[CFinCanada]

My 7.5 mos old co-sleeping LO currently goes down for naps happily & quickly when I either BF her, wear her for walks or occasionally in the car. It`s working great for us now but I`m wondering if my AP methods will make it harder for her (& her daycare provider) when she has to go to daycare at 12 mos.
Several friends have started ``sleep training`` their babes in preparation for their return to work (not CIO but still being firm about staying in thier cribs which appears to take up to 2hrs to get them down for a 20 min nap...)

Any one with experience on this one.... Will she just go down for naps when she`s tired & not expect to be BF if I`m not thereÉ

THanks!
C

 

[misswerewolf]

There is some kind of magic fairy dust in daycare settings that lulls all the babies to sleep. Sounds weird, right? But true, apparently. It's some kind of domino effect.

 

[ians_mommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by misswerewolf There is some kind of magic fairy dust in daycare settings that lulls all the babies to sleep. Sounds weird, right? But true, apparently. It's some kind of domino effect.

ITA

I started my DS in daycare when he was 13 mo. Prior to that, he had always napped in someones arms and on "his" schedule. I was really anxious when I started him, but the DC providers were awsome. He was rocked to sleep for a few days, then patted to sleep, and now he goes over to his little mat and falls right to sleep when everyone else does. Some days he does not nap and the DC providers will take him and any other non-nappers to another area for quiet play/reading. No fuss...no tears

The funny thing is that on my days off/weekends he still will only nap for me after breastfeeding and on "his" schedule...smart little bug

 

[sapphire_chan]

So sleep-training for day care is like rubbing your nipples to "toughen them up" for breastfeeding? Both unnecessary and painful?

 

[Elismum]

My LO does and has done since he was 3 mos old when he started DC whatever he wants at home with regard to sleep (naps sometimes, sometimes not, sometimes in crib, sometimes in arms at breast) and is pretty much on schedule at DC. He goes through phases there where he doesn't nap but I think all that playing and the fact that everyone else is doing it, gets them to fall right in line and follow the masses . . .

The DCPs were great when he started about rocking him or giving him what he needed to get used to it. He was pretty little then but I'll bet your DC will have some good techniques, too and your guy will be just fine. I wouldn't waste your time with 2 hours in the crib for a 20 min. nap - sounds like misery!

 

[calpurnia]

i was really worried about this when my dd started two days a week with a nanny at 9 months. i was terrified dd was going to be screaming for hours before falling asleep (she is used to nursing or being worn to sleep) but she adjusted fine.

 

[Megan73]

Good question, C.
I've been worried about this for when my son goes to daycare in late summer when he'll be a year old. He's always nursed to sleep then napped on my lap. I'm also worried because the DCP has one scheduled nap from 1-3 p.m. and my little guy really seems to need his morning nap. Luckily, she looked horrified when I asked if she uses CIO. She said she just shows them their mats and the kids do their thing without fuss.
I so hope that's true for my little one - I'm really worried about it.

 

[LaurenAnanas]

I had the same worry! I always swaddled her and then nursed her, and the combo always knocked her out. I did have DH put her down for a couple naps with a bottle of EBM before starting daycare, more because he would be home with her one day a week, and that went fine.

DD started part-time daycare at 4 months. She didn't sleep much the first two days but now sleeps just as much as she does when DH or I are home with her! They do swaddle her, but only give her a bottle of EBM if she's hungry then.

They are professionals, and one of their job skills is helping babies sleep!

 

[just_lily]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan73 Good question, C. I've been worried about this for when my son goes to daycare in late summer when he'll be a year old. He's always nursed to sleep then napped on my lap. I'm also worried because the DCP has one scheduled nap from 1-3 p.m. and my little guy really seems to need his morning nap. Luckily, she looked horrified when I asked if she uses CIO. She said she just shows them their mats and the kids do their thing without fuss. I so hope that's true for my little one - I'm really worried about it.

Did you ask her about a morning nap? I have a scheduled nap in the afternoon for my older day home kids, but my own baby still takes a morning nap most days (when I convince her). I wouldn't have a problem giving a younger child a morning nap if they needed it.

I am all for encouraging enough sleep. Whiney, over-tired children of any age are no fun. Plus, nap time is usually the only chance I get to go to the bathroom and have something to eat!

But on the other hand, if you won't be using day care until late summer you may find your babe drops the morning nap by then. We are starting to go through a sleep adjustment here, and there are some days we get by with just one nap. I think that she will drop her morning nap permanently in the next few months.

 

[Dreamy]

Have you found a DCP and discussed this with her yet?

I worried about this too, when I have DS I MUST nurse him to sleep. Occasionally he'll fall asleep in my arms if I put music videos on the TV.

I had heard about the "magic fairy dust" though, so didn't stress about it too much. I attempted putting him down awake a few times, but this always leads to immediate screaming, so I didn't persist. I figured that a) he already had a sleep "routine" that he associated with me, and which would be hard to break, and b) he would form a new sleep association/routine with the DCP.

When interviewing DCPs, I did tell them that he only falls asleep while I hold him, and asked them how they handle naps. One lady said she stayed with them and patted their backs until they fell asleep. The DCP I chose said that she was just fine with holding him until he dozed off, she even had a rocking chair in the napping room for this. She had worked in another daycare before, where the owner told her to put the babies in the PnPs and leave them to cry themselves asleep. There was one boy who was particularly sensitive, and she would hold him on the couch until he drifted off, with the daycare owner giving her a hard time when she did this. She feels very strongly against leaving babies to cry.

