Well, as we are a try and fail and try again household, I often end up talking about milestones and celebrating and then shortly thereafter uncelebrating. So remember back in the day when we gave Willow a big girl bed in the hopes that she would sleep better? Yeah, that didn't work. Obviously. And the fact of the matter is that she loves her crib, and we sort of figured on her being in it until she simply didn't fit anymore.
But then last weekend we were at a tag sale and found a sweet blue toddler bed. Now, we hadn't planned on getting her a toddler bed at all, what with the giant waste of money for one year's worth of use. But if somebody was offering one up practically for free....
We brought Willow over and showed her the bed. Did she like it? Would she like to bring it home and sleep in it? Yes yes yes it will be my new blue nest!
And so we have Willow the Owl, in the costume we got her for Halloween that she currently lives in pretty much all the time (sorry to spoil the surprise, folks) all snuggly in her blue nest.
It went...about as well as could be expected. I lay her down to sleep, told her goodnight, and was asked to pull up the side of the crib. No, sweet girl, this side doesn't go up. It stays down. She accepted this, but didn't much like it, and so asked me to stay until she fell asleep, which she did relatively quickly. (Vast improvement over the last time around, when at bedtime she demanded to have her crib brought back and to sleep there, thank you very much).
She woke up every two hours, and required my assistance to go back to sleep, though again, that didn't take very long.
Night Two was a different story. Bedtime took longer, as she didn't want to go to sleep in her blue nest (though again, no demands for her crib). And she woke up at 1:30, and went back to sleep after I came in. And then she woke up at 3. And didn't fall asleep until nearly 5. At that point, I was ready to take down the blue nest. Also possibly my child.
But then came Night Three, which, by the way, was last night. And on Night Three, she let me leave, and went to sleep on her own. She woke up once, kind of, because she half fell out of the bed and needed to be put back, but I didn't need to stay or anything. And she slept the rest of the night.
Now my hopes for tonight are minimal. Maybe a short stay at bedtime. Maybe a wakeup when I don't have to stay too long. Because despite those minor transitional issues, the larger point is this: they are transitional. She isn't heading back to the crib.
Let's celebrate!
But then last weekend we were at a tag sale and found a sweet blue toddler bed. Now, we hadn't planned on getting her a toddler bed at all, what with the giant waste of money for one year's worth of use. But if somebody was offering one up practically for free....
We brought Willow over and showed her the bed. Did she like it? Would she like to bring it home and sleep in it? Yes yes yes it will be my new blue nest!And so we have Willow the Owl, in the costume we got her for Halloween that she currently lives in pretty much all the time (sorry to spoil the surprise, folks) all snuggly in her blue nest.
It went...about as well as could be expected. I lay her down to sleep, told her goodnight, and was asked to pull up the side of the crib. No, sweet girl, this side doesn't go up. It stays down. She accepted this, but didn't much like it, and so asked me to stay until she fell asleep, which she did relatively quickly. (Vast improvement over the last time around, when at bedtime she demanded to have her crib brought back and to sleep there, thank you very much).
She woke up every two hours, and required my assistance to go back to sleep, though again, that didn't take very long.
Night Two was a different story. Bedtime took longer, as she didn't want to go to sleep in her blue nest (though again, no demands for her crib). And she woke up at 1:30, and went back to sleep after I came in. And then she woke up at 3. And didn't fall asleep until nearly 5. At that point, I was ready to take down the blue nest. Also possibly my child.
But then came Night Three, which, by the way, was last night. And on Night Three, she let me leave, and went to sleep on her own. She woke up once, kind of, because she half fell out of the bed and needed to be put back, but I didn't need to stay or anything. And she slept the rest of the night.
Now my hopes for tonight are minimal. Maybe a short stay at bedtime. Maybe a wakeup when I don't have to stay too long. Because despite those minor transitional issues, the larger point is this: they are transitional. She isn't heading back to the crib.
Let's celebrate!
5 comments:
Have you thought about one of those pool noodles shoved under the bed sheet so she doesn't fall out the one end? I've heard they work as well as the actual bumpers that are made for toddler beds. The bonus is that she can just climb over it when she wants to get out.
Oooh! I never heard of doing that, but it makes so much sense! I think we even have one stashed away somewhere! I'm off to check the basement now--thanks!!
How goes the sleeping in her own bed? I loved the pool noodle idea....could have used that when mine were little.
It's great! The noodle has made a huge difference. She still requires a little assurance--sometimes I have to stay with her until she falls asleep (only like 10 min, but I think I'm going to start phasing that out). And the nighttime wake-ups are totally gone. If she does wake up, she gets herself back to sleep. Thanks!!
Hi nnice reading your post
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