* So, the sleep thing happened again last night . . . EXCEPT . . . this time, I had a plan. :)
I remember reading in a book somewhere, at some point in my journey to Jordan, about helping kiddos get past sleep issues. One of the ideas was to play "tough love, " basically, and put the child back to bed, without any talking or singing or rocking (or any of the things that natural mommy inside of you wants to do so badly when your child is upset). The author said to do this as many times as was necessary (maybe every 2-3 minutes or so) until the child finally put himself back to sleep. Then, when it happens again, the child will (slowly, but surely) learn that mommy is not going to come and comfort you every time you wake up; rather, it is your job to soothe yourself back to sleep, not mommy's. :)
So, it's sounds really harsh, I know. But, last night, at 12:30am Jordan woke up doing his, "MOMMY!!!! HOLD YOU!!!" routine. Crying, screaming, desperate for attention. I knew Jordan was not sick, not hungry, not thirsty, just plain testing me to see if I would give in (again) and hold him for the next hour or so.
The plan went into action right then and there. :)
And guess what? It worked. I went in two times. After the second time of me picking him up and putting him back in bed (he was standing at his door both times) and not singing or rocking or anything, just placing him back in bed and leaving the room, he gave up. He slept like a baby the rest of the night . . . no interruptions.
So, thank you to Mr. Sleep-guy Author. I plan to keep using this technique until this phase has passed and we're back to sleeping 8pm-8am without any trouble. :)
**** Another update from yesterday's post ****
I actually got to spend time reading and praying this morning! Woo-hoo!!! God's Word is so refreshing, isn't it? Check out PHIL. 6 sometime. Reminded me to put on the full armor of God to stand against the enemy's lies and evil schemes. So powerful! I feel like a new woman today!!!!
Thank you, Jesus, for breathing life into us through your WORD!!!
3 comments:
We are going through the same thing and Bek also say's "mommy hold you". I have been doing the tough love lately and it does work just hard to do sometimes! We keep telling Bek he isn't getting a sibling until he sleeps through the night - ha.
Way to go mommy! I am not rocking my little man to sleep anymore either! I put him in his bed at naptimes and bedtime and it works!!! Love not fighting him and trying to hold a 20lb baby while he is flailing about.
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