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Cincinnati Babies
Bedtime drama - help! ) Long
I always dread bedtime around here. It's a huge, long, drawn-out production and on bath nights, it's even worse.
But now we have a new wrinkle. Justin has woke up the past 3 mornings at 5 freaking AM just beside himself with sobs. There's any number of reasons he gives for the nature of his upset -- his nightlight is off, he dropped a stuffed animal off the bed, his knee itches, etc. This morning, he had the most insane list of things to cry about: I don't like the letters on my wall; I don't like my black bed; I don't want to sleep in this room; I can't think of anything to dream about.
He always fights going to bed, but tonight has been an epic battle and he is still not asleep. He is crying because he wants his daddy (he's been in there), he dropped a book, he doesn't like his bed, yada, yada, yada. I think we must be dealing with some real fears here, but he hasn't really expressed the thought that he is afraid of anything. Tonight, he stood at his bedroom door and BEAT on it, screaming for DH.
Any ideas how to get through this phase? I'm running out of sympathy because he needs to sleep and so do we. I don't know how Tyler is sleeping through it, but he is (THANK GOD). I just don't know what else to do. I can't spend all night in there calming him and I'm also not going to start the habit of letting him sleep in our bed.
Justin Thomas joined us on 8.4.07
Tyler Anthony arrived on 9.21.09
The Chronicles of Justin and Tyler
Tyler Anthony arrived on 9.21.09
The Chronicles of Justin and Tyler
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Bedtime drama - help! ) Long
Ay ay ay... Hopefully the notion "this too shall pass" is really soon and not a few weeks away... Have you thought about just ignoring him? Does that work?
What about a 'good morning' night light so he knows when he's allowed to wakeup? One of those ones that tells time but also gives a green light to really get up? like this? https://www.amazon.com/Its-About-Time-IAT-100-Stoplight/dp/B002TKLN3C
The other thought I had is if this is all connected to his other stuff- when is your appt at Children's? Bring it up then?
GL!
I definitely think at least part (if not all) of this is fear driven. I don't know the best way to figure out what he's afraid of, but perhaps ask him during a calm moment today when he's not upset or in his bedroom, see if that gets you any answers.
Also, do you think leaving the light on would help? Sometimes Logan asks for me to leave his bedroom light on. He used to do it every night, but only about half the time (or less) now. I oblige him with the warning that if he gets up or is too loud or whatever the light goes off. 90% of the time he goes to sleep with no issues and I just go in and flip his light off after he's asleep. If he does get rowdy, I follow through and turn the light off.
Sorry you're dealing with this, and I hope you all get some rest soon.
Uggh. So sorry you are going through this. Definitely sounds like some sort of irrational fear or night terror. Does he have a night light? Do you think that would help? I really don't have any other advice, but I hope it gets better soon!
And the part about "not having anything to dream about" made me laugh. That sounds like something Lucas would complain about. Haha.
This is exactly what we did/do too.
I like PP suggestion of asking him about his fears during the day, when he is not in his room. You may get some real answers that will let you come up with some ways to sooth the fears.
I don't know what your bedtime routine looks like but maybe making it very strict for a while so he knows EXACTLY what to expect and EXACTLY what time he will be in bed. If he needs a bath, jammies and a book before bed then maybe let him know that it will all happen before 8pm (for example), because that's when he will be tucked in bed. If he puts up a fight with any of the steps you could just put him in bed at the correct time, even if he hasn't made it through the whole routine. That way he would know you mean business, and dragging his feet won't get him extra time. If you keep a poker face and don't react he may give it up.
GL. Charlotte has just started using stalling tactics before bed. "I need DORA!" or "I need kisses!" or "BRUSH MY TEETH!" Argh, it's frustrating but to make it worse I think it's cute because I love that she is talking that much.....so it's hard for me to ignore and walk away.