Did your 3yo pre-school/daycare support diapers for naps?

[Anonymous]

My daughter will be 3 early next year and is currently in a 2s preschool classroom. She is ready for moving up to a 3s room in every way except that she is not potty trained during naps (still wakes up wet, even if she goes to the bathroom just before the nap/diaper). They have tried having her nap in underwear, but that just leads to wet sheets and blankets.

Is it normal for 3s age preschool rooms to require no diapers for nap? Am I correct in my understanding that potty training while asleep is not something that can really be "taught" so much as it's something you're developmentally ready for?

My daycare is otherwise wonderful and I think this is probably a fight I can fight and win - but just want a gut check first. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would ask what the reason is for the policy. Is it for rations, staff training, licensing or arbitrary? Take it from there.

[Anonymous]

Our kids were in a half day pre-school when 2.5. Some kids were in diapers still I think but not most and they asked kids to be at least actively training. Nap was a non-issue because school ended before lunch.

Then, at 3, they were in full time school (DC public school) where they were expected to be fully trained. An accident here or there in the PreK3 classroom was expected but they would not have dealt with diapers at naptime on a regular basis.

I would guess that true pre-school and daycare (sounds like that is the better description for your setting) might differ in what you can ask for or expect.

[Anonymous]

At my nephews daycare the 3 yr olds had to put on and take off pull-ups by themselves. It was a Bright Horizons. At DD’s preschool the teachers put on pull-ups for the one little boy at nap time.

[Anonymous]

For up to 30 months the ratio is 1 to 4. So a 2s classroom is usually staffed this way.

Then the ratio drops to 1 to 8 over 30 months. So a 3s and "older/ready" 2s classroom is usually staffed with a much different model. Part of the rationale is that the 30+ month kids don't need diapering. They aren't set up for staff to step aside and diaper kids.

[Anonymous]

I think she could do a pull-up by herself - that’s a good idea

[Anonymous]

Of course!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she could do a pull-up by herself - that’s a good idea

Yes, if she can change herself during the bathroom break they do before nap, then that doesn't interrupt the staffing or flow/scheduling of workers.

[Anonymous]

At my daycare, every kid has to be potty trained, which means go to bathroom by themselves (pull up/down pants & underwear without help), wipe their butt after #2, and no diaper/pull up even at naptime, before they can move up to 3 year old classroom. It is about the teacher:student ratio, 2's classroom is 1:6, and 3's classroom is 1:12. I have been there, caused me a lot of stress doing potty training at home & working with daycare staffs back then. Fortunately, my kid is finally potty trained fully including nighttime as well a month before he turns 3.

[Anonymous]

It ought to be fine that she wears a pullup that she can do (mostly) herself. I direct a full day program for 2-5 year olds and our 3s room absolutely has some children in pullups for nap. It's not something you can "train" - they have to be ready. And for some, worrying about peeing during nap keeps them from falling asleep, which isn't what you want at all.

She should only need help tying her shoes.

Try that with your childcare program - having soaking wet sheets and a cot (and the rug underneath, ugh) is worse than a pullup at naptime!

[Anonymous]

I think it's a ridiculous requirement considering that dryness while sleeping is almost entirely biologically mediated. Our center doesn't require kids to even be potty trained to move to the 3s/4s room. That requirement suggests they care more about what's easy for them than having a clue about typical child development.

[Anonymous]

Yes our center requires that the 3s class be fully potty trained (nap times included) to move up out of the 2s class. I actually like this because the classroom doesn't smell anymore (yay no more diapers!) but my kids were early potty trainers. I get its hard if your kids are later potty trainers.

[Anonymous]

My son was one of the youngest in his 3s class and he wore pull-ups at nap until he was almost 4. He was responsible to get them out of his cubby and put them on, after nap he took it off and got dressed again.

[Anonymous]

My son wore a pull up to nap at age 3. He put it under his underwear so after nap he could pull down his pants and underwear and rip the pull up off. Faster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my daycare, every kid has to be potty trained, which means go to bathroom by themselves (pull up/down pants & underwear without help), wipe their butt after #2, and no diaper/pull up even at naptime, before they can move up to 3 year old classroom. It is about the teacher:student ratio, 2's classroom is 1:6, and 3's classroom is 1:12. I have been there, caused me a lot of stress doing potty training at home & working with daycare staffs back then. Fortunately, my kid is finally potty trained fully including nighttime as well a month before he turns 3.

This would be way too stressful for me! It doesn't even sound developmentally appropriate!