Well, things aren't perfect, but I'm happy to report that he has slept two of the three days so far this week!
As for why things are going so well...I realized that much of the problem lies in how I'm putting him down at naptime. I used to read a short story, rock him, and put him down drowsy but awake. That's what all the parenting books say to do, right? Well, that left him sleepy, but the second I put him in bed he would be alert and be ready to goof around.
My new approach is rocking, and lots of it. He babbles at me, I keep rocking. He grabs at the back of the rocking chair, I keep rocking. He fidgets with his lips, I keep rocking. It's all in the rocking. Eventually, he can't resist and he finally quiets down.
A little voice in the back of my head is saying, "Don't do this! You'll have to rock him endlessly every time he needs to sleep!" I'm ignoring this little voice. I think that advice held true in the baby days, but toddlerhood requires some serious relaxation assistance. He loves to point everything out in his naptime books, so those aren't helping if they only prompt conversations. And when I sing him lullabies, he sings along with me -- and applauds at the end! I think rocking is where it's at. It's working anyway, and that's what matters.
Now if I can just get him to stop waking up to "check in" at all hours of the night...it happened three times last night! I think I need a nap too.
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so cute! I love getting to see pictures of Kellen and hearing how you are doing. You can check out our family blog at adamnkimberly.blogspot.com
Isabel was like this, and I did alot of rocking. It was the only thing that worked. She just needed help when she was that age. I can tell you that she was going to sleep at bedtime with a regular routine, no assistance, by 2 1/2, I know, not great results. It was just very difficult for her to relax without me. They grow out of it too fast, and you need the time now to get stuff done, but just enjoy every moment you get to rock him and smell his little head. It will be gone too soon.
Take care,
Kimberly Fuhriman
Sounds like you may be on to something! I do so love a good nap! By the way, when I was a little kid, I still had to have "quite time" in my room. I didn't have to sleep, just play quietly in my room. I could come downstairs when I heard the theme music to General Hospital. Then my mom and I would watch that show together. Now that I'm an adult, I think she needed the quiet time away from me too!
ReplyDeleteUGH. You know I'm with you on this one. Amelia is still sick (and I am just recovering from a 24 hour battle with the stomach flu) and not staying in her bed. It drives me nuts. I don't know how I'm going to find the energy to parent my way though this one!
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