It's now 9:52 p.m., is your 2 1/2 year old to sleep? Mine just made it there.
Lately, Francesco has been having a rough time getting settled down for the night. God I hope it doesn't last. I was just about to giving the Binky back tonight. I literally could feel the life being sucked out of me as I left his room, took two steps away from the door and he started to yell out again.
We started the whole bedtime ritual at 8:21 pm and at 9:52 pm he is finally asleep, I hope. I haven't been able to get squat done in the evening because of these episodes. I have no idea what had brought them on and even more clueless of how to deal with them.
We do the same routine, read 2-3 books, turn on the music, leave a very generous night light on and give lots of hugs and kisses. He then yells out that he is scared, sometimes he will tell you what scares him. The cat is on his ceiling (I think he see a shadow), there's a dragon in the closet, a train is going to hit him, the list goes on. Other times I totally don't get what he is saying or he doesn't have an answer. You can tell he is on the very edge of going to sleep, he is to the point that he can hardly keep his eyes open while yelling and crying about being scared.
I have tried making sure the closet is all the way shut, turning the over head light on, reading an extra book, reassuring him I am not going to let anything happen to him, etc. I try to leave the room and tell him I will be back in 5 Min's (with every intention to go back) but don't make it 30-40 secs out of the room before it starts all over again. This occurs for at least an hour, can you just imagine how exhausting this can be? All the while I can only think of all the things I still need to do before I can even think about sitting down and even doing a leisure activity.
So, you can see how I could just about give the Binky back, but I didn't. I'm not even sure if that would help, he hasn't had the pacifier in over a month and this is a new recent issue in the last 10 (very exhausting) days.
I am wondering if he is having some form of night terrors but he is not asleep yet. If anyone has any insight I am all ears.
It's 10:10 pm and all Wee One's are sound asleep. For how long is the next question.
Pray for me!
I wish I had some wise words to offer...but I don't. I can commiserate with your frustration tho, as I've been there! For months, it took hours to get Nadia to sleep at night. I'd put her to bed at 8, and it would be a constant battle until nearly midnight. We tried everything. In the end, I can't say for sure what did the trick...maybe just outgrowing it?....but she's usually asleep within half an hour now and only calls for me once or twice.
ReplyDeleteDon't give the binky back. I don't think it's that either.
ReplyDeleteThis will pass. I don't really have any advice other than one night you will realize you're not going through this any longer.
Hang in there.
Oh, I know how hard it is, but you just have to stay strong. They have to learn how to self soothe. Anya is the same way. I'm happy if she is asleep by 9pm these days! It's frustrating.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried watching Monsters, Inc to show him that monsters are funny and not scary?
ReplyDeleteWe totally went through this with Becca. We ended up limiting her afternoon naps and eventually eliminating them. We also had to put in a night light as well as background soothing music to help her sleep peacefully!
ReplyDeleteDoes he have a favourite stuffed animal? If not create on, by always offering the same one over and over till he is attached. May replace the need for a binky.
Oh Cara, I'm so sorry...Addie had the night terrors, but she would wake up in the middle of the night screaming (not really fully awake!) we do have some rough patches getting to sleep at night, she always wants to be the one in control. "I want to turn my closet light on (we leave that on as her nightlight) and I want my bedroom door all the way open."
ReplyDeleteI allow her to do that, but tell her if she gets out of bed or screams that we'll have to to turn that light off and I will shut her door so she doesn't wake Em up. It took a few weeks, but now if you ask her she'll say, "I know I can't scream or get out of bed if I want my door open and the lights on, right?" So I guess? it is working...
Bless your heart, this kind of parenting issue is never fun. I'm a big fan of doing things the super nanny way. (Ever watch that show?)
ReplyDeleteWow...that sounds like a long ordeal...Caden occasionally complains about going to sleep, but most of the time he sits quietly and plays in his room, he almost always takes at least an hour to go to sleep though, so it is often 10 before he gets to sleep! I think there definitely are stages that they go through...sleep is the hardest thing. I'm reading this late, so I hope the issue is already solved!
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