My son won't nap at home with my husband and I here. He will how ever nap at daycare perfectly. He will do at least 2 2 hour naps. At home it's more like 2 or 3 30 minute naps. I try to keep him on the same schedule and when he wakes I try to leave him to soothe himself but no luck. At night he sleeps until 4 and then I have to go put his nook in. I'm feeling a little inadequate because usually don't they sleep better at home?
Well I practically had him swinging from the stars yesterday to wear him out but to no avail 3 30 min. Naps. I asked my daycare gal what she did for him and it's the same thing. And to beat that he went to bed at 7:15 last night and woke up off and on from 12:30 to 3. I slept on his floor. And he finally got up for good at 6:30. This is a complete 180,I don't know what to do. He used to sleep spineless from 8-6:30 and take at least 1 hour naps. Any other suggestions I can try. I don't care if I'm sleepy but he needs his sleep
I run a daycare in my home. Most of my kids nap better at my house than they do at home. I am not sure why, but all my parents ask why their kids nap so long with me and take short or no naps at home!! I do not have a solution for you, but know you are not alone!
Don't feel inadequate. As a daycare provider I often have the same complaint form my parents. " How come my child naps forever for you??? You must be magic!"
I'm not magic, but I am consistent and I am not Mommy and Daddy... Babies will always fuss more for Mom and Dad. Don't get me wrong... I have a gentle sleep program and I don't use cry it out in my daycare, especially for babies this young. Here are a few suggestions that have worked for me. Try to keep a consistent schedule... depending on how he sleeps at night and what time he wakes int he morning, try to put him down for the a.m. nap at the same time every day. Keep him active during the day. Play with him take him outside... keep him stimulated, but don't over do it. Nurse him or give a bottle someplace outside of the bedroom. Darken the bedroom as much as you can and try running a fan or a white noise machine. Have the room ready before you take him in to lay him down for nap. Do the same routine every time, whether it's singing a song or just swaying for a few minutes. When he fusses don't pick him up, just shh him and rub his back or head.
Good luck! They are smarties before you realize it, so the sooner they realize that their bed is for sleeping and you aren't going to go back and forth the better you and they will be.
My son also did this--it drove me crazy! It turned out our sitter was using a fan in his room for white noise. When we started using white noise at home, it made a huge difference and he started taking 2-3 hour naps at home. Good luck!
My daughter napped better when there was noise going on in the room, or house. It's also normal at this age to wake up at 4:00. My daughter nursed at 1:00 a.m and then again at 5:00 a.m. at this age, then went back to sleep for a couple more hours.
Don't feel inadequate! We all do at times. Just when you have this figured out, his needs will change and you'll have to try something different!
I have had a home daycare for 17 years and I often find this is the case. I have many parents who wonder why or how I can get their child to nap great for me and yet they won't do the same at home. At my house, there are other kids and they are often active. They are so busy looking at things, moving around etc, that their body and brains are tired out. Try playing with him more before nap time to wear him out, sit him up, play with blocks, stimulate him etc and hopefully you will get more of a break. I love nap time at my house, I love the kids but I need a break too.
They may nap longer at day care because they're more active and thus more tired.
