Here is Jason last night when I was doing stuff on the computer. We have an old keyboard that we let him use... It works sometimes.
Now I need some advice. From anyone who is willing to share. I have been having trouble getting Jason to sleep at nights. It's really frustrating because he used to do so good. For naps I'd put him in his crib with a few toys and he would play until he fell asleep. Then at night we would get jammies on, read scriptures, brush teeth, and then say prayers. I would say goodnight and he would put himself to sleep. It was amazing. Now the last few months he won't go to sleep unless I'm in the room. But not just in the room, he wants me to rub his back. And it takes about an hour for him to go to sleep. I've tried staying in there, I've tried leaving and just checking on him every so often. I've even had to let him cry himself to sleep on nights when it gets impossible.
Naps are impossible as well. He wants to fall asleep in my arms, (he also falls asleep great in the car.) I've tried making him go to sleep on his own again and then he just doesn't get a good nap at all. Is it worth rocking him to sleep during the day so that he is well rested? I know when he gets too tired he's even crankier so it's even harder to get him to sleep.
Everywhere I read they say, "Establish a night time routine that helps them relax like reading, taking a bath, turning out the lights..." I think we have a pretty good night time routine, so I'm just out of ideas and getting really tired of spending an hour or more getting this child to go to sleep. Any ideas??
8 comments:
well i don't have any amazing advice, since i'm practically in your exact situation! but what i've found is it is so NOT worth it to rock them to sleep for an hour every single day- because where does it end?!? it is not fun AT ALL but i just make hallie cry till she sleeps. even if that means for a few days she doesn't get a nap and is super cranky. it is so hard and so frustrating, but after a few days of being SO cranky and tired, she finally just gave in cuz she knew i wasn't going in there. she still will cry a lot every now and then, but i still don't go in there, cuz if i do it once she expects it FOREVER! consistency is so important - especially now cuz they remember! there is my advice! hope it helps. good luck, sharece. =)
First of all, it's normal and probably just a phase. Austin went through that and we were so frustrated. Brad or I had to lay on the floor next to his crib and hold his hand or rub his back until he went to sleep. It got very old. I don't think that giving in on the naps is a good idea. He does need to nap, but not at the expense of you unless you want a spoiled little boy that you always have to hold. We tried everything with Austin. We had a routine at night and we tried the soothing lavendar baths....none of it works. Keep up the routine and don't give in. Eventually he will. If he was a good sleeper before, he can be again. I agree with the other comment before mine, don't give in. Even if it means he has to cry himself to sleep for a nap or at night. He has to learn to soothe himself or he will depend on you forever in that regard. I know it's hard and you want to give up, but he's a smart kid. He'll catch on. Be conistent.
Nope. No advice what-so-ever. Bixente went through the same thing for a few months. Not matter what I did I could not get him to go back to going to sleep on his own. I just had to let him outgrow it. Sorry not to be more helpful!
Well I have no experience, but what you could do is there is a website called www.mamasource.com where you can post questions and other moms from around the state answer with their advice - I've used it for pregnancy questions and just love it, but they might have some ideas. (me and all of my SIL's are on there and it's really helped all of us out a lot!) Hope it gets better!
I love rocking my babies to sleep for their nap. It does make it hard for them to take naps when they are transitioning from 1 to none but I enjoy my time rocking them. As for bedtime, I made my girls cry themselves to sleep and it has made it much easier than what I did with my boy. We'd stay with him until he was asleep and it was very draining on me. But he was a different person than the girls, I can't say that crying would have worked as well for him, but I didn't try it, so I don't know ;) Every child is different, you are his mom, you will find what works best for you and him. LOVE YOU!!
Have you tried slipping him something before bedtime?
I agree with Amber. My mom likes rocking the babies to sleep.
-Trevor
I like what Amber said. I think that's a best way to show your love.
-Karina
Well, since my kiddos commented, I guess I better clarify my own opinion. :)
First of all, nobody can decide what is best for Jason except for you and Bryce. Jason was sent to you for a reason, and you are the only one who can make the final decision. I firmly believe in parents and that there is absolutely no one right way to do things. So read all the comments (including mine) and make your own decision together about what is best for you and Jason.
That being said, I have let some of my kids cry and some I have not and let me tell you this: You will have blissful moments and hard moments with both ways. Sometimes bedtime will be easy and sometimes it won't. That's the way life is and as our kids are growing and learning, they always change too. Jason will be a good sleeper again, no matter how you decide to handle it right now. I personally do not think that trying the 'rocking' idea will spoil your sweet boy.
And just one more thing. I think, for me, the more kids I get, the less I let them cry. This is a personal thing. But those sweet babies grow up SO FAST and I don't want to give up any minute of it. I consider it an investment for the future. I want my kids to know that they can count on me, that I am here for them no matter what and no matter when.
You decide, my sweet sister. Sorry for this monster comment.
Kenna
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