Last night I put CootieBoy to bed and he went down perfectly. He snuggled against me for a moment, then once I laid him down he flipped onto his belly, took a deep breath and let out a sigh, and promptly settled down for a good night’s sleep.
Going back downstairs I said to Denis, “Wow, he went right down – we’re very lucky to have two really good sleepers.” I paused, then quickly tapped the table next to me and said, “Knock on wood, I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
Boy did I get that right.
Last night CootieGirl woke up around midnight (I think – Denis was the one that actually went and got her) and was pretty much up for the next four hours. She screamed, cried, laughed, played, kicked, pushed, wandered the hallway (yes the gate was up and all doors were closed to limit her wandering), and generally didn’t want to sleep. Denis had changed her diaper when she first woke up, thinking that she might settle back down in a clean diaper, but that was not the case at all.
Finally, at four a.m. I was fed up and tired, so I got out of bed, grabbed her in my arms, put her on our bed and with much irritation and anger I said, “CootieGirl, you stay in that bed and go to sleep.”
Well, she screamed and had a fit but once I got back in bed and turned my back on her she settled and I believe she was asleep within ten minutes.
And then my alarm went off two hours later. Grrrrr…..
You might have to employ some of Nanny Jo’s tactics.
Yeah, man. Just say NO and make her stay in her bed.
Oh trust me, if I had been the one to get up at midnight I would have made her get in her own bed. And told Denis as much this morning. He’s definitely the softie parent in our household.
I told CootieGirl to stay in her bed. Nobody listens to me. She laid in her bed and cried. I left the room, closed the door behind me and a minute later she was rattling the door. Any other bright suggestions, people? And Jen, if you are ever so blessed to have kids you’ll see it isn’t that easy. They change lives in a hour on TV. Just doesn’t work that way in the real world I’m afraid. That kid’s getting a nip of Nyquil tonight before she goes to bed. That or bourbon. Believe me.
Denis, I know it isn’t that easy. However, I do know that consistency is the key. Keep telling her no and that she has to stay in bed – even if it’s every night for a week – will ensure that after that week she will stay in her bed. My 2 cents.
Denis, if she wakes up tonight, nudge me and I’ll get up and deal with her and see what kind of result I get. We’ll definitely come up with a solution though.
Yes, Jane, you will be nudged. Let’s see what results you get. LOL
Beat her!
Just kidding. *grin
Also, make sure she has had a really good, filling dinner, good comfort food ~ that’ll give her a nice food coma that should last all night.