Lately, the Boy's bedtime routine has taken a rather um, interesting turn. Normally, after bath and story, we cuddle him, put him in the crib, rub his back, say goodnight and walk away. Now, we do exactly the same thing, but within a couple minutes of walking away, the Boy is up, tears running down his face, and screaming at the the top of his lungs "I want my mommy and daddy! AAHHHH!!" The only thing that calms him down is if I sit in the rocking chair while he falls deeply asleep. This can take some time.
The first night, I tried to leave too early, stepped on a creaky floorboard, and the Boy was up screaming in an instant. I had to lie him down and sit in the chair again. This has made bedtime rather challenging, to say the least. And drawn out. I've stared at the alphabet cards bordering his room for much longer than I care to. Several are falling off the wall from the humidity, and it annoys me to no end that I just have to sit and watch them fall slowly off the wall, instead of fixing them. Now I just sit in the chair, think about how hungry I am, and hope that the Boy will turn his head and face the wall. That's the only way to escape without him waking up. I feel a little bit like I'm trying to exit a room that is laced with deadly laser beams. If I wasn't so tired, it would seem like an adventure.
Nothing has changed in the Boy's routine lately, so I can't imagine what has prompted this turn of events. I love that he needs me, I do, but I would like my evenings back please.
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If you want to check out how Nomo is defeated by book, hop on over to Mommy Blogs Toronto for my latest post. I'm going to have a nap now.
Friday, May 11, 2007
I hate creaky floorboards..
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10 comments:
Sleep well, no-mo.
Oh, how I've been there. I can't figure it out...what it is that switches so that what used to work no longer does. This is so much like what it was to put Mme L down as an infant. I'm sure that days were spent with my just sitting there hungry, having to pee or just wanting to GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE, ALREADY.
Damn those creaky floorboards!
Is he napping too much during the day? Our munchkin falls asleep really well if she misses her afternoon nap and wails FOREVER (I can hear her yelling for me right now, in fact) if she does nap. Of course, skipping her afternoon nap means that I'll be crazy by 5 o'clock, but...
sounds like you've had it easy for far too long. time for payback. *wink*
they go through weird phases sometimes. just when you think that you can't look at those cards one more night, he'll probably do another 180, and you'll be sprung.
Maybe it's time to move him into the big boy bed so he doesn't feel trapped. It sounds silly but that's what worked for us. Or maybe blackout drapes for the bedroom now that it is light longer.
When Miss M went through a stage like this I snuck my iPod into the bedroom so that I didn't have to sit in the rocking chair brain-dead. Good luck with it all. I hope it passes soon.
I used to (still do sometimes) wish I could squeeze under the door like a mouse to escape the room without notice.
Hope this phase is over soon for you.
sigh. sorry. did that for years.
I am well acquainted with the perils of squeaky floors. I have tried to map the worst culprits in my mind and step accordingly. Alas, due to severe sleep deprivation, my memory is not what it used to be and I trip those boobie traps far too often.
No ideas for you here, just a heck of a lot of empathy.
I've been there. Josh and I used to alternate tuck in nights, because whoever tucked in had to lay with him until he fell asleep. I think he outgrew it around age 3? But some night he still needs a good cuddling before he can fall asleep, especially when he is sick.
I have mostly figured out where they are so I can avoid them. A carpet will also muffle them.
Otherwise, you pretty much have the option of trying to bring along something to do while you're there (iPod, knitting, sudoku if there's enough light, notepad to jot down story ideas...) or forcing the issue and leaving after a few mnutes of pats each time he gets worked up, flitting in and out for a while, responding slower and leaving faster each time.
What kittenpie said, carpet, ipod, reading, also you should try eating something before you bring him to bed because being hungry makes you impatient. I don't know how old the boy is, but I bet it is the next round of separation anxiety.
You can try it Elizabeth Pantley style and maybe move the chair nearer to the door each day until you can sit in front of the door altogether.
My son, after two years of falling asleep after being tucked in, now needs one of us in the room next to his with the door open. At least I can read or eat or surf the web but I'd like to spend some time with my husband too. (Mine is 4 1/2.)
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