DiscoverHow Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast196. Daycare Naps vs. Bedtime Battles: What Parents Need to Know
196. Daycare Naps vs. Bedtime Battles: What Parents Need to Know

196. Daycare Naps vs. Bedtime Battles: What Parents Need to Know

Update: 2025-07-14
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Struggling with bedtime battles that seem worse after daycare days? You’re not alone—and today’s episode of How Long ‘Til Bedtime? is here to help you understand what’s really going on.

In this episode, pediatric sleep specialist Allison Egidi breaks down the connection between daytime naps in daycare or preschool and the bedtime resistance you may be facing at home. If your 2.5 to 5-year-old naps at school and bedtime has become your least favorite time of day, this episode is for you.

You’ll learn:

  • Why most kids under 3.5 still need a daily nap or structured rest time

  • How naps improve emotional regulation, impulse control, and memory

  • What signs to look for to know if your child still needs a nap

  • Why capping naps—not cutting them—might be your secret weapon

  • How to set up a weekend reset plan to reclaim peaceful bedtimes

  • What to do when your child’s daycare “won’t wake a sleeping child”

  • When to consider a full bedtime reset (and how Allison can help)

👉 Resources mentioned in this episode:

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube 

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196. Daycare Naps vs. Bedtime Battles: What Parents Need to Know

196. Daycare Naps vs. Bedtime Battles: What Parents Need to Know

Allison Egidi