My baby cannot sleep with lights on in the childcare

[Anonymous]

How can infants sleep with lights on in the childcare room? My baby sleeps a few min per day. Is it normal or only in my center? I feel even in jail they turn lights off for the sleep time. Sleep is vital for infants. I just want to hear from other parents.

[Anonymous]

My baby sleeps with the natural light coming to the door. He's a good sleeper, eats a lot

[Anonymous]

I meant windows

[Anonymous]

Is that a Center? Sounds awful. Find a small family daycare

[Anonymous]

Sleeping only a few minutes a day is not normal, but (most) babies adjust to daycare sleep conditions just fine. How long has it been? The expectation that all the babies sleep at the same time and it’s pitch black is not realistic no.

[Anonymous]

Babies don’t naturally need dark to sleep. Someone taught him that. Who? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sleeping only a few minutes a day is not normal, but (most) babies adjust to daycare sleep conditions just fine. How long has it been? The expectation that all the babies sleep at the same time and it’s pitch black is not realistic no.

Or healthy. Babies need to follow their own rhythms. It’s why black out shades and white noise machines, despite the fact that they seem to help a little in the short run are so terrible for babies.

[Anonymous]

“Terrible” is a little strong. Try some empathy maybe pp?

[Anonymous]

I can’t remember when mine started to need darkness for naps but it was maybe a year?

[Anonymous]

How long have they been there and how old? I think they will adjust. Maybe start leaving the door open or letting a little light in at home too. We never did black out curtains for just that reason.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, this is why we did a nanny share. Sure, lots of kids adjust, but my oldest was so finicky about sleep (and still, years later, generally has a pretty finicky personality) I just knew he’d never adjust. And sleep is so, so important.

I’d give it a few weeks and if your baby hasn’t adjusted, consider a different childcare arrangement (nanny share, in-home daycare, etc)

[Anonymous]

Can you ask why they don’t turn the lights off? They would still have natural light coming in from the windows, but at least they wouldn’t have a harsh overhead light.

[Anonymous]

They don't turn the lights off because in infant rooms the babies are not on the same schedule. This is why we never did blackout curtains or sound machines and put our baby to nap in the chaos of our house from Day 1 - because if you plan to use daycare (which we do, so no shame there!) the baby needs to be able to sleep through anything. The supports that are often sold to parents to get good sleep (room darkening, noise machines, etc.) in the end hurt more than help. Start by making adjustments at home so that all sleep doesn't happen under these conditions, because if you use a center it is not possible for that to happen.

[Anonymous]

Childcare center is saying that it’s regulations, so teachers can see babies. But I think I it is very cruel not to turn lights off a little bit. Baby sleep, but only 10-15 min and wake up. I can’t sleep with light on, how can babies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Childcare center is saying that it’s regulations, so teachers can see babies. But I think I it is very cruel not to turn lights off a little bit. Baby sleep, but only 10-15 min and wake up. I can’t sleep with light on, how can babies?

You are not a baby. Babies nap multiple times per day in daylight.