We seem to be getting this look a lot lately - especially at bed time. Brynn recently went from sleeping in a crib to her very own big girl bed. My have times changed! No longer can I just rock her for a few minutes and lay her down for a peaceful nights sleep. Now the tide has turned and she refuses to stay in bed and will not allow mommy to leave the room until she falls asleep! Bedtime routines now take a couple of hours and I'm feeling neglected of any time for me. So far, the verdict is that I need to play tough and leave the room only to come in to tuck her in again without saying a word. Hopefully this works, I want my sleeping angel back!
Sweet dreams!
1 comment:
Sounds like you've gotten loads of great advice on FB, but allow me to add my two cents. :)
I think when kids make that big transfer of beds they're excited and surprised by all this new found freedom. When James first switched to his big boy bed we put one of those safety knob things on his door so he wouldn't wander around at night. It worked really well and it kept him safe (and in his room). ;) We've since taken it off now that he's used to staying in his bed and we know he doesn't wander at night.
Still, every now and then he'll get out of bed just after we leave the room. If he opens the door one of us (usually me) goes into his room. I don't act angry or frustrated (doing that has backfired on me), I simply pick him up, give him a hug and while I don't say much I'm not totally silent either - I think they need SOME reassurance - and then I re-tuck him in, and tell him to stay in bed because his teddy is tired. :) Amazingly it works... a little untruthful, perhaps, but it works.
I've done the lay with him, sing to him, sit by the bed silently for two hours thing too, but it's really no good for anyone. I read somewhere that kids are better off learning how to put themselves to sleep.
Just bite the bullet and spend the next few nights or so going into her room as often as she gets out of bed - persistence and consistency is the key.
Post a Comment