BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

Totally stressing over this.
Registration is in 2 weeks for the school I want to send DD to next Sept - she will be 26 mos then.
Registration is a lottery system - I basically have last dibs at picking a class spot for her b/c I am out of town (I don't live on LI so mentioning the school is not even worth it).
I have been told by friends whose kids attend there that I should be prepared to only get an afternoon class. The morning classes for the 2 yr old program fill up quickly.
I am thinking of not sending her at all if that is all I get. I can get put on a waiting list if someone drops out or something. The class is 2 days a week for 2.5 hours. The afternoon class is from 12-2:30. By the time I get home it will be close to 3pm. I just can't see my DD being able to go that long with no nap. And there's no way she'd go in early enough to nap before school. Think she'd actually go down for a nap when I get her home? Will she then need to go to bed later? She currently goes to bed at 7pm - wakes at 7am not matter what time we put her down at night.

WWYD? I am so torn - it's an amazing school and I really want to send DD there but wonder if at 2 yrs old her sleep is more important than preschool?

I am a SAHM - expecting DC #2 in August, not that that matters but I just think it will be good for both DD and for me to get her out of the house a bit. She is with me 24/7.

Please help and please share if you've sent a 2 yr old to an afternoon program.
There's a 3 day a week class as well - if I can get that morning class I wonder if I should do that. It's a little out of our budget and I'm not sure about sending my 2 yr old 3 days a week...seems a bit much.

TIA! Really appreciate some advice on this one as she's my 1st and I'm just so unsure what her schedule will be like when she's 26 mos old.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

Many kids dont nap at 2. My DD stopped napping before 2. She just started nurseyr school this sept, comes home exhausted but still wont nap. (ETA- My DD is 3) .

But you really dont know if a nap is still in the picture. If thats all you can get, I would still register her and give it a try.

Message edited 1/6/2012 1:27:39 PM.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

My neighbor has this issue - her older son goes to nursery school 3x a week at 12:30 and she has to tote her 2 year old along.

They usually go down for nap around 10-10:30 before school and go to bed earlier in the evening.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

I have no advice but I can tell you that with my DD that schedule would not have worked at age 2 and it wouldn't even work now at age 3!! My DD LOVES her sleep and crashes every day by 12:30-1pm for over 2hrs. She would have a hard time getting through an afternoon of PreK because she is such a regimented napper. I *might* send her to PreK for a few days in the fall but hopefully it's either in the morning or she changes her napping habits by then.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

Posted by Hofstra26

I have no advice but I can tell you that with my DD that schedule would not have worked at age 2 and it wouldn't even work now at age 3!! My DD LOVES her sleep and crashes every day by 12:30-1pm for over 2hrs. She would have a hard time getting through an afternoon of PreK because she is such a regimented napper. I *might* send her to PreK for a few days in the fall but hopefully it's either in the morning or she changes her napping habits by then.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

Posted by NYchic

Posted by Hofstra26

I have no advice but I can tell you that with my DD that schedule would not have worked at age 2 and it wouldn't even work now at age 3!! My DD LOVES her sleep and crashes every day by 12:30-1pm for over 2hrs. She would have a hard time getting through an afternoon of PreK because she is such a regimented napper. I *might* send her to PreK for a few days in the fall but hopefully it's either in the morning or she changes her napping habits by then.

yeah this is what I am afraid of. My DD naps a good 2 hrs every day - I put her down anywhere between 12-1pm. My friend whose son did this time told me not to stress - that she will adjust. It's so hard to know now what will happen come Sept.

More stories/advice greatly appreciated!

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

Posted by Hofstra26

I have no advice but I can tell you that with my DD that schedule would not have worked at age 2 and it wouldn't even work now at age 3!! My DD LOVES her sleep and crashes every day by 12:30-1pm for over 2hrs. She would have a hard time getting through an afternoon of PreK because she is such a regimented napper. I *might* send her to PreK for a few days in the fall but hopefully it's either in the morning or she changes her napping habits by then.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

I chose my DS' 2 yr program partly bc it was in the morning. Another school I was interested in told me I would most likely get a spot in the afternoon spot bc I would be far down on the list (siblings, alumns, etc all come 1st).

There was no way my 2 yr old could handle going to school and missing his 2-3 hour nap. I didn't even consider it. I feel that at age 2, sleep is more important, mostly bc they need it, both for the rest and cognitive development.

Is there another nursery school you like? Maybe you can do 1 yr in one school and then switch for when she is in a 3's program. I can never understand why schools, who know that many children nap at 12 or 1, and that many need this nap, choose to have their 2's and 3's program at this time. Makes no sense to me.

GL with whatever you decide.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

I don't know! My 3 1/2 year old still naps from 2 to 430?! I wanted to do afternoon pre k but he can't go without a nap...any suggestions I will take it!

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

DD#1 napped until a little over 3.5. She went 1230-230 - 2 days a week. On non school days she took her normal nap. On school days she would nap 1.5 hours. She would fall asleep in the car even before we got home and just napped after school. She was one of the only children in her class that still napped (she started the program around 26.5 months).

DD#2 is going now same schedule as her sister. She gave up naps when her sister did so it wasn't an issue for us. None of the kids in her class nap anymore. DD#2 does nap from time to time if we are out all day and driving around in the car BUT only at that point.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

thanks everyone.
After talking to many friends and hearing from you ladies on here...DH and I have discussed and decided we will just go on the wait list if they can only offer us an afternoon spot. I won't take an afternoon class - at 2 yrs old I do think her sleeping/napping is more important than going to school. There is someplace else I can send her 1 day a week in the morning - and even another place I can do another day in the morning if I want to send her 2 days.
I'll just cross my fingers and hope for a morning spot b/c it really is a great school and I'd love her to get in now at 2 so she is guaranteed a spot at 3 when I will really want her to go.

Thanks again!

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

I think mot 2yr olds need a nap, and there are very few that don't. I had one give up naps at 2 and the other give them up at 3.5. I think if your child is still taking long naps now, I would not expect that to fade so quickly and I would not do it.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

kids adjust and most kids usually stop napping about 2 years old. as long as they are getting between 8-12 hours in a 24 hour period of sleep then they are fine.

my DD would take 3 hour naps, but life got in the way, and there were things that needed to be done and she adjusted just fine.

Re: BTDT mom's PLEASE help...nursery school afternoon class for 2 yr old - when do they nap?

be wary of afternoon nursery school classes. We had to take one to get DD into the school at 3 and we lost her afternoon nap b/c of it never to return. I'd never do that again.