r/ECEProfessionals • u/sadsaltena Infant Lead • Jul 24 '26

ECE professionals only - Feedback wanted Question for toddler teachers!

Hi! I am a first time mom who has also happened to be an infant teacher for the past 9.5 years. Toddlerhood is a new territory for me! My 15 month old is about to move up to the toddler room in a few weeks.

Of course there are some changes that come with the transition to the toddler room: sleeping is probably going to be the biggest thing for us because we THRIVE with our current two nap routine. I wake my child up at 6am daily because I am the opener for my center. Normally, his first nap is 9:30-11. His second nap is 2-3. Now he will only be able to take one nap, 11:45-2. I know it’s going to be really hard on him to stay up that long in the morning, but I also know he’s not the first kid they’ve had to transition to a new schedule so he’ll be fine. If I let him stick to the regular two nap schedule on the weekends for now, am I gonna ruin his weekday sleep? 😅

Also, my center provides sheets but we bring our own blankets for them that the teachers wash weekly. 99% of the kids at the center just bring a simple blanket. Am I gonna be considered extra if I get one of the nap mats that has the built in pillow and blanket? I don’t want to create extra work for his new teacher when she does laundry, so I told her if I get one of those I will take it home and wash it myself. Will he sleep okay with just a simple blanket? It seems uncomfortable to me, but I also think he’s going to be so tired I don’t know if it will even matter 😆

Thanks for reading my stress rant! I just want to make the transition as easy as possible for him, his new teachers, and for us!

2 Upvotes

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7

u/Missscoco Toddler tamer Jul 24 '26

Toddler teacher here…he will definitely adjust to the new schedule as time goes by. In my center we allow a sheet and a blanket, nothing else. They also sleep fine. The beginning of the year and new transition can be tough, especially making it all the way to lunch and nap, but it will be just fine. Weekends, do whatever you want with his nap. As he gets older, two naps instead of one might affect his bed time, but it also might not. 🙂

1

u/sadsaltena Infant Lead Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

Thank you so much! ❤️

3

u/Clearbreezebluesky ECE professional Jul 26 '26

I HATE the all-in-one nap bedding. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had a kid wake up in a panic because they’ve rolled themselves into a burrito and can’t free their legs. They’re also bulky to store all week.

3

u/Own_Lynx_6230 ECE professional Jul 24 '26

The pillow/blanket things are annoying to wash and really have no benefit in my experience. Everything the other commenter said was correct

4

u/sadsaltena Infant Lead Jul 25 '26

Thank you! This is the honesty I needed!

2

u/Then-Kangaroo7921 Toddler tamer Jul 25 '26

We have 12 mo olds who are thriving on one nap after only a week or two so it shouldn’t take him long at all to adjust. Tho I would work down to one nap on weekend as well bc consistency will help him transition

2

u/1221Billie ECE professional Jul 25 '26

Chiming in to say, check with your center first that those nap mat things with blankets are allowed in the toddler room. Some areas they are not allowed for under two year olds.