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Background <p>Although the importance of sleep on young children’s health is well established, little is known about daytime sleep in childcare settings. Understanding how childcare sleep environment and provider behaviors may impact sleep is important, given how many children are in childcare.</p> Objective <p>The current study aims to describe childcare providers’ self-reported practices during naptime.</p> Methods <p>Twelve childcare providers were interviewed about their current naptime practices. We used a semi-structure interview guide and asked about topics such as nap policy and structure, sleep environment, provider practices, disruptions, ideal routine or structure, and parents’ impact on children’s daytime sleep during childcare hours. Interviews lasted 30-45 minutes, were audio recorded, and later transcribed. A codebook was created based on questions in the interview guide via structural coding. Codes were applied to sections of the transcripts using NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Lastly, a thematic analysis was conducted to summarize the findings.</p> Results <p>The qualitative analysis yielded three themes: (1) providers had a common goal of getting children to a calm, relaxed state during naptime, though their approaches differed, (2) site-specific practices were influenced by multiple factors (e.g., state regulations, site resources), and (3) providers valued routine consistency but also acknowledged the need for flexibility.</p> Conclusion <p>Findings were consistent with previous studies regarding variations observed in provider practices during naptime, which raise concerns around equity in childcare services. Additional research is needed to examine factors associated with the variability in childcare provider practices during naptime and the impact of different practices on children’s sleep.</p>

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Childcare Provider Self-Reported Practices During Naptime: A Qualitative Study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月4日

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  • Belinda O’Hagan,
  • Naomi Raisman,
  • Sumner Chmielewski,
  • Tayla von Ash

摘要

Background

Although the importance of sleep on young children’s health is well established, little is known about daytime sleep in childcare settings. Understanding how childcare sleep environment and provider behaviors may impact sleep is important, given how many children are in childcare.

Objective

The current study aims to describe childcare providers’ self-reported practices during naptime.

Methods

Twelve childcare providers were interviewed about their current naptime practices. We used a semi-structure interview guide and asked about topics such as nap policy and structure, sleep environment, provider practices, disruptions, ideal routine or structure, and parents’ impact on children’s daytime sleep during childcare hours. Interviews lasted 30-45 minutes, were audio recorded, and later transcribed. A codebook was created based on questions in the interview guide via structural coding. Codes were applied to sections of the transcripts using NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Lastly, a thematic analysis was conducted to summarize the findings.

Results

The qualitative analysis yielded three themes: (1) providers had a common goal of getting children to a calm, relaxed state during naptime, though their approaches differed, (2) site-specific practices were influenced by multiple factors (e.g., state regulations, site resources), and (3) providers valued routine consistency but also acknowledged the need for flexibility.

Conclusion

Findings were consistent with previous studies regarding variations observed in provider practices during naptime, which raise concerns around equity in childcare services. Additional research is needed to examine factors associated with the variability in childcare provider practices during naptime and the impact of different practices on children’s sleep.