Naps in Daycare - can it happen?

[NEastMomma]

Hi Mamas,
Anyone out there w/ experience having their 13month old in daycare? I'm worried about NAPPING!

I teach part-time (T,W,Th 8:45 - 2:45) and my school just got an on-site daycare for staff. My DS will be 13mos in Sept and will be one of the eight kids total in the daycare. There will be 3 daycare "teachers" for these eight kids.

When he's with me, DS will nurse to sleep for naps, or just nap in the car if we're going somewhere. Last school year DS went to a babysitter 2 days a week who was able to develop a nice routine with DS and was able to get him to nap for her with no crying! But she only minded DS and one other baby, so she had the time to focus on each of them.

I'm just worried about how DS will go down for naps - I'll make it clear that under no circumstances should DS CIO, but still...

Really I'm very excited about the daycare. It is in our brand new school, being run by the kinderschool principal; a woman I've known for years and trust. I LOVE that DS will right down the hall from me and he is super social and has the best time being around other babies and kids. Finally, because I'm staff, it is DIRT CHEAP! I keep wanting to pinch myself about how much money we'll be saving. And I have to work for financial reasons, so this is just incredible.
A friend tells me that I'll be shocked at how adaptable DS will be - she swears he'll nap for the daycare teachers no problem even though he'll continue to nurse down with me. I believe her, but would love to hear from you if this is what you experienced!

Thanks so much in advance!

[CatsCradle]

Interestingly, DD took naps for others but not for DH and I! DD's earlier daycare and now her Montessori school both said that DD takes longer to settle down than others, in fact she helps pat other children's backs before she will lay down herself. She will, however, eventually lay down and sleep. She has always been "spirited" and will not sleep until she falls down, but for some reason she will rest quietly if other children are resting. Lucky for them!

[bender]

My DS naps well in daycare (much to my surprise!). Their routine is put the little ones in the playpens first, then get the older kids situated. If he's still fussing/crying once the big kids are set up, they go back and comfort him. They told me he'd adjust better if they had him 5 days a week, but he's doing fine with 3 days/week. When he's with me, he still needs the boob to sleep. Strange but true.

[sapphire_chan]

I've seen a number of people mention that even kids who won't nap at home will nap when they're in a room full of other sleeping kids.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

My older DS was in daycare as an infant/toddler. In the infant room he would not sleep. It was too bright and noisy, everything was on demand so kids slept and were awake at all different times. Then he moved to a toddler room at around 1 year. They had a schedule, and at nap time they made it super dark and quiet. All of the toddlers were put down for naps at the same time. For the first time he actually took a nap every day! He was horrible about taking naps at home, but he did fine there. He even slept on a cot!! I still have a cell phone pic that one of the daycare workers sent me one day of him sleeping on the cot with his arms and legs all sprawled out. It was so different from how he slept at home, and it blew my mind. I looked at it all the time and couldn't believe it was the same kid.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

I've seen a number of people mention that even kids who won't nap at home will nap when they're in a room full of other sleeping kids.

Yep.

Have you looked around in Working and Student Parents? Peer pressure works even on the very young. Our DD (18 mos.) is an angel re. eating/sleeping at daycare but refuses to do either for us.

[marispel]

I was so baffled when DS started DC at 14 months. Never in a million years would I have thought he would sleep on a cot. He's one of their best sleepers! DS sleeps in a crib at home. Also, they eat at little tables with little chairs...at home he eats from a high chair.

They just do different things at daycare and because the other kids are doing it, yours will too.

Also, our DC (by state law) has 1 teacher for every 7 kids. I would love your ratios!!!!

[NEastMomma]

Wow, thanks ladies! Your responses have really helped!!!