Sorry for the ramble - all that to say that I found a DCP I'm very comfortable with, who does not believe in leaving her charges to bawl themselves to sleep, and I hope you can find one too

 

[spirit4ever]

I run a home daycare and we have 'special' ways of putting them to sleep

Often I just need to pat the lo's back, its an adjustment for them and I totally understand. IF they need to be held to sleep I would be happy to do that too. It helps with the bonding!

 

[ians_mommy]

I think a point that is made by all of us who currently have happy daycare nappers is it is important to talk to the DCP first.. I was comfortable that my DCP would help my boy gently transition and let me know if he was having a hard time.
A PP also made the point that "all the playing" helps...this is so true! Your LO will be about the same age my guy was when he went from nanny care to a DC and I think the constant activity helped the quick adjustment...he was plum tuckered out! In fact, it has helped him go to sleep easier at night (around the same time every night he walks to my bedroom door and signs "sleep" without my prompting

Just do your research and pick a good DCP- everything will work itself out from there.

 

[Cindy-Lou]

Quote:

Originally Posted by misswerewolf There is some kind of magic fairy dust in daycare settings that lulls all the babies to sleep. Sounds weird, right? But true, apparently. It's some kind of domino effect.

I had the same worries but DS always napped better and longer at daycare. The sitter never had to do all the rocking that I did and he never protested naps.

 

[littlebabydoll]

Does patting on the back imply babies are put down to sleep on their tummies?

 

[rachel7628]

The most enlightening thing I read in No Cry Sleep Solution is that it's OK for different caregivers to put baby down in their own way. My daughter is put down by me, H and 2 different babysitters. That's 4 different routines that my 10-month-old interprets as "It's time to sleep now." She's always struggled with naps, but most days (now) she'll go down no matter who is watching her. Babies are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for.

 

[just_lily]

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebabydoll Does patting on the back imply babies are put down to sleep on their tummies?

I think most people are talking about older babies and toddlers, not newborns. I noticed a lot of the daycare providers that have chimed in are Canadian, and mothers here are entitled to one year of maternity leave. So it is quite unusual for really young babies to even be in daycare here (and I imagine it would be next to impossible to even find a spot). The youngest in my home is my own, and the second-youngest will be 2 next month.

 

[harmonyhobbit]

There is a world of difference between a 7 month old and a 12 month old.

My 2.5yr old hadn't napped regularly since he was 10 months old. When he started daycare, I was very concerned about what he would do during naptime, becasue he was not a daytime sleeper. On the first day, he laid quietly on his mat. On the second day, and every day after that, he slept. Some kind of magic peer pressure.

 

[CFinCanada]

Thank you everyone, the posts have all made me feel a lot better. It makes a lot of sense that my LO will develop her own routines with her DC provider & that how she handles sleep @ 12 mos will be a lot different than now at 7mos.

I'm having trouble commiting to a DC (I just can't seem to be totally comfortable, though I'm pretty sure of one particular home dc -I feel like I have to check every single option out first before I can rest assured. Maybe I'm over thinking it but she's my baby!! KWIM??)

When I saw that my daughter was starting to only nap when breastfed to sleep in our bed I started having her sleep on a sheep skin. I figured that at least the rug would be portable & might help ease her transition when she had to nap at dc/vacation. The dc I'm leaning towards didn't even blink when I told her that my LO doesn't sleep in a crib & she was fine with just laying the rug out in a quiet corner so that Kailyn could choose to go to it whenever she felt sleepy. Hopefully when she sees the other kids go down she'll follow along.
I don't think I'll ever find a DC that I'm absolutely 100% about but at least I know this lady won't let my daughter CIO at nap times.

 

[ians_mommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebabydoll Does patting on the back imply babies are put down to sleep on their tummies?

I know I was referring to my 13 month old...I think most others were referring to older babes/young toddlers as well (since that is the age of the OPs child)

 

[Megan73]

Quote:

Originally Posted by just_lily Did you ask her about a morning nap? I have a scheduled nap in the afternoon for my older day home kids, but my own baby still takes a morning nap most days (when I convince her). I wouldn't have a problem giving a younger child a morning nap if they needed it. I am all for encouraging enough sleep. Whiney, over-tired children of any age are no fun. Plus, nap time is usually the only chance I get to go to the bathroom and have something to eat! But on the other hand, if you won't be using day care until late summer you may find your babe drops the morning nap by then. We are starting to go through a sleep adjustment here, and there are some days we get by with just one nap. I think that she will drop her morning nap permanently in the next few months.

Thanks for your ideas, just_lily - and sorry for hijacking your thread, OP!
I did ask the DCP about an a.m. nap. She said she wouldn't prevent him from lying down and going to sleep if he's tired but I know she has "circle time" at 9 a.m. when he's normally napping. I don't see my son walking over to his mat and falling asleep. (Don't get me wrong: The DCP is GREAT - she's ECE, has Montessori training and is SO loving. She suggested a playdate at her place every week until my son starts DC in August.)
I'm hoping he'll either drop the nap or the DCP will recognize he's a whiny mess who needs a nap, pronto.