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Welcome to Merrydale private day nursery
How Nurseries Manage Naps - Including Top Tips to Help with Sleep Routine
Parents and carers, no doubt, have many worries when they send their little ones to nursery. One of those concerns may be based around how nurseries manage naps for babies and toddlers, and whether their little one will get the rest they need.
It's completely understandable to worry about your toddler or baby's nap schedule at a nursery setting. The truth is many parents are pleasantly surprised by how well their children adapt to nursery sleep routines.
At Merrydale Private Day Nursery, we understand that good daytime sleep is crucial for your child's development, mood, and overall well-being. That's why we've developed a sleep policy that respects individual needs, while providing the consistency, comfort, and safety every child deserves.
Do Babies and Toddlers Nap at Nursery?
Absolutely – it's a fundamental part of quality childcare.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sleep guidance recognises that adequate rest is essential for children's physical and emotional development. However, nursery sleep routines look very different depending on your child's age and individual needs.
According to Huckleberry, a typical nap routine for babies and toddlers may look like the following:
- Newborn babies (0-5 months) need a lot of sleep. Naps can vary between 30 minutes to 2 hours. By around the age of 5 months, your baby may follow a more predictable rhythm and cycle.
- Babies (6-12 months) tend to have 2-3 semi-predictable naps during the day, averaging 2-3 hours each.
- Toddlers (12-24 months) usually transition to one longer afternoon nap, typically lasting 1-2 hours. Or perhaps 2 shorter naps. At times, if naps have been cut short, an earlier bedtime may be needed to prevent overtiredness.
- Older toddlers and pre-schoolers (2-3 years) may still benefit from an afternoon, though some children naturally drop this nap around age 3. They may also take longer to settle for a nap at this age and would benefit from 10-15 minutes of wind-down.
The important thing is that we work with your baby’s/toddler’s nap schedule at nursery, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
How Nurseries Support Daytime Sleep
Creating the right environment for sleep is extremely important for babies and toddlers to feel safe and fall into a peaceful nap. Experienced nursery practitioners understand this completely. At Merrydale Private Day Nursery we carefully constructed an area to promote rest. These spaces have blackout blinds/curtains, comfortable temperature control, and aim for minimal noise disruption. There will be a designated person to monitor their sleep throughout the session. In addition, your child's key person plays a crucial role in helping them settle.
At Merrydale Private Day Nursery, we constantly support new babies when settling into the nursery to ensure they feel comfortable and safe to support their sleep schedule. This allows the child’s key person to become familiar with the baby’s sleeping routine and position, to learn about their individual sleep cues.
Respecting home routines is incredibly important. If your baby sleeps with a particular blanket, uses a dummy, or settles better to specific music, it’s important to let us know.
We at Merrydale Private Day Nursery ask parents to complete an ‘all about me’ when settling into the baby room and again when transitioning into the preschool room. We will also keep an open dialogue to ensure we are supporting your child with their most up to date sleep routine. This allows us to understand your child’s needs better and to provide comfort for both you as a parent and your child.
Sleep logging and communication via the Famlyapp will keep you informed about how your child is resting during the day. You'll know exactly when your little one slept and for how long. This information may help you plan evening routines and gives you peace of mind that your child's sleep needs are being met.
Our sleep policy at Merrydale Private Day Nursery has been created following advice from The Cot Death Society and Lullaby Trust.
What If My Baby Struggles to Nap at Nursery?
This is incredibly common, especially during the first few weeks. Your baby is simply adjusting to a new environment, new sounds, and new people. The transition period can be challenging for both you and your child. Some babies adapt within days, while others may take several weeks to feel completely comfortable napping in their new environment. This is perfectly normal.
We have experienced staff at Merrydale Private Day Nursery who have gentle, proven methods for helping children to settle. They might use rhythmic patting, soft singing, or simply staying nearby until your child feels secure enough to rest. The key is building trust and creating positive associations with sleep time at nursery.
It is vital during the adjustment period that parents share what works at home – does your baby prefer to be rocked, patted, or left to self-settle? Do they need complete darkness or a nightlight?
The more information you can provide, the better we can replicate successful strategies and routines.
Tips for Parents Worried About Nursery Naps
Here are some practical strategies to help ease this transition:
· Share detailed information about your home nap routine with your child's key person.
· Pack familiar sleep items such as a comforter (if age appropriate)
· Allow adjustment time and try not to worry if the first few days don't go perfectly.
· Maintain consistency with sleep schedules at weekends and evenings where possible.
· Stay in regular communication with your child's key person and notify them of any changes in sleep patterns, illness, or anything else you think may influence their napping.
· Trust the process – nursery practitioners have helped hundreds of children develop healthy sleep habits, and they have a wealth of experience to draw upon.
Merrydale Private Day Nursery Approach to Rest and Sleep
At Merrydale Private Day Nursery, we believe that every child deserves rest that's tailored to their individual needs.
Our child-led approach means we follow your little one's natural sleep rhythms and routines. If your baby shows signs of tiredness, we respond. If your toddler isn't ready for their usual nap time, we will offer quiet activities until they naturally feel sleepy. Or, if your child does not nap in the daytime anymore, then we will ensure to continue with their developmental needs in the way of playing and learning.
Our trained practitioners understand child development and how sleep needs to change as children grow. Each key person will get to know your child’s-tired signals and will use gentle settling techniques, adapting approaches based on what works for each individual child.
· Sleep times are shared with parents for them to understand when and how long their child has napped at nursery.
· Flexibility is key – we never force children to sleep, but we always offer the opportunity for rest.
At Merrydale Private Day Nursery, your child's rest, comfort, and well-being are always our top priorities. We understand that entrusting someone else with your child's sleep routine requires tremendous trust, and we don't take that responsibility lightly. Every child is different, every family has unique needs, and every sleep journey requires patience and understanding with the inevitable changes. What never changes is our commitment to working with you to ensure your little one gets the rest they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
FAQs
Do nurseries follow my baby’s home nap schedule?
Absolutely – nurseries aim to mirror home routines as closely as possible to ensure babies and toddlers feel comfortable in their environment.
What if my baby doesn’t sleep well in new environments?
That’s common. Staff use familiar routines and gentle comfort to help your baby settle over time. Open communication is the key to supporting your child with napping.
Will nursery naps affect night-time sleep?
Possibly at first, but routines usually balance out. By maintaining consistency, both at nursery and at home, your child will find their own nap routine.
How do nurseries ensure a safe sleep environment?
Nurseries follow EYFS guidelines, including safe sleep practices, supervised rest, and age-appropriate sleeping equipment. At Merrydale Private Day Nursery, our sleep policy is based on The Cot Death Society and Lullaby Trust.
What happens if my child doesn’t want to nap?
That’s no problem. We will read your child’s cues and assist with their needs, this may be quiet rest time, reading a story to your child, etc.