While I had pretty much given up ever getting a full night's sleep in my own bed, my husband Adam was all gung-ho to try the "Super Nanny" technique of gettting a toddler to sleep by himself. For those of you who haven't watched any of the many nanny-themed reality shows, this involves putting the child back in bed everytime he gets up, never giving into his demands that Mommy or Daddy lay with him(and William can be very demanding). It also involves a lot of crying and very little actual sleep.
William woke up around 2am, wanting one of his human teddy-bears. Adam went in first and began super-nannying. I tried to stay asleep, but there was much wailing from the other room. Then it was my turn. I'm no good at the drill-sargeant-ness required of a super nanny. I'm more of a coach: "I know you can do this William", "I'll be right in the next room", "You're a big boy now, you can sleep in the big boy bed", "I know it's hard but I believe in you."
After several hours of tag-teaming. Adam got bed up and started threatening to make William sleep on the floor if he didn't choose to stay in bed. I thought this was a ridiculous technique, and said so. On my turn, I noticed that William was now asking me to sit on the edge of his bed, when previously he had demanded that I lay down on his pillow. Progress!
By about 5:30, William was clearly exhausted and a lot less vocal. Although he did become a bit chatty, telling me all about his night-light and the colours it was turning. At this point, Adam suggested calling it a night and bringing William to bed with us, since he seemed very awake. NO! said I. I almost got him to sleep, but it took one more Adam turn for our son to crash, at 6 am.
And of course he still woke up normal-time at 8 am.
2 comments:
I wouldnt say it was a threat
I only told him that he could sleep in bed or on the floor
so if he wanted to sleep in bed he had to be in bed and if he wanted to sleep on the floor we he had to be out of his bed..
this kinda worked a bit.. as william was trying to crawl into bed..
but its just made him crazy upset
im not convinced this technique might not work in the future
I used to do tell the kids I would stay in the room if they kept their eyes closed and did not move.... any time a hand or foot moved I would wisper you moved... or close your eyes etc.... It only took 15 -30 minutes and they were out... its hard not to fall asleep if they cannot move and its dark.
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