Umm~ Light bulb has gone off here! I had a epiphany!Last night I was trying to get Bailey and Grace to go to sleep. Talk about frustrating! They were wired for sound laughing, getting out of bed, and wouldn't stop talking! I was contemplating pulling out the cough syrup for a little "night cap" for the girls! Now, having them not going to sleep might not bother me so much, but they still both sleep in my bed! Yep~I'm nuts! I was one of those moms who just couldn't stand to hear the poor, poor baby crying! As a result..I'm the one crying at night instead. Now when Ethan was born, I was cooked. Done. I just knew I couldn't survive another one in my bed. So I let him scream it out for a few nights! And now..He loves bedtime!
Today he was fussy and I told him night night! He smiled and did a little dance!
I put him in bed he took his bottle out of his mouth and told me night night with a big smile on his face, put the bottle back in and went to sleep! Just like that! Wow! My first ever to take daily naps! So, light bulb moment?I was wrong!(how can that be?I'm ALWAYS right!) I thought I was doing things right not letting them cry it out!Crazy to think I couldn't stand the baby crying and yet a few days of frustration would have been better than years of being tortured nightly!
Why didn't I do this sooner? If I were having more kids (which I'm not!) I would know better!
So, Bailey and Grace?Is there any hope for me? Will they still be in my bed as teenagers? I have to confess I am getting a little worried here!
Any suggestions folks?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Lauri, do you not watch Super Nanny? She takes care of this all the time! It might be a little tougher now that they are older -- or it may be a little easier since they can commiserate together. Anyway, it's the same philosophy, but now you have to keep putting them back in bed every time they get out. Maybe you can have a bedtime fairy who hides a treat under the covers or something if they promise to stay in bed. To get your courage up, watch a few reruns with Jo!
You may have to have them cry it out too. It may be painful because they are older but your sanity will be less if they are in bed. Also I do not know if you are or able to have a routine at night. I know with my life sometimes the routine gets messed up with older siblings schedules but it does help. I always give a potty, bath, pj's,stories and kisses. The lights go out and they are not allowed out of there room. If they need something the call for me. I also allow them sometimes if not to late to leave the light on for quiet reading in there beds. Delaynie and Reagan feel like they are big like Mackenzie and Hayden when they get to stay up to read. If not just put up a gate that blocks there door and tell them they are not allowed out!!!
I believe in letting toddlers cry it out as well. Sometimes they are actually resonable. Try a game first,(like the sleep fairy, who leaves a treat.) and if that doesn't work let them cry. When the girls were little, I just had to threaten to turn the lock around so I could lock them in. The idea was bad enough that it prevented them from coming out. My neighbor had a toddler that didn't work with threats. She had to actually do it. I have no problem with this. They eventually learn, and you no longer have to lock the door. It is sooooo worth it!
Sad that it takes so long to learn the things that work best. Our oldest always have to bear the brunt of our slow learning. Good luck getting the girls to sleep on their own. Sounds like you got some good advice!
ugh! feel for ya...
sorry I have no words of wisdom... we paid when they were very little, and now they pop right off to bed when asked...
J/ (goteeman.blogspot.com)
I wrote a comment last night, but somehow I "lost it". Anyway...here goes. With our oldest, when he was 6 months old the peditrician asked if he was sleeping through the night in his own crib. I admitted no. She giggled and said, "he is working you". She gave us an article which explained to let them cry themselves to sleep in their own bed. Well, that night I tried it. It seemed like a long time of crying and I kept asking my husband how long it had been. 15 minutes. It broke my heart, but every night after that, it was shorter and shorter. After 3 or 4 nights he would go right to bed. With the youngest we knew better and did the same, beautiful. Except for the occassional off night, they sleep good. If they wake up in the middle of the night, I lay on their floor, calm them, and sneak out. Shelli is right, "The Nanny" teaches it too. Yeah for you!!!
Post a Comment