Week ONE
So after Patrick learned how to climb out of his pack n play on vacation. He proceeded to climb out of his crib once we got home. He then started to SCREAM bloody murder for over an hour when I would put him to sleep. I was consistent in my nightly routines. Bath every other night, cookies & milk, brush teeth, say goodnight to daddy & Anthony, read books and then bed. I used to be able to say, “Okay, I love you – goodnight” and he would say, “I love you – na-night” and he would put himself to sleep. But since the end of June I have NOT slept through the night.
I’m going to get real. I have been through every emotion over this 6+ week ordeal. I have be patient, loving and understanding. But I have also been at my wits end, angry, mad and frustrated. Sometimes both within the span of HOURS that I spent in his room trying to get him to sleep. I have talked to him lovingly and let him know that I was there for him and I have yelled at him out of my own frustration. I have cried more about him not sleeping than I care to admit.
I know that he can’t tell me what exactly is wrong. I know he isn’t even TWO and that he doesn’t understand what is going on at all. I know that he is just as exhausted as I am. But I NEVER thought this was going to be a 2 month issue. I thought we would be back on track by now. WE ARE NOT. We are definitely better. We have moved passed the screaming and crying. He willingly goes to his room. He tells me when he wants to sleep. I am not allowed to leave the room, some nights he lets me hold him until he’s asleep, he takes about 30 minutes to settle down and then he goes to sleep. BUT …..He doesn’t sleep in his bed – he sleeps on the floor. And at first I was fighting it, I wanted him to sleep in his own bed. But then I realized whatever, he’s sleeping and putting himself to sleep.
He’s still waking up MULTIPLE times a night. Usually around midnight and then somewhere between 3 & 4am. Anytime before 3am I will wake up and meet him by his room and bring him back into his bed. I used to have to sit there with him for a little while or even sleep next time him to get him to stop freaking out and go back to sleep. Now I just walk him to his “bed” and he puts himself back to sleep. If he wakes up anytime after 2:59am I LEGIT can NOT get out of bed. Especially now that he goes full stealth mode when he wakes up. He just gets up and walks into our room, quietly. My mind doesn’t register him getting into bed with me. I know that he’s there because my subconscious can feel him and then sometime around 5am I bring him back to his room.
I know this is a phase and it will pass. I can see, when I write it out like this, that it is getting better. I wish I could just have my good little sleeper back. I wish I could figure out what exactly is going on! But it is what it is. I know I have tried my hardest. I haven’t given in to co-sleeping ALL night. I will continue to work on this and hopefully we’ll be back to a good sleeping routine before he goes to high school! haha
To the other moms out there experiencing a trying time with their child(ren).. Hang in there. Drink that glass of wine. Put that smile on. And know that it’s okay to freak out sometimes. You’re doing the best you can and there isn’t a person in the WORLD who knows whats going on inside your child’s head. It’s just a guessing game. And well, your guess is as good as mine.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my Toddler Sleep Drama!
Christina