Will my baby be able to nap at daycare without his/her regular routine?

Many parents wonder if their baby will be able to nap properly when they enter nursery or kindergarten, and if not, how it might affect nighttime sleep. Most likely, nighttime sleep will not be affected by these changes, as nighttime and daytime sleep use different parts of the brain. However, sometimes naps in a new environment or changes to your little one's bedtime routine can affect his or her nighttime sleep. If your baby is experiencing sleep problems due to this change, here are some tips to help.

Safety in the nursery or kindergarten during naps

It is important to understand that in daycare centers, safety is the top priority and educators must consider not only the protection of one child, but of several babies at different stages of development and with different physical needs.

To keep all little ones as safe as possible, a general policy of not allowing certain external elements makes sense, such as the use of sleeping bags , white noise, or total darkness. This is where you might wonder if your baby will sleep well without those elements they are used to.

In kindergartens, this is something they are used to dealing with every day. Therefore, they are able to find ways to help all babies sleep well, without having the same routines they have at home . Plus, you will be surprised to see how adaptable your little one is.

Still, if your baby is having trouble with his naps in the nursery or daycare and you see that it is affecting his nighttime sleep, there is always something that can be done to help him.

So what do you do when naps at daycare are affecting your little one's nighttime sleep ?

1. Does your baby have a consistent pattern of sleep debt due to naps in the nursery?

Over time, babies who go to kindergarten actually manage to take naps very well. Although at first, some children may sleep fewer hours in a new environment.

If your baby is overtired, he won't sleep well at night and this will affect his naps the next day. Here are two ways to help him :

• Early bedtime: Because nighttime sleep is more restorative than daytime sleep, an earlier bedtime is the best way to help a tired baby.

We know that offering a nap when you get home from school may seem like a good option, but this will make bedtime very late. It is better to skip that nap and put your baby to bed at 7:00 pm.

If your little one is six months or younger , you may need to offer that nap, plus an earlier bedtime.

• Share with your child's kindergarten teacher the things that help your baby get a good nap at home: their nap routine, sleep windows, environment, etc.

2. Is your little one sensitive to noises at bedtime?

If your baby is one of those who wakes up easily with outside noises , you can ask the preschool teachers if it is possible to bring their portable white noise machine . We have experiences where they have allowed it, even seeing better results in the naps of their little ones.

3. Is your baby sleeping a lot in the garden?

A baby who sleeps a lot during the day may have trouble sleeping at night. Most of his sleep needs will have already been met and he may be hungrier for the calories he didn't consume during the day. This is what we call reverse cycle.

The best way to deal with this is to talk to your baby's educator. Share your concerns and what sleep windows work best at home.

4. Did your baby go from two to one nap too soon?

The early transition to a nap can cause some sleep issues. If your little one is struggling with this transition, there are ways you can help:

• Early bedtime: It's better to offer an earlier bedtime than to deal with rough nights and waking up too early in the morning.

• Ask about daycare options for your baby to have a short nap in the morning. For babies who aren't ready for this transition, a mid-morning nap can make a big difference.

Remember that you can always talk to the educators about sleeping habits, routines and ways to get your baby to sleep .