Parents aren’t pleased by teacher’s naptime rule for kids in the daycare: ‘You can’t tell me how…’

Childcare providers often navigate the challenge of balancing regulatory requirements with parents’ preferences, especially when it comes to daily routines like nap time. State laws typically mandate rest periods for young children to support their health and development, yet not all parents agree on or understand the importance of these rest times. Kimmy Middleton, a Georgia-based daycare provider, says not all parents agree with her approach to nap time, but she’s simply following the rules .“Sometimes a parent will say, ‘I don’t want you to put my kid down for a nap,’” Middleton shared.

“But we can’t because of state regulations," the teacher told TODAY.  Middleton, who runs A Giving Tree Daycare from her home and shares insights as “@Kimmythedaycarediva” on TikTok, recently posted a skit portraying a conversation she frequently has with parents. Playing both roles, Middleton shows a parent saying, “Ms. Kimmy, I’m going to ask that you not put Crystal down for a nap anymore. I see that in her nighttime routine, she doesn’t really go down when I try to put her to sleep around 8 o’clock at night.” As herself, Middleton replies, “Unfortunately, the state requires that I have a rest time for all children. And I’m not going to force a toddler to stay awake when they’re actually tired from all the activities during the day.”

The pretend conversation continues with the parent accusing her of going against their wishes: “So you’re refusing to do what I ask in the care of my child? OK, but you can’t tell me how to parent. Middleton’s response is,  “Maybe we should think about changing the nighttime routine a little bit?” She points out that if a parent picks up their child at 5:30 pm, by the time dinner and a bath are done, bedtime is close,  leaving very little bonding time. “You’re not spending essentially any time with your child,” she says. “I get that you’re tired too, you spent time at work all day long, but spending absolutely no time, no activity with your child, and then putting them down for bed at 8 pm, doesn’t really give your child any quality time with you.”

She adds that her daycare routine is usually more structured and stimulating than what most kids experience at home. “When she gets here at 8 am, she does breakfast, we get cleaned up, we do circle time, we do yoga, we do crafts, we go outside ... She’s ready for a nap.” Middleton currently cares for six children between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 years. As a mother of two, she says it’s common for parents to request dropping naps when their children are 2 or 3, especially if it interferes with bedtime.

Still, Georgia law requires all licensed childcare facilities to provide “supervised nap or rest periods during the day” for kids under five. Children who don’t sleep are only required to lie down for up to one hour, and quiet activities must be made available to them. Middleton has her point; she’s not ignoring parents’ concerns,  she’s just doing what’s legally required and what’s best for tired toddlers.

For videos like this, you can find her on TikTok as @kimmythedaycarediva.