Doing In-home Sitting During the Day- Question Re Napping

You put them to nap all at the same time.... as you do for your kids.
It does not have to be in the same room.
Keep your eldest, in her own room, as always. Don't change "her" routine. Keep her room to herself.

I assume, you have a place for the visiting child?

I have babysat... and I put my and the other child to nap ALL at the same time. I kept MY kids routines, the same and where/how they slept.
The child I babysat... slept in the living room, in which I had a crib. Just for that child.
It was fine.

all the best,
Susan

I agree with a crib or even just a crib mattress in a semi-private area for the other child. If you're planning on your daughters eventually sharing, you could make that transition now, before the other child makes it look like that's the reason. My boys love sharing a room, and even when we discussed separating them, they asked to be together. GL!

I have a childcare center and we use cots for children over 12 months old. They are safe, comfortable, low to the ground and can be easily stored. I would purchase a cot, and when not in use you can put it under your bed. I would not leave the child you are caring for unattended in a room, we always have a staff member in the room when children are napping. Anything can happen when you leave a child unattended even it they are sleeping. Caring for someone child is a huge responsibility, so it is better to be safe then sorry. It doesn't sound like you have a lot of room in your place for another crib so I would buy a cot. I use wwwdiscountschoolsupply.com they sell the sheets to go with the cot as well. Good luck

do you have a basement or a semi private room like a dining room or family room. Put a portable crib in one of those other rooms. Good luck.

The kiddos I watch either sleep on the living room floor on a cot or sleeping bag, on the couch as they get older and don't roll as much or in a pack n play in my room, but my 2 sons share a room. I put them all down at the same time so I have some time to myself during the day or to get some chores done while they sleep or even take a nap too! I watch 1-2 other kids depending on the day (legal in WY without at daycare license-but make sure you check with CO to see what their requirements are if you ever decide to take on more than 1 kid), but usually get them all down at the same time-it takes some work when I have all 4, but definitely worth it for even the 15 min break I get!

I have two kids myself and watch 1 during the week for a little extra money. My girls share a room and I put the youngest down first and then my oldest goes in once she falls asleep. And I put the little boy I watch in my room in a pack n play. He doesn't always fall asleep right away like my girls do. He tends to play around for an hour sometimes longer.
Anyway, when my youngest was a baby she slept in my room in a bassinet or her swing so then I did what you do and stayed in my bedroom with her and then the little boy was in his pack n play in my living room. Now since he's so hard to get to sleep I would sometimes leave the TV on for him with the volume down super low, cause he can be quite loud when he's playing around, the TV kept him distracted and eventually he'd fall asleep. Currently all their ages are: my oldest 3 1/2 my youngest 15 months. and the little boy is 2 1/2. It's a good idea to keep them separated if that's what they are used too, otherwise it can just complicate things and make nap time shorter.
It may take a day or two to find what works best but you'll get it!
Good Luck!