After such a wonderful start to Daniel being in a big boy bed, all has gone out the window. He is more than happy to get into it, the problem now is staying in it. For the past 2 days he hasn't had his nap because he has been too keen to get out of the bed. Yesterday Eliza needed a feed so I had to just close the door. He didn't cry, he didn't get upset. What he did do was happily entertain himself in the room - putting on shoes, his hat, playing with his toys, looking at books from in the draws. Everything and anything besides going to sleep. Each time I did go in, he looked up at me with a big grin and said 'Hi Mummy'. Very cute, but also very annoying!
The last 2 nights have been a battle of staying in bed. Again, he is more than happy to be put in there (even 1000 times), but he just won't stay there. I know that the strategy is to keep putting him there but it really feels like there is no end in sight. He is wearing me down and wearing James down. At this stage, there is no way that I can have someone else look after him during a nap time or bed time. It is just way too taxing on them.
Last night was 2 hours of constantly trying to put him back to bed. Definitely a team effort to get there in the end. He was so overtired and therefore over energised, he just couldn't stay in bed. It wasn't until I had had enough and took Teddy from him, saying he needed to stay in bed to get Teddy back (a special toy we bought for going into his big boy bed). He was devistated and cried, but stayed in bed, therefore he got Teddy back. The next minute he was sound asleep. I was so tense after it all, I just had to have a big cry.
Today for his nap, he again kept getting out of bed. For 1 hour 45 mins I had the door slightly openned. Each time I saw his legs going down to the ground, I picked him up and put him back into bed. I have no idea how many times I did it. After the hour 45mins, I just had to shut the door so I stayed sane. Eliza then woke up after 5 mins. No rest at all.
Tonight Daniel again was in and out. He went to sleep at 7:40, so that was 20mins earlier than last night, so that was an improvement. Consistency is the key. I again just stood outside of the door and each time I could hear him climbing out of bed I went in and put him back under the covers. He was more settled tonight but still took a long time. James took over toward the end and eventually Daniel went to sleep.
I hope this doesn't continue for a long time. I am exhausted about it. Not just doing it, but also thinking about it and trying to work out strategies to apply. It is a learning process for us. Hopefully he will settle down over the next few days and the length of time to get to sleep decreases. I also hope he settles for his nap times too.
Edit: Today (Tuesday) Daniel had an afternoon nap after 40mins of getting out of bed and then went to sleep tonight after 30mins of getting out of bed. Tonight he did fall asleep in the middle of his bed so we had to move him back under the covers but that was ok. Hopefully he will continue to improve. Feeling much more confident about it now.
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