Getting our oldest to sleep continues to be an experience!! However, things are getting much better! YEAH for us!
The bedtime process begins around 6 with baths (first brother, and then him), milk and a book with mommy, and then into bed. As I've said previously, he has never been able to settle very quickly when going to bed, so I let him read in bed by himself.
Actually getting him to fall asleep is the most difficult process. This is taking anywhere from 30 minutes (VERY rare) to 90 minutes (more typical). He is plenty tired by the time we get ready for bed, but he just has a difficult time shutting down. There have been a couple nights recently we've just forgone bathtime, as it would be too much of a struggle and get him worked up even more. Typically this is if he's fallen and bonked his head or something and gets really mad/upset. So, we go to book and milk. I usually read and give him milk after bath to help relax and prepare him for bed. But, some nights he has other plans. He tries to find some way to stay up. He will try to pick different books in the middle of the one we are reading, or needs medicine on his back, or needs kisses from dad and brother. Usually then, we do what he needs (other than another book) otherwise he will fixate on that and be an all out war, and then tell him he can read in bed. He will read for 15-20 minutes quietly, and then he is in and out, up and down out of bed getting more books, having to show me a picture, ask about something he sees in the book, or need his blankets spread out- again. After a few warnings to stay in bed, I will close the door for a few minutes and let him try again. Usually after about 3-4 times of this, he will eventually let me tuck him in and go to sleep (after calling a few times to make sure I'm nearby).
I know I should just leave the door closed, but I have a hard time even closing it on him to begin with. The look he give me as I close the door makes me feel so bad (a look of worry, sadness, anger all rolled into one). I feel like the meanest mom. And he can be just so darn cute trying to work it when he's attempting to break out of bed (a mischevious grin saying "I'm too cute- you won't do it!"). The other night was particularly entertaining. I walked in to see him breaking out, and as he noticed I was coming in, he ran to a small pile of books on the floor and tried to scoop them up as quickly as he could to get back into bed, all done with a little smile on his face. I had to snicker! It was so hard not too!
While getting him to fall asleep continues to be a work in progress, him staying asleep has become much better. He is usually waking once, if at all, but still hasn't made it the 5 nights in a row my husband is shooting for so he can come back into our bed. Teething has been our enemy, or possibly our friend- I'm undecided. Typically when he is teething, he is more tired than usual and tends to sleep better, but is also extra grumpy during the day because he is uncomfortable. So I'm not sure if this is the reason for better sleep? Or could he just be sleeping better in general, more comfortable with knowing someone is nearby, and the pain with teething is waking him up? I made a weighted blanket a few weeks ago to try with him. He does not like to have it one him when awake, so I can't use it to help settle his body down to fall asleep. But I sneak into his room before I go to bed and drape it over him. It seems to still be on him in the morning if he has slept through the night, so maybe it is helping, too?? Whatever it is, I'm really hoping the trend continues. Either way, my husband and I will be able to share our bed again in August, when we move the baby into his own room. Hopefully he will be able to make it to our room before then, but there is a light at the end of that tunnel! To be continued... but hopefully not too many more times.....
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