Sleep…
It’s the currency of parenting. Parents can become champions at running on an account that’s constantly in the red. And when your child finally settles into a consistent sleep schedule? That can feel like winning the lottery.
Few things feel more daunting as your child grows than changes to their nap schedule. We’ll be talking about some of those changes over your child’s first five years, and how Celebree School can help support you.
Finding the Wake Windows
The first year of your baby’s life is all about what schedule works best for them. Our infant teachers work hard to create an environment that can best match parents’ schedules. We do, however, experience some bumps along the way.
During the first few weeks of school, as babies adjust to a different environment, naps can look different. Per licensing requirements, infants must sleep in a crib and are moved there as soon as they fall asleep. This means that if a child falls asleep while being rocked by a teacher, they must be transferred to a crib right away. Helping infants adjust to this new routine can result in shorter naps for the first few weeks of school. We also commonly see a nap regression around four to five months, which usually lasts a few weeks. As children become more aware of their surroundings, they can be resistant to going down for a nap in fear of missing out. Typically, this can be a sign to lengthen wake windows and start transitioning toward two naps a day.
Dropping the Morning Nap
Most children are ready to begin dropping their morning nap around eleven months to a year old. This transition can feel daunting, especially if your child loves their naps, but it also opens the door for longer stretches of play, learning, and eventually one consolidated afternoon nap. The most successful transitions happen when home and school follow the same schedule. During the first week we recommend making sure to have engaging activities scheduled in the morning to help keep children busy. For most kids, after the first week they adjust to the new schedule and have taken their first step from infant to toddler!
Nap Length in the Toddler Years
Every person has unique sleep needs. Some people need ten hours of sleep every night without fail; others can run a marathon on six. Children are no exception. There will be kiddos who take a three-hour nap every day and still be asleep by 7:30 PM and others… let’s just say they view 9 PM as party time.
This difference in sleep needs can create a bit of a push-and-pull in the classroom as children grow. Some parents may not realize that licensing requires us to provide all children with an opportunity to rest. If they choose not to sleep, then we can offer them quiet activities to do on their cots, but if they do fall asleep then we are not supposed to disturb them.
If you are experiencing bedtime struggles, the first thing to do is talk with your child’s teacher and know the answer may take some time to find. Because we have to offer a rest time, if your child falls asleep easily, there may not be much we can do to prevent a nap. There’s also only so much we can do to shorten a nap, especially if your child is a hard sleeper. Trying different routines, such as planning some gross motor activities to help burn some energy after nap and before bed, can allow some much-needed relief for parents.
When Does Nap Time End?
The Department of Human Services (DHS) requires us to offer rest time to all children in our care ages five and under. Some children will use that time to rest until the very day they graduate. For others, nap time ends as early as age three. Then there are some who decide they’re done with nap time… but nap time isn’t quite done with them.
When a child begins choosing not to nap, how they respond to the day helps guide our approach. If your child is still happily participating in afternoon and evening activities, then all is well. We provide quiet activities during nap time, and we encourage discussions at home about how we can be quiet to help our friends who are napping. No one expects a young child to sit on their cot, perfectly still, not making a sound for two hours. This provides an opportunity to teach empathy and kindness by discussing how we can be courteous to others in our classroom.
If, however, we notice significant behavior changes after nap, such as crankiness, physicality with friends, or lethargy, then we will check in with parents to see if we think dropping naps is appropriate or if we think that this is just a phase we need to work through. For children who still need that rest, we’ll continue offering support through back rubs and delaying books or toys during the first thirty minutes to encourage sleep.
Partnership, Patience, and Trust Through Every Sleep Transition
Nap transitions can feel exhausting, unpredictable, and sometimes downright discouraging, but they are also a normal and important part of your child’s development. At Celebree School, we approach each change with patience, observation, and collaboration, knowing that no two children and no two sleep journeys, are the same. Together, we navigate the tired days, celebrate the small wins, and trust that with time, consistency, and care, rest will come again.
