Hey there, fellow parents! If you’ve been working hard on sleep training, you know how important consistency is. But what happens when your little one spends part of their day at daycare? Will all your progress go out the window? Not necessarily! The key is getting your daycare on board with your sleep plan. Here’s how to make it work.
1. Start the Conversation Early with Daycare
As soon as you choose a daycare (or if your child is already in one), have a chat with the caregivers about your little one’s sleep routine. Let them know about nap schedules and how you usually settle your child to sleep. A friendly, open discussion goes a long way in setting expectations.
2. Write It Down
Daycare staff juggle multiple kids with different needs, so a quick reference guide can be super helpful. Write up a simple sleep plan (or show them your personalized Smart Night Sleep plan) with key details: nap times, preferred sleep environment, and your chosen method of response. Keeping it short and sweet makes it easier for them to follow.
3. Explain Your Sleep Training Approach
Not all caregivers are familiar with sleep training methods. Give them a quick rundown of the approach that you've chosen and why consistency is so important. If your baby is used to falling asleep on their own, make sure they know so they don’t rock or pat them to sleep out of habit.
While not all daycares can stick exactly to the approach you've chosen, you can encourage them to give your child a few minutes to try to go back to sleep, even if it means that they need to intervene a bit to help them to go back to sleep.
Please know that your child can learn the difference between what daycare does and what you do at home.
4. Find a Balance Between Flexibility and Consistency
Most daycares have set nap times, which may not match up perfectly with your schedule. It’s okay to be a bit flexible! But if there are things that are non-negotiable for your sleep training (like not using sleep props), let them know. Finding middle ground helps everyone.
5. Send Sleep Items (If Allowed)
If the daycare allows it, send a few familiar sleep items to make naps easier—like a sleep sack, a small lovey (once they reach 12 months of age), or a white noise machine. Having these little comforts can make a big difference in helping your child settle.
6. Ask for Sleep Updates
Try to get a quick rundown of your child’s naps at pickup. Knowing how long they slept (or didn’t sleep) helps you adjust bedtime accordingly and keep things on track at home.
7. Be Patient and Stay Positive
Let’s be real—daycare sleep won’t always look like home sleep, and that’s okay! It might take some time for your little one to adjust, and not every daycare will be able to follow your plan exactly. Keep the communication open and work together as a team to support your child’s sleep needs.
8. Do the Best You Can with Bedtime
We get it—work schedules, daycare pickups, and evening routines don’t always allow for that perfectly timed bedtime. Sometimes, getting your little one down at the ideal hour just isn’t realistic during the week. That’s okay!
Do the best you can, and if bedtime ends up being later than you'd like, you can help make up for lost sleep on the weekends with an early bedtime. Prioritizing rest whenever possible will help keep your child on track in the long run.
The Bottom Line
Your daycare can be a great partner in your sleep training journey if you keep the lines of communication open and work together. Remember, progress over perfection! And if you need extra support, Smart Night Sleep is here to help. You’ve got this!
Wishing you rest,
Jennie Clarke
Certified Child Sleep Consultant
Smart Night Sleep
321-209-5013
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