Ok most of this is just frustration rant, but I would like some input. My son is 14 months and at a Montessori school. They have 1 daytime nap and he naps between 2-2.5 hours every day there. However, the last 3 weekends at home, he wakes up almost exactly 40 minutes after I put him down. I have tried to get him back to sleep, to no avail. Any thoughts on this? I'm glad he is at least sleeping 40 minutes, but he is still pretty young for only a 40 minute daily nap. My daughter is almost 3 and we dropped her naps altogether around 2 1/2 because she fought us so hard on them. Why won't my children NAP? Is it mob mentality at school?
I think he's probably trained to think while at home he doesn't have to take a full nap but daycare trained him that while there he does! Do some basic sleep training because yes - he still needs much more nap than 40 mins a day! Much more!
No advice-- but you are not alone. My 4 year old still naps at "school" he naps for Grandma and Grandpa. He naps for the weekend sitter on the weekends I work.
I don't remember the last nap he took for me!
For a long time taking a nap WITH him worked, but no more....
As others have suggested, find out what his routine is at school and follow it exactly at home. I worked for awhile in a Montessori school and when we put the children down, from the babies to Kindergarten, one of the things we did was turn the lights off or down during lunch to set the mood. My daughter was in Kinder at the time and had stopped napping, but when I did this at home would take naps. My little guy will turn 3 in April and has shown some resistance to napping, but with the lights dimmed during lunch and his room darkened he still naps 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
are you following the same program as at school? He probably goes early right? so your getting him up early in the morning monday thru friday. so on the weekends are you still getting him up early? and is he getting the same amount of physical activity at home that he gets at school? If you are letting him sleep longer on the weekends and he is not getting the same physical activity then he is not sleepy. also he may not be sleeping that whole nap time at school. If it was me (ok get ready to boo here lol) I would put him down for the nap and then let him scream in the crib. Kids will do what you let them. He has trained you now to get him out after 40 minutes. Go in and lay him down and say night night.
I hear the same thing from my home daycare clients, kids of all ages.
Remember, too, that its not just a possible extra physical activity thing or the mob mentality, but being in a group all day, away from home, Mommy and Daddy, your doggie and whatever else, is MENTALLY taxing and exhausting as well. At home is THE comfort zone, and I am sure they do miss that when gone on the weekdays so something kicks in saying "get up and enjoy HOME while you can! Mommy is right outside that door today!"
Keep at it and stay consistent is my advice. Let them fuss a bit and see if they go back to sleep?
Good luck!
It may be because at school he might be more active so he will be more tired. Or for school you might wake him up earler than you do on weekends. Or if he's like mine there is too much going on at home he thinks he's going to miss something. My son would not nap well at that age unless me or my husband layed down with him.
Good Luck and God Bless!
It might be mob mentality but it also might be that he's a bit more worn out at school with all the activity. Try taking him outside for at least 30 minutes prior to nap time - fresh air does wonders for a good nap.
When my GD was small, I would take her outside for a walk before lunch. The fresh air, exercise and then lunch were the perfect recipe for a good nap!
I agree with people who say the extra stimulation and activity might be causing him to be more tired at school and take a longer nap. I have parents complain about this all the time. Their child will sleep at my house but not at home. I would make sure that you're following the same routine that they have at school. If you put him down later than they do, he might already be over tired and not sleep as long. And he might just know that when he wakes up you'll get him up if he fusses enough... Kids are smarties, even at 14 months.
