2 1/2 year old daughter is taking 3 hour naps in childcare?

Question

My daughter is taking 3 hour naps at her childcare provider's house. Problem is, she seems to be extending those naps into four hour sleep sessions. She can sleep through the night on her own when she's worn out, but lately she's been getting up at 5am and going to bed at 10pm. Tonight, she went to bed at 10pm and woke up at midnight. We weren't able to get her back to sleep. Go figure, she slept for 4 hours this afternoon. 

Here's my issue: I'd like to just ask my childcare provider to slowly reduce DD's nap time from 3+ hours to around 2. We do that on the weekend and it makes a big difference. Thing is, DD can throw a huge fit if she's woken up early. Like screaming, hitting, hysterical fit. I don't know if it's right to put that on my childcare provider. On the other hand, my childcare provider might be letting her sleep thinking we're not keeping her in any sort of schedule at home. In other words, we're working against each other without realizing it. What should I do?

Ivy has Twin Boys! · Accepted Answer

You can let her know the long naps are giving her a problem sleeping at night, and ask if she can reduce nap time to 2 hours.

Nothing wrong with bringing up the problem with her. I don't know your providers details and if she can accomodate you, but nothing wrong with bringing it up and then going from there.

My guys are 2.5 and just now starting to reduce from 3 hours to closer to 2 hour naps.

I don't agree with 2 hours energizing and 3 hours being real sleep, but if 2 hours works better for YOUR schedule, you can recommend that.

momof3boys · Answer

By 2 1/2 she should be on a schedule and the day care provider should be doing 1 nap a day after lunch for no more than 2 hrs.  Let the Daycare provider know that you do have her on a schedule and that she is having issues with sleeping at night if she naps to much during the day so to avoid getting nights and days confused you want her to only have 1 nap after lunch for no more than 2 hrs.  At first yes it may be frustrating for your daughter and hard work for the care provider but they need to respect your wishes and work with you as the parent.  I worked in different daycares and never were kids that age group allowed 3 hr naps we had it set from lunch to no later than 2 pm for nap time.  By 3 the kids were use to 1 short nap every day.  They still need the nap usually just not a 3 hr nap as 3 hrs re-energizes the body and is more like they slept instead of just napped.

Canadian Snowgirl · Answer

I would definitely speak to her, 3-4hours is a LONG nap for a child that age.  Let her know that her nap is interfering with her night-time sleep, and ask her to let her only sleep for 2 hours maximum.  WHy would you ask her to slowly reduce it?  Just do it.  


"I don't know if it's right to put that on my childcare provider."
You are paying your child care provider to care for your child, no?  She is not doing it for her own convenience.  It's her job.

Anonymous · Answer

Talk to your childcare provider. 

I wouldn't be pratting about with "slowly". I'd ask her to wake her up after two hours.

I'm sure a professional childcarer has dealt with a screaming 2 year old before.

Anonymous · Answer

I would make sure that she isn't giving her Benedryl milk. Jeez. That's a LONG nap for a 2.5 year old.

2 1/2 year old daughter is taking 3 hour naps in childcare?

5 Answers