Peggy, others have responded that their hospitals have done this for years.  The hospital where I work instituted Naptime in September, just two months ago.  We're kind of easing into it since none of the other hospitals in the metro area are doing it. Ie mothers aren't required to participate, but rather asked each day if they will be participating.

You're already ahead of the game since you've thought about coordinating with housekeeping. I'd add pastoral care, too, and dietary if you have someone coming in to take meal orders.

We started promoting the program in the childbirth classes & tours and in the grandparenting classes in May.  That gave most moms plenty of time to get used to the idea. For those who didn't take a class, the program is explained on admission to post partum.
 
Visitors are met with a large stand-up sign when they get off the elevator stating "Our new moms deserve a nap" and explaining the purpose and times. 

When it's actually naptime, the secretaries dim the lights and turn that big sign around to the other side which announces that "This is naptime" and again explains the program.

Just before naptime, the nurses hang signs on the doors of the mothers who have asked to participate.  The nurses will also go in and shoo out the visitors. In case the mom is worried about seeming rude, she can ask the nurse for applesauce (which we don't carry on the floor) and the nurse will know that's a secret code for "please get these people out of here."

We didn't think of coordinating with the switchboard until a few weeks into it. But for now, calls are put through~~~most moms have cell phones anyway.

Now that we've been doing it for two months, the staff is looking at more assertive wording along the lines of "Naptime is from 2:30  - 3:30.  We encourage you to rest and breastfeed your baby then"~~~ rather than asking if they want to participate.  We're also creating at a sign that will go around the clock in the mom's room so she can be reminded of naptime throughout the day. 

I'm---personally---looking forward to being in a position in the future to make a rule that the mom cannot send her baby to the nursery for naptime unless she has had a good breastfeeding in the hour prior to naptime. 
What do you think?  Any hope?  I know I have a lot of teaching to do first!

Debbi Heffern LLLL, RD, IBCLC
St. Louis, MO USA 

 

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