Sleep when starting nursery
Does starting nursery affect sleep?
If your Small has just started nursery (or about to!) I’m not going to tell you not to stress about their sleep.
Because it’s a big change for both of you and it’s totally normal for you to worry about how they’re going to nap at nursery and what’s going to happen to their sleep at home.
I’ve very recently been here myself and the worry is real!
But I’m going to give you reassurance, as it's kind of my thing!
I know it feels like they will never take a nap at nursery. Especially if they’ve never napped solo or in a cot before!
I know the worry they’ll get so overtired at nursery that they won’t sleep well at night.
And I’ll be honest (as always!) that the answer to 'does starting nursery affect sleep' is...it might. Your Small *may* struggle to nap at nursery. They might skip a nap or it may be much shorter than it would be at home.
Their sleep at night might be unsettled as starting nursery could affect their sleep...
These changes are to be expected and all part of the process of settling into a new routine and childcare setting.
As I always say in my Care it Out® approach; change is strange!
However, these changes are usually only temporary and very likely to settle again if you give yourselves time.
While starting nursery can affect sleep, I promise that your Small *will* take a nap at nursery.
And IF you find their sleep goes to shiz chances are it will settle when they’re more settled
Does Starting Nursery Affect Sleep?
All you need to know about how starting nursery affects sleep
It’s logical to think what they need to nap with you is what they’re going to need at nursery to nap.
Even the thought of your Small napping at nursery may seem bonkers!
But they’re often super adaptable and can have different boundaries with different places and people.
It might take time. It might look very different to how you would do it at home. However, chances are that nursery will get them to nap.
And you will think what magic they must have!
To get your Small to nap at nursery you don’t need to:
Change naps to be in the cot
Stop breastfeeding to sleep
Teach them to fall asleep solo
Even if you did these at home because you wanted to it’s not a guarantee they will then do it at nursery.
How to help them nap at nursery
There are honestly no hacks for nursery naps, but these tips might help:
Give them lots of time. Nursery is so novel and exciting to begin with but once it starts to feel more familiar sleep usually settles.
If they use a sleeping bag for naps at home take one for them to use at nursery
Introduce a comforter. It doesn’t always cut it and it’s not a guarantee but having a familiar object that smells like you/home can help
No nap at nursery!
I know it can feel like the end of the world (and your sleep!) when they’ve not napped at nursery.
But it’s totally out of your control and there’s honestly not much you can do about it once it’s happened.
I take the approach of what happens at nursery stays at nursery and tomorrow is a brand new day and another chance to nap at nursery.
How to help their sleep at home after they start nursey
If they fall asleep on the way home or they’re hanging it’s always ok to give them a short nap of 10/15 mins and push bedtime later if that works for you.
Try to stick to their usual bedtime if you can.
But if you need to bring bedtime earlier for everyone’s sanity try bringing it 20/30 minutes earlier
Have lots of cuddles and closeness to reconnect before starting the bedtime routine
Try to stick to their usual bedtime routine if you can
Be sure to speed it up or leave something out if getting them to sleep ASAP is the priority.
If you feel that you need 1-2-1 support about your specific circumstances, have a look at my Sleep Services.
Explore Care it Out e-courses to help guide you through your infant sleep questions - with care.
If you need any other infant sleep advice, hop over to my Sleep Shop for affordable and easily-digestible Infant Sleep e-courses, or for a 121 service, take a look at my Sleep Services.