It was beautiful here on Saturday (about 74 degrees) and we spent some time at an outdoor shopping area nearby that has a great kids play area. Here's Lauren after she ate her own ice cream sundae then kidnapped my shake...
That evening we took the railing off her crib and put on a new toddler bed comforter set from Target. It came with the fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillowcase and comforter all for $23 on sale.
We had made a big deal all day about Lauren having a big girl bed and having her sleep in there all night. We've been having trouble with bedtime, so needless to say, this big smile didn't last long...
Our usual routine has been to read books with her in my lap on the chair. After reading, it's lights out and music on. I've been holding her until she falls asleep and then transferring her to the crib. Trouble has been that she wakes up when I try to put her down in the crib and then she clings on for dear life. It takes at least two attempts to get her down, then when she wakes up (around 2am or so) she comes in bed with us. I know, VERY bad habits. All I can say is that I couldn't bare to just put her in the crib when we first got home...it just never felt right.
Saturday night and last night she went straight into the bed and we read books with me sitting on the floor next to the bed. Once the lights were out and music was on, I sat there with her until she feel asleep. The hard part came the first night when she woke up in the middle of the night and realized that she wasn't coming into bed to snuggle with me. By the time I got to her room she was already at the door ready to walk to our room. I picked her up and brought her back to her bed to tuck her in and she didn't like that one little bit. She cried and screamed and I ended up sitting with her for at least an hour before I could get her back to sleep. The last two nights have been REALLY hard, but I'm going to press on. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
13 comments:
love the pig tails & the big girl bed!!!!
wish I had some advice for you on the sleeping issues, but I think with adopted children all the traditional rules/advice go out the window. It took forever for Emma to fall asleep on her own without crying, I can remember trying to sneek out of her room at night and any little noise starting the whole thing over. Trying times, but you will get through it!
My first one slept in his bed all the time..my second was between us when he woke up as I really did not care if I was "breaking" the rules at this point:)
Try a sticker chart with a reward for each night she sleeps in her bed.
Love the Pig Tails!!!
Love the piggy tails...
Tooo cute..
I would try the sticker chart also..
Have a great week.
Things will get better..
hugs..
this would not work for everyone but we put Ellie Lu down while awake...we read and cuddle rocka by baby 2 times hug and kiss put down cover up and tell her I am just outside and we are ALL taking a nap/sleep, turn on music and little Kailan night light with music and 98% of the time she is down in 5 and sleeps thru night and if wakes up this same tactic with nighlight works. We have been lucky.
Emily
Unfortunately I have no great advice (as we're going thru the same thing with our 2 year old), but I just wanted to let you know that I totally understand how you feel! Sleepless nights STINK (for everyone!) Good luck!
Yep, I'm going through the same thing with Elizabeth. She was always a good sleeper, but lately, she's been really hard to get to sleep, then wakes up at about 2 or 3. I've gotten in the really bad habit of letting her come into bed with me when she wakes up. Sounds like you are doing a great job. Hang in there!!
Love her pig tails!!
It must have been hard to put her in a big girl bed! I have been putting it off, I waiting a long time for that crib to go up. Plus our bedtime routine is a breeze...MOST of the time, so I figure why mess with a good thing!
Sounds like you are doing all the right things with Lauren, she will get there. Good luck!
Lauren is so cute with the pigtails! I read a book and then we sing songs in the rocking chair and then I put Julia to bed with all of her stuffed animals. I turn on her music box and she is fast asleep for the night. The only time she wakes up is when she kicks the covers off and wants them back on. I make it a point to tell her that we are all going to sleep. I wish I had an easy answer for you but sounds like putting her back to bed and reassurance are the right things to do.
She is so cute in her pigtails. Love the smile in bed.
You are doing all the right things with patience, boundaries, and consistency. I would also suggest eliminating caffeine (e.g., chocolate, cola), shortening naps, giving backrubs and including daily excercise or walks. Good luck!
I've been looking for toddler bed sets. Thanks for pointing me toward Target. I love the pig tails!!!
Oh my goodness. She is getting so big. What an absolute doll!
Hi Donna Thanks. we Wand got on with owls and squirells and mushrooms , all done up in the colors of Sierra's room. 22 dollars for the toddler bed set!!!!!
So cute! As hard as this might sound, she needs to learn to fall asleep on her own. Try cuddling while reading a book and then while she is still awake put her to bed. Let her see that you are sitting in the chair but she must stay in her bed. After a few days she should start falling asleep on her own, in her own bed.
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