One thing you need to do now is get your child down to one nap per day. When she goes to child care the toddler classroom's are required to have a daily schedule where they post what they'll be doing at a certain time and if the licensing worker comes in for an inspection and the class isn't doing that activity they have to be able to explain why. It's not always bad for instance they could be outside planting flowers for their mothers instead of doing circle time, they're obviously doing a class activity and not just blowing off the schedule.
A toddler's day is something like this. 7:30-8:15 eat breakfast (If they serve it) then go to class with their friends. They'll probably have circle time then an activity then do some indoor playtime. They'll go outside too. It's required in Oklahoma that every child go outside every day unless it poses an extreme hazard for them to go out. Snow and rain do not pose an extreme hazard to kids health.
Then when they're done with playing they'll settle down to eat lunch with diaper changes and hand washing. Then they'll eat and go to their cots and lay down. Most will be asleep in moments. Some will need help but all will eventually go to sleep. The teachers usually put on soft sleepy-time music and they'll sit and pat or rub the toddlers backs. They darken the rooms to a point but they still have to be able to see the faces of kids across the room.
Then they'll sleep for at least an hour and a half because they're tired and they are just ready to do it. They get used to it.
When they get up they eat a snack then wash up. Going outside again is always fun and doing more table activities is too. Afternoons are usually relaxed and just fun for this age group.
So getting your little one down every day after lunch is important. The child care center will do this. They have to answer to the state and if you don't like it they'll tell you that's too bad, they can lose their license if the worker comes in and a child is laying over on a cot asleep not participating in class. For the babies it is different of course. Home or facility, the rules on napping is often the same.
Getting that taken care of and that nap consistent will sure help your future child care staff enjoying your child instead of breaking them of habits they simply can't do in child care.
If you are a low income family you could get child care assistance for your cost so you can work. In Oklahoma a family of 4 can make a good income and still get a bunch of their child care paid by the state.
So google your states income qualifications for receiving child care assistance. If you can get any at all it's worth it.
