Dutch is not sleeping at night and it's beginning to be a huge problem. He goes to bed between 8 and 10, depending on when we can get him to finally settle down. We have a nighttime schedule that we follow every night, but, despite what the books say, this does not help him settle down. Anywhere between 11pm and 2am he will wake up and come in our room where Chris has him lay down on the floor next to our bed. This sometimes works for an hour or so, but usually Dutch is up and about all night. I woke up this morning to find that he had used his rocking horse as a step-stool, climbed on top of the dryer and gotten into his fruit snacks and extra juice. He had opened 4 of the 6 and drank a little from each of them.
All his nightly wanderings are starting to get to me. Last night I literally could not wake myself up enough to get him because I've been so exhausted. He finally goes to sleep somewhere around 5 or 6 and wakes up between 8 and 10. Meaning I wake up between 8 and 10 too. I'm pretty sure the three of us have not gotten a consistent night's sleep all year long and it has to stop. I can't Dutch proof my house entirely since he has figured out how to climb up (he can even get into the freezer now).
How can I get him to sleep through the night? Any help is appreciated. Short of drugging him I'm willing to try anything.
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6 comments:
You need to build a gate (use plywood that is high enough he can't climb) and then take everything but his bed out of his room. That way there is nothing to do or get into. It might sound mean but it is much safer than him wandering all over your house at night while the 2 of you are asleep.
Heathers idea really is brilliant. All children's behavior has a payoff - figure out what his is. Is he doing it because he knows he can? Does he wake up with the hope of sleeping with ya'll? Does he like having free reign of the house while you are asleep? Whatever it is, find it and stop it. Once the payoff is gone it should help him sleep better. Should - but the fact is he's developed a habit, and it always takes time to get over a habit. The plywood really is the best - and easiest idea - to train him out of it. You can do it! I love you!
I don't know if you need a gate, that sounds like too much work. When Noah figured out how to get out of his room, we put a knob cover-the plastic ones that keep kids from turning the knob?-on the inside of his door so he can't open it. Still, though, take out all the things out that he can play with or reach or climb. We do have to let Noah out after each nap and in the mornings, but this is the most effective thing we found that was easy and inexpensive. Good luck!
I was going to suggest a gate. Lukers figured out to open the child safety knob and the one for the refrigerator in less than 24 hours. I am guessing your guy is just as mechanically inclined. (By the way, the name Harper is in the top 100 for girl names 2010.)
Does he take naps during the day? If he does, maybe try cutting out his naps or shortening them, waking him up earlier and do tiring out activities in the later afternoon. I know that no matter how tired Avery gets or is, if she had any kind of nap she will take forever to fall asleep.
Can you revert back to a crib? Delaney will be 3 in March and she is still in a crib. Luckily, it has really high sides so she doesn't try and can't get out of it. If she was not in a crib still, I could imagine she would be doing the same as Dutch. At least he would be contained, safe and mommy and daddy could get some sleep.
I know that "super nanny" says to put them back in bed, don't make eye contact and don't say a word to them and for however long it takes, if he steps out of the room, pick him up and put him in bed. It might take a weekend where your hubby is off where he could help out. But eventually, he needs to learn when bedtime and sleeping is, because you are right, you can't keep doing this when the baby is born.
Just some thoughts, good luck!
We used the door-knob cover method with Spencer. He would cry for about an hour before finally falling asleep, but we'd just let him cry it out. It was hard for us to let him cry that long, but now he goes to bed when we ask him to and we can even leave his door open at night.
-mark
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