Hellobee Boards

@Adira: I put one on her one day cause she was picking/scratching her bug bite scabs. Now she wants one like every single day even though she doesn't need one. We had Princess ones and last weekend I let her pick out new ones, she picked Frozen.

Can I ask everyone for an update on toddler sleep?

Pete only naps in the car or at daycare. I cannot get the kid to nap at home and it's exhausting to get through the day with him. He's up at 6:30am, naps for 45 minutes in the car (if we are lucky!), and then falls asleep around 9:15pm. It's a long day! Bedtime requires brushing teeth, reading three books, singing lullabies, and then sitting in his room until he is in a deep sleep. If I start at 8pm, I'm not out until 9:15pm. If I start at 8:45pm, I'm not done until 9:35pm. I really need for him to learn to fall asleep without me sitting in the room. If I try to sneak out before he's totally asleep, he jumps out of bed and runs to the door crying. And then we begin the process over again.

I should also mention that he wakes up around 2am and crawls into bed with us, where he kicks and flails and keeps me up until his 6:30am wakeup. Bedtime feels like a lot of work for only a few hours of independent sleep!

I need to find a way to help him fall asleep without me sitting in the room before #2 comes, or before I lose my mind. Any tips would be appreciated!

I'm considering this type of projector night light but I also hate to spend $25 on a gimmick that won't work... http://www.amazon.com/Petit-Prince-Twilight-Constellation-Projector/dp/B00HZBVFE2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435800110&sr=8-2&keywords=star+night+light

@QueensBee: she is only napping 1.5 hrs at most on average. Usually one nap a weekend she fights it bad and sometimes doesn't nap. Or we have to drive around so she gets at least 20-30 mins. We never know we are going to get. We started just putting her down at 8, then it still is 8:30/8:45 before she falls asleep. If we put her down at 7:30 she would stay awake till 8:30/845. So it is nice to have more time with her during the week. Routine is bath(every other night), jammie's, teeth, books, songs(only with me), and bed. She has to climb in herself or meltdown. Tonight I had to rock her for awhile cause she wasn't happy about bedtime. She has books, dolls, and other stuffed toys in bed with her. She is up between 625-830(only happens when she is up later then normal). Average is 7:00.
I have heard a lot of people swear by the toddler clocks. I would try what @travellingbee: did, slowly move further away each day. As for the middle of the night maybe the clock will work. Or I would just pick him up and put him back in his bed when he crawls in with you. heck even try bribery, is there a toy he would love? Tell him he gets it for staying in his bed every night for a week. Or do something little each night he does it and then after a week do the big prize.

Oh yes, I think potty training is upon us. My FIL does woodwork and yesterday made Isaac a really cool potty seat with a magazine rack, toilet paper holder and his name on it. When I was putting Isaac to bed last night he very seriously said "Grandpa made me a potty but I'm not potty trained." So I told him that when we got home we would potty train him so he can use his new potty.

Thank you all for taking the time to describe your routines and offer any advice or commiseration!

@travellingbee: We will try your plan of moving a little farther away each night. Once you made it out the door, did you close the door or put up a gate to keep him in? Or, did you keep the door open and somehow encourage him to stay inside the room?

@Smurfette: I feel a little better hearing that R gets a similar amount of sleep. I do wish he could stay in his bed the whole night too! We have the yellow/green toddler clock and that hasn't seemed to help. We've tried bribery too (he can have a cookie for breakfast and a sticker if he stays in his bed until the sun is up! so unhealthy, lol!) but that has only been moderately successful. Maybe I have to up the bribery? But what's better than a cookie for breakfast?

@ALV91711: Good point about the new baby liking the projector, even if it doesn't help Pete! I wonder if the heat is helping Isaac sleep through the night? I'm always more exhausted after a day in the sun.

That potty sounds awesome! I love that it has a magazine rack! What a great way to encourage potty training!

@Adira: Jealous of the crib! I feel like Xander's always been a pretty good sleeper. I hope Baby #2 is mellow like Xander!

@QueensBee: we didn't really have a problem with him getting out. He would just cry in his bed. But my friends did and they just kept putting him back. They said one night they put him back in like 100 times but eventually he stopped. We kept the door open and talked to him, saying he could call to us, when ever he wanted. So he'd randomly yell out, "Momma!" And I'd talk to him again and reassure him I was there.

@Smurfette: His room is mostly toddler proof so we sometimes lock him in there for a few minutes (like tonight!). He pretty much loses his mind in a crying fit. I'm sure he'd get himself to bed eventually but it would take a lot of crying to get there. That might be our next step but I'm hoping we can find a more moderate way to get him into bed first.

@travellingbee: I tried sitting in the doorway tonight, instead of inside the room. He got out of bed over and over and over again. Eventually, I had to close the door to his room and say that I would only open it when he was in his bed. At that point, he was tired enough to stay in bed and it worked! We'll see how tomorrow goes.

@Pumuckl: That does sound like a battle! Although you give me hope that it's possible to get two kids to sleep on my own!

Update: Pete fell asleep with DH sitting outside his room last night. Way less crying than the first night! He was up and in our bed by 2am, but at least we seem to be making progress at bedtime! Baby steps...

@Smurfette: Oh man, I am not looking forward to the mess of potty training! Our neighbors are currently in the process and they keep LO in a dress with no underwear on during the day (eta when at home). They carry her little potty with them everywhere, and ask her every ten minutes, "Do you have to go potty?" If it's right there and very accessible, she's more willing to stop playing, lift her dress, and go on the potty. Obviously this wouldn't help in a daycare setting but maybe over the weekend?

Other than that, I have no idea because we're not even close to where you are with it! We're hoping to get started once bedtime is under control. Could be college at this point!

@Adira: poor guy! That he didn't need stitches.
@QueensBee: yay!

So DH and I talked and since R is showing no interest the last couple days, we are potty training drop outs. (Singing it like Beauty School Drop Out from Grease). They will take her every couple hours at school with the rest of the kids. But I think we were forcing it too much. Frustrating cause she was so into it at first and was getting in. I know she knows when she has to go but she is ignoring it. Some days she would do better at school and the some home. Like she would just do it when she was in the mood. Guess we will try in a couple months.

@Smurfette: It sounds common among the boards for for potty training to be a step forward and a step backward. Good for you guys for taking a break from it before it became miserable! And I love the potty training dropout song. She'll get there soon, at least you can laugh about it in the meantime!

@ALV91711: Great to hear that you had a fantastic trip! I just love watching the kids interact at this age and I bet Isaac was adorable with his cousin. How is the sleep and nap situation now that you're back? Supper for dinner- cutie!

@Adira: You had a wild week of hospital visits! How is Xander's cut healing? Hope you're doing okay with the peanut allergy.

Sleep continues to be much much better! Bedtime is way more pleasant and he has been sleeping in his own bed for the whole night. It feels so good to be rested again!!