When my son was 5 months old, he stopped wanting to be rocked to sleep. He did much better if I just put him down in bed and let him go to sleep on his own.
That lasted about 4 months, until my son had his first really bad illness and trouble falling to sleep as a result. During this time I started bouncing him to sleep.
Operation No More Bouncer took a lot longer than it should have. I am embarassed to admit – we used that bouncer to get to sleep from ages 9 months to 16 months old. :O
Then we had a VERY short period of time where sleeping wasn’t that big of a deal.
After my hubs came home from his deployment this last time, we brought Squishy into bed with us a lot more then we should have. My husband loved the extra time with him, and I certainly wasn’t complaining.
Before I knew it, Squishy was asking to sleep with me.
When my hubs deployed this last time, my son took it harder than in previous deployments. Suddenly my independent, outgoing son was clingy and worried every time I would step out on my own.
At this same time, we began having MASSIVE bedtime issues. My son would get out of be on a good night 15 times before falling asleep. Other nights we lost count around 42.
I felt like he needed the reassurace of mommy being there for him. I gave in, and just let him start to go to sleep in my bed. Most nights that meant he would only get out of bed 2-3 times before falling to sleep.
Next thing I knew he wanted naps in mommy’s bed.
He tries everything he can to stay up.
- Mommy – peepee
- Mommy – water
- Mommy – toe hurts
- Mommy – sing
- Mommy – read
Not to mention – he is a TOTAL bed hog. My king sized bed feels like a twin when there is a Squishy monster in it. Feet in my face, toes in my back, and more than one midnight head bump.
I have pretty much tried everything.
I am at my whits end. I hate ending my days so stressed and frustrated.
It is hard enough single parenting let alone dealing with this night after night after night.
I feel like I get no break from being the bad guy.
I am lost between feeling like my son needs me during this rough time of having his daddy gone, and feeling like I need a break for just me, and a few nights of not fighting tooth and nail to get him to sleep…
FYI – it was nearly midnight before my son crashed tonight. That boy has some serious will power.
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I’m in a very similar boat. Mason slept in his crib last night from 9pm-2am the longest stretch in a really long time. I started off getting him to do that by lying on the floor next to his crib for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half before he fell asleep. I did that for ages and I’m only at this point, let me know if you get some better advice, I’d love to hear it too!
I can’t remember what it is called, but when you start off next to their bed until they fall asleep, then slowly get further and further away. Also, maybe some kind of rewards for staying in bed at night. My daughter has been trying to come out of her room at night lately, so we told her for everynight she does not come out, she gets a sticker and after 10 stickers she gets to pick out a dollar store toy or book. Good luck whatever you decide to do!!
awwww cute 🙂
Hey Lady – I would be honored to co-host Bee Friendly Friday Follow again!! Thanks for the opportunity!! 🙂
My girls have ALWAYS been ones to sleep in my bed between my husband and I…and I have noone to blame but myself because I would let them and even encourage it when they were younger. Finally, tho – my husband had enough and wasn’t getting the proper sleep {the girls are getting bigger and hogging most of our king bed now!!} It was very difficult the first night, but we put blankets and pillows down by the side of our bed so they were still on our room but not actually IN our bed with us. I laid awake most of the night with my arm hanging down holding Lillian’s hand, but the second night and from then on – it’s been so much better. They start in their beds and then at any point in the night they decide to wake up, they know they have to lay on the floor. Adam and I are getting better nights sleep – and we’re HOPING that the floor is going to get old for them soon – they seem to be sleeping in their beds for longer periods of time. My next step is to slowly move their bed on the floor from the side of my bed to the end of the bed – and then gradually move it closer and closer to the door, out in the hall and then to their room. I know that Squishy Man is younger than my girls – but, maybe it’s worth a shot?? Good Luck, hun!
Haha that’s too cute! Both of my babies loved sleeping in their beds! They seemed more comfortable! My sister on the other hand – who has 5 kids – had 4 kids sleeping in her bed for many years!! They are all gone now except for the littlest one. The others stopped when they got new bunkbeds!
We JUST got our son out of coming into our bed every night at 4 AM and he is 2.5 years old. It was actually a pretty easy transition. We talked to him before we put him down and told him he had to stay in his bed until the sun came up and then he could come into our bedroom. The first few nights he still woke up in the middle of the night but we went in there and told him it was still dark out and night night time and he would lay back down. Now a month later, we have a little boy who sometimes lets us sleep until 8 AM sans toddler in our bed! Good luck!
Thank you Laura! I really appreciate the advice. I **think** fingers crossed we may be on the mend. I told him he couldn’t sleep in our bed anymore. I really appreciate the advice – I should tell him about the sun too!
We had this problem with our Gracie hogging the bed and we fixed it with a boppy. No joke! She sleeps perfectly still if she uses her boppy as a pillow! And now she can sleep with us any time she wants because she stays put – all night! I love it!