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A new outlook (sorry the post is a long one)

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

We have a two and a half year old anti-sleeper. He naps well, he sleeps through the night (75% of the time)... he just doesn't go to sleep until between 9:30pm and 11:30pm. (We actually have come quite far as he used to wake-up, up to 7 times a night and often would rise at 5am!) I hear all you 'I wouldn't let my child do that' moms clicking your tongues at me... we have tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get the child to sleep or at least stay in bed.

We have weighed it all out and here are some new conclusions; We used to try and force Jake to stay in bed - he would then cry exhaustively for HOURS and keep the other two up and always go to sleep on a negative note. We tried the putting him back to bed every time he got out - we spent many an evening going up and down the stairs battling wills with a two year old. We tried to ignore him when he stayed up - we then lost out on a couple hours of interactive quality time with just him and no siblings to compete with.

Now we are spending nice time with him. We don't cater to him, nor let him run the evening, but we cherish the time we get with just him. He tags along as I wash the dishes, fold laundry, read, watch TV eat snacks and he tells daddy stories, does puzzles with him, eat snacks together, tell knock-knock jokes and cuddle. Both Pernell and I are really enjoying it.

My mother will grumble and do the "I wouldn't let him get away with that, he thinks it is a reward" speech... tough shit on her. I know we are doing the right thing, it just took a little while to figure out... since my first two kids love sleeping!

That is all the ramblings I have for today... sorry it is so long... and unrelated to your lives... but my goodness Jake is so so so cute when he is on his own! He did puzzles and sang, "bup ba buv ba bup bu ba" (Twinkle twinkle little star) this evening while shaking his bum in a dance sort of move :)

  1. Blogger Al said:

    We used to have the same battles with Jordan. I don't think there is anything wrong at all with your approach.

  1. Blogger Al said:

    We used to have the same battles with Jordan. I don't think there is anything wrong at all with your approach.

  1. Blogger Lori said:

    That is the kind of post I like to read. I am glad you are enjoying him! I know you always have, but this sleeping thing has been a frustration. I think it is so neat the way they are act when they are not around their siblings. Oliver goes to town when Emma is not here.

  1. Blogger Alison said:

    Rock on Jacob.......

  1. Anonymous Anonymous said:

    Finally, I have been trying to post a comment for 2 hrs!

    That is nice that you get one on one time at night with him.

    My mom has a friend who's child plays herself to sleep. They put a thing on the door handle in her room so she can't get out and she just plays till she crashes. The mom said that is around 3 am. I would die! I can not sleep when my kids are awake.

    Mine go to bed around 7pm.... and most times middle child will sing in her bed til after 9pm! LOL But hey, she stays in her bed! LOL

    Love Andrea

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