How to Get Baby to Nap at Daycare

[LG19]

I recently started a 5 month old baby 3 days a week. We are struggling with naps. At home, he either sleeps in his swing or mom holds him. I obviously can't do that here. We've made slight progress since he's started. He now will fall asleep on his own in the crib after about 10 minutes of crying, but he only stays sleeping for 20-30 minutes, then he's up. Do I let him cry after such a short nap to see if he'll go back to sleep, or get him up? I know it's also hard because he's only here 3 days a week. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated! Thank you 😊

[Valerie928]

At 5 months old it's really hit or miss. They sleep when they want for however long they want. It's too young to set up a really reliable nap routine.

[Cat Herder]

I agree. There is no set nap schedule until 12 months, here.

When they look sleepy I put them in the crib, on their back. If they are still awake in 20 minutes, they go right back down on the floor with toys. Rinse/Repeat as needed.

[LG19]

His grandma watches him the other 2 days and she let's him sleep on her or on his tummy and he sleeps great (and for hours).

I guess I'm just feeling a little discouraged like he's never going to sleep well here because I can't do either of those options for his sleep here. I feel like he needs consistency.

[GirlMomma]

Ask the family to not allow grandma to do that.

[Cat Herder]

Belly sleeping and swing/carseat sleeping are both known to cause infant death. Unless they have been under a rock for 30 years, they should know better.

If they are that willfully neglectful, I don't know if I'd be willing to risk keeping this infant.

[Blackcat31]

Belly sleeping and swing/carseat sleeping are both known to cause infant death. Unless they have been under a rock for 30 years, they should know better.

If they are that willfully neglectful, I don't know if I'd be willing to risk keeping this infant.

Exactly! I won’t participate in harmful family practices

[Rockgirl]

It’s surprising how many people don’t know about the dangers of allowing babies to sleep in a car seat, swing, etc. They are dumbfounded when I tell them I can’t let babies sleep in a seat, and why. It’s usually my peers, who haven’t had experience with babies in years. New parents really have no excuse, though!

[Coloradoprovider]

All prospective families are given 4-5 copies of these free materials. I tell them to give to anyone who cares for the baby. Safe to Sleep® Campaign Materials | Safe to Sleep (nih.gov)

[Pestle]

My supply list includes a short paragraph about setting kids up for successful naps, by not building sleep associations with loveys and other unsafe items that I cannot and will not provide. Most parents understand that I cannot hold their children during naps and don't expect it of me, but they can't understand why their children will not nap here versus in the elaborate and rigid process of cuddles and stuffies and bedding they create at home.

The generation gap on this is vast. Since I knit and crochet, I am in Facebook groups where I frequently see older women (70s+) showing sleep cocoons and Moses baskets they have made for great-grandchildren. Then the young folks say that's not advisable, and everybody fights. It's like the indoor/outdoor cat debate. The comment that always gets me is "I raised three babies and all of them are healthy."