Afternoon Spot at Nursery School Post Reply

[Bluebird27]

Hi All!

Looking to tap into the collective wisdom here with a little dilemma we are faced with starting pre-school.
We've just been offered an afternoon spot at a great school, but my daughter will just barely be 2 years old at that point and Im concerned about her losing her afternoon nap. The session runs form 12:45 - 4pm and there will be no opportunity to nap. Is she too young to give up a nap already?
Just wondering if any of you have had to face this problem with your 2 year old and how it worked out.

The nursery did suggest that I could just take 3 afternoons a week and then she could nap on the days that she doesn't have pre-school - but then I feel like that just throws the whole routine/sleep cycle off balance, do you think?

Your thoughts and experiences much appreciated and welcomed.

[Roo]

I don't really think this would work very well or be a good idea if she's only just 2. My little boy definitely needed his nap at that age and I think this would mess up the rest of the week. She'd probably be so tired by the time you picked her up you'd be in tantrum territory!
Perhaps keep looking for other places elsewhere unless you really need her to go and don't have any other option.

[Rodent]

Unless you really need the place, I wouldn't do it.
My daughter is at full day nursery and still naps most afternoons and she is nearly 2 1/2. On the odd day she doesn't, she is very tired, and can still nap for 2 1/2 hours on a Sat or Sun if she has missed more than 1 nap in the week......

I'd be tempted to ask them to put you on the list for a morning space and wait it out.....

[MGMidget]

I had exactly that dilemma with my older child (perhaps the same nursery!) and I turned the place down. I never regretted it and found something that suited me very well at another 'outstanding' nursery. If that hadn't worked out I had other nurseries booked to start a year later when my son would be just turning 3.

If your daughter is only just two you could do the same and wait until she has just turned 3 to start at a different nursery next Sept if you can't get something suitable elsewhere now. In the meantime you could look at some of the playgroups which allow you to drop off for a couple of hours in the morning one or more times a week or just take her to 'stay and play' type playgroups.

[2009Kat]

One of my children was fine at 2 with no nap, the other one wasn't. Your daughter may change in the next year or so..... One pro for afternoon nursery is that usually the sessions are less popular so there may be less children so a calmer environment and you have time to do other activities in the morning.
However, I sent both mine at just 2 to part time nursery and frankly looking back there was no real need (like pp says there are playgroups etc...)........

[TheFruityTreeNursery]

It can be difficult to know how your child will adapt at that age. Some children manage very well without an afternoon nap if they are engaged, and it can sometimes even help with a swift bedtime (if they are not overtired)!

If you did want to consider a different nursery, we have morning sessions available. The Fruity Tree Nursery is a brand new nursery on Malwood Road in Clapham South - is this location convenient for you?

We are holding an open morning on Saturday, so please feel free to come and have a coffee, meet the team and have a look around. As a brand new nursery, we currently offer morning sessions with a view to introducing afternoon sessions next year.

Starting nursery school is such an exciting time for them (and for you watching them learn) - I'm sure she will enjoy it wherever you choose.

Good luck!

Nichola

nichola@fruitytree.co.uk

http://www.fruitytree.co.uk

The Fruity Tree Nursery
(Located in the hall of the Church of the Ascension, Balham Hill)
Malwood Road
London SW12 8EN

FruityTreeSmall.png (32.33 KiB) Viewed 1658 times

[pepper]

I had the same problem with my girl and her naps. I had to collect my older child from the nursery at 12.30 so I changed her routine to have a nap from 10 until 12, so after that she was fine until 7. The only first few evenings she was tired but after that she was fine. Think about to change her routine instead of dropping naps.

[ClaphamNewMum]

We're in the same position (maybe the same nursery!) although our daughter will be older, a bit over 2 yrs 9 months. Based on another thread on here, people were very positive about afternoon slots at such a good pre-school but now I'm wondering if even 2.75 yrs is old enough for an afternoon slot?

[simplyme]

An afternoon slot can be tricky as its not a great time of day. Even if theyre fine with no naps, going about normal morning activites and then nursery in the afternoon can be too much. But at the same time low key mornings every morning aren't always possible.
The just doing 3 days and then napping the other days is a possibility. It shouldn't mess her around too much as I guess if she naps at wkends and the 2 home days then she will just associate naps with at home days and no naps with school days. Maybe just extend her naps on the days at home. Tbh at just turned 2 I would choose not to send to nursery over sending them afternoons