Here's a fun story for you all;
G has had issues falling asleep on her own for months. I don't know why it started, but back in California it could take her several times of us going in to calm her down before she'd fall asleep...even though she had previously been able to fall asleep on her own!! Nothing had seemed to change on our part. Also, for the most part, nap time was okay.
Then the move happened, and as I mentioned, we started staying in her room until she fell asleep--trying to ease her anxieties. Once we got to the new house we stopped that to re-sleep-train her to fall asleep on her own. Naps weren't as bad, but were affected.
Two weeks later, she'd still scream for an hour or so, with us going in every ten minutes or so... It was pretty miserable, and our evenings weren't very relaxing. No one likes listening to their kid cry, so even though she was in bed...we felt tense. So then we decided to do full on cry it out, but that's not for us--especially with concern her diaper might be poopy. I'm positive she'd cry the whole night, she's beyond stubborn. My husband has gone into her room and G would be standing in her crib, eyes closed, screaming bloody murder.
So then we went back to staying in her room until she fell asleep--thinking that after doing that for a few weeks we could retry leaving. This didn't work either, for the few nights we tried it. She'd be asleep, but then wake up crying a bit later. Plus it'd take her upwards of 20 minutes to fall asleep.
So then I figured out a method for her to fall asleep peacefully, but I'm not sure how long it'll last.
One of us stays in her room for a little bit to reassure her it's ok, then we go over to her, cover her up and pat her back, then say something like, "I'm going to go take a shower," or, "I'm going to go get a drink."
Then we leave the room and gently pull the door behind us. Thus far she has fallen asleep happily after that charade.
Someone tell me what this all means??? I just want her to sleep well and us to have a little alone time to relax after putting her down. How long will this method work? What do we do when it stops?
Ugh!
We are still trying to figure that out and he is 3 1/2. Nothing else works, hope you find something that does!!Jen
ReplyDeleteHey Kaylene -- Grant actually started doing something similar with Vera and it totally worked. It was in the middle of the night - if she wakes up he would go in and change diaper and check on her, but then would sing her a song and rock and then tell her "okay Vera, it's night time so I'm putting you back in your crib and I'll see you in the AM" and she would go back to bed! If I went in, she'd totally cry after I left. So I've started "telling her" more about what's happening. I do it at nap especially because she's sometimes feisty when I'm putting her down! "I'll be back after your nap" and tell her to sleep well! :) Hope you can get Gianna back on a routine before baby!
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