Thanks to everyone for the suggestions on how to cope with Hannah's bed problems. We changed the doorknob so that it locks from the outside, and put Hannah back in the big girl bed. She is doing pretty well at night. The first night, she cried at the door when she couldn't open it, so I went back in and reminded her that she had to stay in the big bed and then when she cried again I just let her cry for a while. When I went in later to feed Jack, she had climbed back into her bed and fallen asleep, and I was glad she was not sleeping on the floor. Subsequent nights she has stayed in bed.
Naptime is another story entirely. There are so many interesting things to do in her bedroom, even though she has no toys or books in there. One day, she emptied her entire drawer full of socks and tights, and lined them all up along the edge of her bed. Another day (when Jack was not in there, thankfully) she climbed into the crib, dismantled the mobile, tossed out Jack's blankets and pacifiers, and was in there wailing when I went in to put her back to bed. Another time she tossed all of her blankets and whatnot into the crib, and was just trying to figure out how to hoist the (empty) wicker laundry hamper into the crib when I went in.
Previously, Hannah was sleeping about 1.5 to 2 hours a day for her nap. Going with a much shorter nap or non-existent nap the past several days has made for an exceedingly cranky toddler. I think she will just have to get used to and accept the fact that she is not allowed out of her bed, and I'm ok with the time it will take to get through to her on that point, but it's not fun. Thankfully my mom is here this week to help, since in addition to these bed struggles, both kids have been really sick.
I also wanted to add that my comment in the previous post about the two hour quiet time we have is not because I need my "free time" or whatever, but because I really think there is a benefit to having a rest hour of sorts for kids. The sleep books say that ALL kids up to age 5 need a nap, or they will be sleep deprived ("Sleepless in America" was a good book about sleep needs for everyone, but it's not really a how-to manual). Certainly that holds true for my kids! I use the time to do housework that I can't do with a baby and toddler in tow, and to stay on top of things like making dinner, or to do work for some business clients we have, or to do my exercising, and so forth. I just wanted to note that it's not like Bon Bon Hour for me, although I am always glad on days when I have some time at the end of naptime to read or blog!
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3 comments:
I was sorry to hear of your struggles with Hannah and her big girl bed. We are expecting #2 later this year (September) and Mikaylah will be 22 months. We don't agree with buying 2 cribs, so she will go to a toddler bed/big girl bed and the baby will get the crib. I am kind of stressed about it already because I can see her hopping out of bed to explore the house! :) I like your fixes to the problem - I think, with your consistency, she will do well and everyone will be happy.
I had to laugh when you said "Bon Bon Hour". :o) My friend also enforces a 2-hour quiet time rule at her house and she said it is a lifesaver! Even if the kids are older and don't nap, she said they play quietly in their room. She does her devotional, throws dinner together, exercises, etc. just like you mentioned. I am going to try to transition Mikaylah and the new baby onto this schedule, as with no family in our new state and a husband that travels, I may need a little break at times during the day. :o)
I think everyone,age 0 to 100, needs a quiet time during the day. It keeps you sane. And if you want to spend your quiet time eating bon-bons, more power to you!
Glad the door knob trick worked for the night time. I love Hannah's creativity during nap time. made me laugh out loud, then cringe because I realized I am not too far away from that. Charlotte will be hard to get down for a nap when she is in a big girl bed!
Bon Bon hour...don't you wish?!?! I laughed at that, knowing full well that you don't use it for "yourself". I wish I was able to enforce that at home, but with my sitter not doing it at her house, it's hard to be consistent during the week. Frankly, I am just happy IF Morgan naps at all. But I am with you that there is a huge difference in her if she does/doesn't nap. Good luck! I am not looking forward to the transition at all.
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