Madelynn had been doing very well in the sleep department just a few months ago. I would lay her in bed at 7pm and she wouldn't peep until 7am or later. I don't know what turned those quiet twelve hours upside-down, whether it was new teeth or a growth spurt, the silent time ended in the beginning of November. Bed time routine has been the same since she was an infant, and I was still laying her down at 7pm. She would then wake up an hour later and I would have to lay with her for 15-45 minutes to get her back to sleep. She would sleep for another hour or less, and I would have to lay with her again. This would go on every hour until I finally went to bed, frustrated and more than a little annoyed with her. Last week, it got even worse. She went down at seven just to get back up at 7:15, 7:45, 8:30 and so on. Last night, I knew I just didn't want to do this anymore, I don't have the patience, I'm just so over it all. I admit, it's hard to spend 12 hours straight with someone and not be able to get away from them for a few hours. The hours after seven are mine.
I put Babe to bed at 7pm. When she woke up at 7:30 and walked down the hallway, I carried her back to bed, tucked her in with her bear and kissed her cheek. Then I just left. Of course she followed me, screaming. I scooped her up and put her back in bed. We did this for two whole hours, she walked out, I tucked her back in. Finally, at a little after ten, she stayed in bed and went to sleep. I was victorious, but I felt awful. I'll be kicked out of the attachment parenting club for sure after all that screaming.
Tonight, I put her down at 7pm. She woke up at eight and walked down the hallway. I carried her back, tucked her in and kissed her cheek. Then I left again. We went through the process twice tonight (out, back in, out, back in) and then she just went to sleep. What took two hours last night only lasted 15 minutes tonight, and with minimal screeching.
I don't know if this means I've won, or if it means she just doesn't like me enough to come looking for me... but I think I'm going to survive parenting now. Maybe.
5 comments:
So I take it she is in a toddler bed....Im am getting ready to switch cole to one and I was imagining this is how it would go...Good job though!!!
Actually, she's in OUR bed. I'm not even ready to jump the hurdle of putting her in her own room. It will be world war three for sure.
You probably don't realize it, but you are making it hard for your child to adapt to a future where she will need to separate from you. School, play dates, sleep, etc.
Postponing putting her in her own bed will only cause problems that are BIGGER in her future. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for her. Not a friendly behavior for a parent. Unless you want a very DEPENDENT, clingy child, ACT NOW.
I am AP because I believe it creates an independent, confident child. Studies have shown that children who sleep-share are actually MORE confident than children who sleep alone. In fact, there is not ONE shred of evidence that shows co-sleeping to be detrimental to the psychological health of children. I don't think she will have any more problems adapting than a child who is forced to sleep on their own. Yours is a common misconception, and I would suggest checking a book out from the library or simply googling the benefits of the family bed.
I'm not sure why you felt the need to create an anonymous name to post this, I'm not scary, lol. Thanks for the concern. :)
she loves you so much, and that is the reason why she wakes up so many times... she wants to make sure that you are still out there... You are both winners in the book of parenting... she is resting and you are resting more...
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