Daycare naptime is SO long, is this normal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The solution is to keep her up later so that she naps. Kids need time with their parents.

Sounds like the solution to me. Mine only napped 45min at that age.

In defence of the daycare workers, they're probably getting to take their potty break, eat lunch like a human, do random chores etc during that time

This is not a "solution" if it pushes bedtime to 10 pm or later. That is not an appropriate bed time /sleep schedule for a young child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an almost 5.5 year old still in full day daycare. Her whole class is 5 (just missed K cutoff class) and they are all required by local DC regulation To nap/ be on a cot for no less than 2 hours. Talk about messing up nighttime sleep. It’s totally normal and can be frustrating but not much you can do to fight it.

do you have a link to this regulation? Or have you asked them to provide one? I was told the same thing in moco but no kne could ever show me a law in writing. It’s the daycares choice to make it 2 hours. For most 4 and 5 year olds that’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The solution is to keep her up later so that she naps. Kids need time with their parents.

Sounds like the solution to me. Mine only napped 45min at that age.

In defence of the daycare workers, they're probably getting to take their potty break, eat lunch like a human, do random chores etc during that time

This means the daycare is understaffed. Not legally necessarily, but practically. Not the workers' fault, but a point against the daycare itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an almost 5.5 year old still in full day daycare. Her whole class is 5 (just missed K cutoff class) and they are all required by local DC regulation To nap/ be on a cot for no less than 2 hours. Talk about messing up nighttime sleep. It’s totally normal and can be frustrating but not much you can do to fight it.

do you have a link to this regulation? Or have you asked them to provide one? I was told the same thing in moco but no kne could ever show me a law in writing. It’s the daycares choice to make it 2 hours. For most 4 and 5 year olds that’s ridiculous.

Agree, some daycares might make it a policy that kids have to be on cot for 2 hours (to help with staffing / keep business costs low). They are almost surely required to offer a rest period, but there is no way there is a law that says 4 and 5 year olds have to stay on a cot for 2 hours.

[Anonymous]

This is pretty normal. It was a problem with my kid until we hit kindergarten and there was no more nap time.

[Anonymous]

One of the worst things about daycare. Totally screwed up DS’s night sleep for years after.

[Anonymous]

In many states, staff ratios are allowed to be reduced during naptime. So that is another incentive to extend naptime unnecessarily to cut costs.

[Anonymous]

I am pretty sure our private preschool was 45 min... kids were there from 8:30 to 3 and it was good to have some quiet down time. In PK (4 and 5) they are not sleeping anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty normal. It was a problem with my kid until we hit kindergarten and there was no more nap time.

Same. And she was a never napper before entering daycare at three. Poor thing got reprimanded a lot.

[Anonymous]

Here is your actual Virginia legislation, just FYI:

AC40-185-380. Daily activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

...

2. Sleep or rest.

a. Centers operating five or more hours per day shall have a designated rest period for at least one hour but no more than two hours. [emphasis added]

(1) Cribs, cots, beds, or mats shall be used.

(2) After the first 30 minutes, children not sleeping may engage in quiet activities.

b. A child who falls asleep in a place other than his designated sleeping location may remain in that space if comfortable and safe.

c. Sleeping toddlers shall be individually checked every 30 minutes.

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter185/section380

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an almost 5.5 year old still in full day daycare. Her whole class is 5 (just missed K cutoff class) and they are all required by local DC regulation To nap/ be on a cot for no less than 2 hours. Talk about messing up nighttime sleep. It’s totally normal and can be frustrating but not much you can do to fight it.

It’s seriously messed up that you’re keeping your kid in this situation and convincing yourself it’s normal. A 5 year old doesn’t need any nap! It’s so lazy that you’re just accepting treating your kid like a toddler because it’s easier. Why not find a transitional kindergarten program? A nanny share? Something. At least try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is your actual Virginia legislation, just FYI:

AC40-185-380. Daily activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

...

2. Sleep or rest.

a. Centers operating five or more hours per day shall have a designated rest period for at least one hour but no more than two hours. [emphasis added]

(1) Cribs, cots, beds, or mats shall be used.

(2) After the first 30 minutes, children not sleeping may engage in quiet activities.

b. A child who falls asleep in a place other than his designated sleeping location may remain in that space if comfortable and safe.

c. Sleeping toddlers shall be individually checked every 30 minutes.

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter185/section380

And see also the provision that cuts required staff in half during nap time, which makes it tempting to use the full two hours:

D. During the designated rest period and the designated sleep period of evening and overnight care programs, the ratio of staff to children may be double the number of children to each staff required by subdivisions E 2 through 4 and 7 of this section if:

1. A staff person is within sight and sound of the resting/sleeping children;

2. Staff counted in the overall rest period ratio are within the building and available to ensure safe evacuation in an emergency; and

3. An additional person is present at the center to help, if necessary.

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter185/section350/

[Anonymous]

Aaaaah those damn lazy daycare workers. Why do they need to pee, take a lunch break, clean, plan or do paperwork during the day? I mean they get paid so much they should be happy to hold off and do it at night when they get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an almost 5.5 year old still in full day daycare. Her whole class is 5 (just missed K cutoff class) and they are all required by local DC regulation To nap/ be on a cot for no less than 2 hours. Talk about messing up nighttime sleep. It’s totally normal and can be frustrating but not much you can do to fight it.

It’s seriously messed up that you’re keeping your kid in this situation and convincing yourself it’s normal. A 5 year old doesn’t need any nap! It’s so lazy that you’re just accepting treating your kid like a toddler because it’s easier. Why not find a transitional kindergarten program? A nanny share? Something. At least try.

You get what you pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aaaaah those damn lazy daycare workers. Why do they need to pee, take a lunch break, clean, plan or do paperwork during the day? I mean they get paid so much they should be happy to hold off and do it at night when they get home.

As I already pointed out above, it is a matter of understaffing, not lazy workers. The workers are not responsible for understaffing, but the daycare is.