Peace, cleanliness, and routine
Toddlers usually nap after lunch. But if a child has not slept well at night or is not feeling well and is tired, there is always room for them to nap or rest earlier. Our approach is always to consider the needs of your child. Although it can be a bit of a puzzle at times because we do not want children to wake each other up.
"I'm not tired"
Not all toddlers nap during the day anymore, which is no problem at all! If your child does get tired, there are often cots available. Or we find a spot where your child can relax or perhaps read a book. If your toddler does not want to lie down any more during daytime, relaxing on the couch or playing a quiet game at the table are also moments of rest.
Just resting for a moment
And that resting is very important. Your toddler's brain is like a sponge, constantly making new connections with each experience. And there are plenty of experiences, especially at day care. Your child learns from those experiences! It's important to let the brain rest occasionally to process all those experiences and make room for new impressions.
Staying awake
Sometimes parents ask us to keep their child awake during nap time. For example, because he/she does not nap at home anymore or because the parents are afraid their child will not sleep well at night. In such cases, we sometimes still advise a nap, especially if we see that your child needs it. A day at day care can be much more intense than a day at home. There's a good chance your child needs that nap to go to bed with a rested mind in the evening. It is harder to fall asleep with a head full of thoughts.
"I'm sleeping upstairs!"
Napping in bed? At our locations, we use different types of beds. One of them is the bunk bed with a railing where both babies and toddlers can sleep. Babies sleep in the top bunk, while older children sleep in the bottom one. Especially toddlers see it as their own little "fort."
A made-up bed
In that "fort" each child has their own bedding, providing a familiar and fresh sleeping environment. A stuffed animal and pacifier from home are also welcome in bed. We remove hairpins and jewelry for safety. Have a nice sleep!