Starting nursery is a big transition for both babies and parents. Many families worry about the impact of starting nursery and baby sleep, especially if their little one has been used to a predictable nap time and bedtime routine at home. Establishing a daily routine can positively impact a baby’s sleep, making the transition smoother. Changes in environment, routine, and separation from parents can lead to an adjustment period, but with a little planning, your baby can settle into their new routine and get the sleep they need.
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Preparing for Nursery
Preparing your child for nursery is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth transition. It’s essential to start preparing your child a few weeks before they start nursery to help them adjust to the new environment. It’s very normal to worry about nursery and baby sleep though – don’t panic! It’s a question I get asked a lot.
Get Your Baby Used to Other People
One of the most significant changes your child will face when starting nursery is being cared for by someone other than you. To help your child adjust to this change, if possible, try to introduce them to other caregivers, such as grandparents or friends, who can help with childcare tasks like feeding and nap time. This will help your child get used to different people and reduce the likelihood of separation anxiety.
Adapt Their Routine
The routine you’ve established with your child at home may not be the same as the routine at the nursery. To help your child adjust to the new routine, try to adapt their routine at home to match the schedule at the nursery. For example, if the nursery has a morning nap at 9 am, try to establish a similar nap time at home. This will help your child adjust to the new routine at nursery and baby sleep schedule and reduce the likelihood of overtiredness. This may involve you adjusting your day a bit, but consistency may help overall – particularly for babies who are more sensitive and need a good routine.
Start Socialising
Socialising is an essential part of a child’s development, and starting nursery is an excellent opportunity for your child to interact with other children. To help your child prepare for this, try to introduce them to other children through playdates or baby classes. This will help your child develop important social skills and reduce the likelihood of separation anxiety.
Starting Nursery and Baby Sleep
One of the most common concerns for parents is how their baby will fall asleep in a new environment with other children around. Most nurseries will have a designated nap time, but this might not align perfectly with your baby’s usual child’s routine at home. Some babies find it hard to nap in a childcare setting, especially if they’re used to a dark room, white noise, or a specific sleep environment.
If your little one struggle with nursery and baby sleep, expect their night sleep to be a little unsettled at first. They might be overtired from missed daytime sleep, leading to more night waking or difficulty falling asleep at bedtime.
How to Help with Nursery and Baby Sleep:
- Talk to nursery staff about your baby’s usual routine and what helps them sleep, ensuring they understand your child’s routine.
- If possible, ask if they offer settling techniques like lots of cuddles or familiar elements like white noise.
- Help your baby adjust by practicing falling asleep in different environments before they start nursery.
- If their naps are shorter at nursery, bring bedtime earlier to compensate.
Sticking to Your Usual Bedtime Routine
A solid bedtime routine will help your baby transition from their busy nursery day to night sleep. Even if their nap at nursery has been disrupted, keeping things predictable at home can help their body wind down.
A Calming Usual Bedtime Routine:
- Talk about their day in a relaxed way to help them process any excitement or anxiety.
- Offer a warm bath and lots of cuddles.
- Keep the room dimly lit and play calming music or white noise.
- Stick to your usual bedtime routine, whether that’s a bedtime story, lullabies, or feeding before sleep.
If your baby is really overtired, consider bringing bedtime earlier for a few days to help them catch up.
What If Your Baby Struggles with Naps at Nursery?
Not every childcare setting offers an ideal sleep environment, and it can take several days to weeks for nursery and baby sleep to come together and fully adjust. Other babies napping in the same room, different nap times, and nursery staff handling sleep differently can all impact how well your baby settles.
How to Support Nursery and Baby Sleep:
- Provide a comfort item (if allowed) like a cot blanket or sleep sack from home.
- Ask about their nap setup, does your baby sleep in a cot or on a mat?
- Try to replicate the nap environment at home on weekends to create consistency.
- Don’t worry if your baby takes shorter naps at first, this is completely normal and part of the adjustment period.
If your baby is missing too much sleep during the day, push bedtime earlier at home to help them catch up.
If your little one is waking too early after starting nursery, it could be due to overtiredness or a disrupted routine. My Early Morning Waking Masterclass gives you step-by-step solutions to help extend their sleep past those dreaded 5 AM wake-ups.
Communicating with the Nursery
Communicating with the nursery is crucial in ensuring a smooth transition for your child. Here are some tips on how to communicate with the nursery:
Let Their Key Worker Know Their Routine & Sleep Cues
It’s essential to inform your child’s key worker about their routine and sleep cues. This will help the key worker understand your child’s needs and provide individualised care. Be sure to share information about your child’s usual bedtime routine, sleep schedule, and any sleep associations they may have. This will help the key worker establish a consistent sleep routine for your child and reduce the likelihood of sleep disruptions.
By following these tips, you can help your child prepare for nursery and ensure a smooth transition. Remember to communicate with the nursery and establish a consistent sleep routine to help your child adjust to the new environment.
Dealing with Separation Anxiety and Sleep
Many babies develop separation anxiety when they start nursery, which can impact their sleeping at home. If your baby is suddenly more clingy, crying at bedtime, or waking frequently at night, this could be a sign they are finding the big change of starting nursery overwhelming.
How to Help:
- Spend extra one-on-one time with your baby outside of nursery hours.
- Keep goodbyes short and positive at drop-off.
- Reassure your baby with familiar bedtime cues like their favourite teddy or blanket.
- Be patient, this phase is temporary, and most babies settle within a few weeks.
Final Thoughts: Supporting Your Child’s Sleep During Nursery Transition
Starting nursery can bring big changes to your baby’s sleep, but with a bit of patience, they will settle into their new routine. Keeping a consistent bedtime routine, making small adjustments like pushing bedtime forward, and supporting naps at nursery will all help.
If you’re struggling with your baby’s sleep after they’ve started nursery, don’t panic! This transition period is completely normal. Give them a few days to adjust, and if things still feel challenging, I have more advice and tailored support to help your baby sleep soundly, even in a childcare setting.
Need More Help?
Struggling with your baby’s sleep after starting nursery? If nights are tough, naps are short, and you need expert guidance, I offer personalised sleep support to help your little one settle into their new routine. My Premium 2-Week Sleep Package provides step-by-step guidance, or if you need a quick expert opinion, my 1-Hour Sleep Consultation might be the perfect fit.
You don’t have to struggle alone! Get in touch for tailored support, or follow me on Instagram for more sleep tips.
Baby still young? Want a deeper dive into newborn sleep? My book, ‘Newborn Sleep Foundations: A Handy Guide for the First 16 Weeks’, is packed with expert advice to help you navigate these early weeks. Available now on Amazon. offer a Newborn Sleep Foundations Sleep Package, covering sleep science, age-appropriate settling strategies, awake times, and more.
