We decided that something we had to address with the kids was the fact that Reid was sleeping on Megan's floor on a mattress every night, which meant that neither of them were getting enough sleep.
So I took the mattress out of her room one day and hid it in my cupboard, and told Reid he could sleep in his room or the spare room, just not Megan's room. When it came down to it, the only way to get Reid to sleep in a separate room was to lay down in bed with him until he fell asleep.
For a few weeks now that's what we've been doing. Overall it is working. Reid is sleeping in a different room, and Megan is getting more sleep. This plan has it's disadvantages though. For one, most nights it's pretty even odds who is going to fall asleep first - him or me. A few nights I have woken up at 9:30pm to find him finally asleep next to me. How I fall asleep I don't know because Reid going to sleep is like a dog going to sleep - how they get up and down and turn around and around trying to find that perfect comfortable spot to fall asleep in. Tonight I felt like a bit of a punching bag - he spent an hour fidgeting and climbing on me before eventually collapsing. Lastly, despite the fact that we are doing this to help Megan to get more sleep, she is upset that we are "spending more time with Reid" and he is getting all this attention at bedtime.
I thought that laying down with him for up to 2 hours a night would be incredibly frustrating. Some nights I certainly don't look forward to it. But mostly I'm finding it to be a good thing - we tell each other stories and I think he is enjoying the attention and the one-on-one time. Perhaps I am imagining it but his behaviour seems to have improved. Or it could just be that because I get some down-time every day I am calmer and better able to deal with him. I just need to figure out how to stop Megan from feeling left out now! I take her out on her own but of course it's still not fair according to her.
So I took the mattress out of her room one day and hid it in my cupboard, and told Reid he could sleep in his room or the spare room, just not Megan's room. When it came down to it, the only way to get Reid to sleep in a separate room was to lay down in bed with him until he fell asleep.
For a few weeks now that's what we've been doing. Overall it is working. Reid is sleeping in a different room, and Megan is getting more sleep. This plan has it's disadvantages though. For one, most nights it's pretty even odds who is going to fall asleep first - him or me. A few nights I have woken up at 9:30pm to find him finally asleep next to me. How I fall asleep I don't know because Reid going to sleep is like a dog going to sleep - how they get up and down and turn around and around trying to find that perfect comfortable spot to fall asleep in. Tonight I felt like a bit of a punching bag - he spent an hour fidgeting and climbing on me before eventually collapsing. Lastly, despite the fact that we are doing this to help Megan to get more sleep, she is upset that we are "spending more time with Reid" and he is getting all this attention at bedtime.
I thought that laying down with him for up to 2 hours a night would be incredibly frustrating. Some nights I certainly don't look forward to it. But mostly I'm finding it to be a good thing - we tell each other stories and I think he is enjoying the attention and the one-on-one time. Perhaps I am imagining it but his behaviour seems to have improved. Or it could just be that because I get some down-time every day I am calmer and better able to deal with him. I just need to figure out how to stop Megan from feeling left out now! I take her out on her own but of course it's still not fair according to her.
Augh! I am with you - nothing I ever do seems "fair". I think it is all about doing what works for today! You are a good mom - I wish we were closer - I could use some help with "keeping it real"-istic when I am worn!!
ReplyDeleteHaha. He sounds like my youngest. He is 5 y.o. and things seem a little better. I only say that not to discourage you, but to let you know you are not alone. If there's one thing I've learned, each child is different and it's our job to figure that out. Being a parent is probably the most humbling thing you could ever do. Good job Cassie.
ReplyDeleteCassie - Did you solve this problem? Marin is now refusing to go to bed. We took the front off the crib two weeks ago and now all of a sudden she is refusing to go to bed and waking up at 4:30 am. So last night she slept from 10-4:30 am! We are all exhausted and she is a bear all day!! Help!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, no we have not solved the bed time problem. See my Reid Diary here: http://sites.google.com/site/cassiewoolley76/home/the-reid-diary-1
ReplyDeleteWe have just starting using this Miracle Music CD. http://www.childrensmiraclemusic.com/ We've only done it for a day so far but a girl in my ward uses it and says it has made a huge difference in her house. Megan has certainly responded well to it so far.
Other than that I think I am just hoping that one day he will literally wake up and wonder what the heck he is doing sleeping on the floor because it's really not that comfortable and he's not sleeping so well. Surely when he is seven he will figure out that it's not normal!!