daycare at 15 months...he was sleeping in a crib at the old daycare as well as at home and I was so nervous when I learned that he would be in a cot at the new center.

But everything worked out well...the teachers were extra patient with him and would sit with him and rub his back to sleep. The good thing about the one nap is that your son should be so tired since everything is so new..including the one nap that he will knock out when given the chance.

If he can't or won't sleep they will let him play quietly...believe me eventually they give in and sleep. No one to play with and a day full of activitiy wears them out.

Re: 12-18 month toddlers in daycare (nap question)

Posted by Ang-Rich

believe me eventually they give in and sleep. No one to play with and a day full of activitiy wears them out.