How to manage daycare and naps
Congratulations!!! You’ve made the big step into sending your child to daycare. But now you’re concerned that all the hard work you’ve put in, might come undone by naps not going to plan in a new environment? Have a look at the tip below to make the transition easier!!
When interviewing your potential daycare, ask them about sleep arrangements and their opinion on sleep. Ensure that you inspect the area where your child will be sleeping to make sure it is a safe sleeping space.
Ask them how they manage sleep time(s). This will vary greatly from center to center, and family daycares may be different altogether. Make sure you feel comfortable with their approach
Give them as much information as you can about your routine at home. This includes nap times, meal times, and any particular associations your child may have. Trust me - your daycare educator(s) WANT your child to rest when they need it so giving them the right information will help significantly
Bring all familiar sleep objects/associations from home. This might include things like dummies, comforters, safe sleeping bags, etc. Try to make the daycare environment as familiar for your baby/child as you possibly can.
Have realistic expectations: day care is a fun and exciting environment for our little ones. Some babies will struggle to sleep well at daycare regardless of the foundations that have been set at home. Your daycare educators will try their best but remember that they are only human, and have several other children to attend to as well as your little one.
Try not to get too caught up with what is happening sleep-wise at daycare as it also has a huge amount of other benefits such a social and emotional development
Lastly, bring bedtime forward on daycare days, ESPECIALLY if naps haven’t been as long as they usually are. Daycare can be exhausting for your child so take that into consideration and bring your evening routine forward where possible (this includes dinner, wind-down routine, and bedtime)