Toddler Thursday: The more things change ...
Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.
I talked a couple of weeks ago about how we were going through a major transition with our nearly 2 year old, Isaac. (He joined the 2 year olds class in daycare the last week and has to learn to use a regular cup instead of a sippy.)
Well.
Now, in addition to the classroom change and learning to use a new kind of cup, we've got something else big going on: the move from the crib to a big-boy bed (or, as he calls it, "a boy bed"). We weren't really thinking this was going to happen that soon, but the kiddo is tall and managed to wrangle his way out of the crib twice (thankfully, we have carpet). So, something else new! (Plus, we've got 2-year molars breaking through and a new buzz cut to keep him from ripping his hair out by twisting it around his finger when he gets tired.)
For me, the change to the bed is the biggest sea change since he started crawling. We're now basically past the point where we can put him somewhere and he'll stay there -- forever. Before he crawled, we could put him down and be certain that's where he'd remain. Since then, the only time that's really happened is bedtime and naptime, when he's in his crib. Now that time is past, too.
The first couple of nights went ... OK, but last night was a bear. I spent three hours trying to get him to go to sleep in the bed instead of running around his room and the landing on the top floor. He was enjoying the freedom too much to calm down, despite bath, books, calm songs and going over the story of his day, which is his usual bedtime routine. In late evening, he kept lying down on the floor. I tried lying down with him, but he didn't want that. Finally I laid down in his bed, and that got his attention: "No! Isaac's turn!" he said. I moved, he crawled into bed, and after I tucked him in and gave him a kiss, he didn't make a peep until 7:15 this morning.
Fingers crossed that this gets easier.
We have only had one naptime since the new bed, and that didn't go too well, but it did lead to a very sweet moment, and a reminder that, the more things change ...
... the more they stay the same.
(Photos by me in June 2008 and May 2010)
Comments
All together now....Awwwww.
I remember those days, Sarah. It will get easier. I actually think your lying down in the bed was a brilliant move. But be prepared to have to change your strategy after he figures it out.
SKK: I had already tried the "gossip" suggestion from the "Happiest Toddler on the Block" of talking to one of his stuffed animals about how it was ready to go to bed, but that totally failed. I have to start plotting more strategies!
Posted by: Kate | June 3, 2010 4:07 PM
Too cute, SKK!
My best suggestion: wear him out! Of course, we may get worn out first!
Posted by: Dahlink | June 3, 2010 5:15 PM
Really cute post! Wanted to let you know we posted a link to it on our FB fan page. Hope you take a look!
Posted by: Heather Weisse Walsh | June 3, 2010 6:10 PM
Awww... My 20-month old has been doing very similar things, minus the climbing out of his bed. Last night, he wouldn't sleep unless I took him down to the couch and snuggled him. He can no longer sleep on top of me as he is going to be a big brother in 2-3 months. I hope it gets easier.
Posted by: Aly K | June 4, 2010 7:08 AM
We moved my daughter to a big girl bed when she was two, too, but we also got a bed guard. It definitely kept her in the bed. Now that she's three, we took the guard off and she still says in the bed, most of the time, once we put her down. Good luck!
Posted by: Margaret | June 4, 2010 9:46 AM
You may want to try just putting up a baby gate in the doorway to the bedroom. If he gets out, at least he's confined to the one area and safe. Thankfully, my kids didn't do this with me because they know that bedtime means in bed time. No one wants to mess with a tired mommy!
SKK: I am definitely trying this over the weekend. He was only able to get into the landing beyond his room, which is maybe 6 feet by 6 feet. But that new temptation seemed enough.
Posted by: Stacy | June 4, 2010 3:04 PM
My 20 mo. old has thankfully not launched himself out of the crib yet. I was worrying to a friend of mine about this very issue, and she told me not to worry, that once her daughter moved to a big girl bed it never even occured to her that she could get in and out as she pleased. That sounded pretty unusual to me, and now I'm SURE it's unusual! This scenario sounds much more likely. Glad to have the heads up!
SKK: I talked with his teachers at school yesterday, and he stays in his cot at naptime there, but they didn't have any suggestions for translating that into bedtime. Le sigh! As an update: Saturday naptime was great, Sunday naptime was nonexistent, despite several tries. Bedtime has been getting a bit better, though.
Posted by: Betsy | June 8, 2010 10:24 AM