So let's see where to start...........the first 10 months of Hailey's life she hated life. And everyone in it, including me. And she hated naps. Night time was fine. She took a bottle, fell asleep and slept 11-13 hours from about 8 weeks on. But during the day?? The most I could get out of her was maybe 40 minutes. S T R E S S F U L. And she would not fall asleep on her own. I had to swaddle and rock her. My fault. I am totally claiming messing up my child for life. I will accept responsibility. But it sucks.
After I was able to quit my horrible-no-good nanny job in March of '10 I decided Hailey was GOING to nap in her crib and not my arms (in my defense at the horrible nanny job there was NO where for her to sleep for her nap, so I held her. Ughhhh fun NOT). So I let her cry it out. It took a couple days, 1 day she cried for over an hour but she is smart and caught on quickly. Quickly I was able to lay her down w/ her bink, cover her w/ a blanket and she fell right to sleep. Success!!!
So from 11 months until 22 she took 2 1/2-3 hour naps. It was GLORIOUS! This was on top of sleeping 11-13 hours a night. Why oh why didn't we have another baby then? Ha. So once she turned 22 months she went down to 1 2 hour nap a day, but she was still sleeping great at night in her crib.
Then I found out I was pregnant. And the baby would need the crib and Hailey would have to be moved to the twin bed. So I decided EVER so slowly to transition her for this. I took out the beloved bumpers. The girl would snuggle her entire face and body into the side of her crib and sleep in the bumpers. Weird I know. So I took them out. And then her binkies fell out of the crib and she would wake up w/out it and scream and I would go in and re-plug her. One night I think I did it 9 times. Seriously?? It got a little better, and then in August we went to Michigan. She slept horribly there b/c of the time change, new surrounds, etc. But I thought maybe it would get better at home. It didn't. MORE waking in the night crying for no reason. (oh other then she tends to wake up a LOT when teething. And she has been getting her 2 year molars. Fun! Tylenol=Momma's bff)
So I decided if she was going to wake up in the middle of the night anyways we may as well get her one step closer to being out of the crib and take apart the one side of her crib and make it into a "toddler bed". She did AMAZING with this transition. WAY better then I expected. That first night I was sooooooo worried. She would get out of bed and go play in the toilet, or push a chair over to the counter in the kitchen and get the knives, or go outside and a million other crazy things. lol. But she never ONCE got out of that bed. I don't know if she knew she could or not. But when she would wake up she would just lay there and cry and scream until I opened the door then she could climb out. So funny! But I was HAPPY!
But her sleeping through the night did not get any better. Still waking up crying in the middle of the night or having a hard time going to sleep. It's been extremely wearing on this Momma. Remember this started back in June when I took the bumpers out.
So fast forward to last week. She decided she could and would get out of her bed and come and find Momma. WHAT?? I always swore she wouldn't do it, b/c after 2 months of sleeping in the big girl bed she never did! Who showed her this?? Why does she think this is a good idea??? So I think it was Tuesday night of last week, she got out of her bed and came into my room 8 times. We were awake from 2:15-8:30. Seriously. I was dead. It was horrible. I was crying. When Steve woke up at 6:30 to get ready for work I made him take over. She was hysterical and would NOT stay in her room. Finally at 7:30 we went in the big queen bed together and she finally fell asleep from 8:30-10am. Then, I kid you not was the sweetest, best behaved she has been in MONTHS. What the?? I love me a good 2 year old and a good day, but I need my sleep more. Ha.
So we went to walmart. And spent $30 on sleeping-through-the-night-bribes. Ha. Oh and a door handle child proof lock. Judge me if you want, but I will lock my child in her room if I have to. And I did.
So we got the lock, new binkies (again w/ the judging. I realize she needs to get rid of these, but now is not the time people!), a huge soft dora blanket, and a princess flash light. We also decided that instead of needing to be comforted by Momma we would push her to take a doll/stuffed animal to bed. Sounds opposite of what "normal" people would do, and not have their child be attached to something, but she is sooooooo attached to me we need to move that attachment to something other then Momma. I sound like a child psychologist right?? Or at least like I know what I'm talking about?? ha. Not-so-much. Honestly, I am so anxious about having this baby and being in the hospital for fear of how Hailey is going to do w/ me gone I haven't thought or worried about labor and delivery much. Or how our house is going to be effected by another baby, we just need SLEEP!!! So I will do whatever I have to do.
So that night after the horrible night she feel asleep great, slept great and was quiet until 6:10am when she came into my room. I took her back to her bed and she slept until 9. I knew she HAD to be tired and was glad we got some good sleep. The next 2 nights went amazing, went to sleep great and slept through the night w/out a peep! Praise Jesus!!
Then the next night (y'all I have no idea what day is what. Sorry), she came into my room 3 times. So I broke out the door handle lock. She stayed in her bed and slept after that. And the next 2 nights. Then this past Sunday night she decided she didn't want to go to sleep. So she tried to get out, but couldn't. Broke my heart and made me laugh hysterically at the same time. She stood at the door trying with all her little might to get the door open screaming "stuck! Mommmmmmaaaa!! Stuck! I commin out see Daddy, go Daddy bed! Momma my be good girl! I no go living room, my go Momma bed!" oh it was hilarious and heart wrenching at the same time. So I caved and went in and explained why the lock was there and why she couldn't get out. She slept the whole night and the last 2 since. Not sure if we have turned a corner or not. I expect there to be delay's and she will regress before fulling getting it. But she is smart, and wants to please so much.
She really is good and sweet, but man she can drive me insane! We decided if she wakes up crying, I will go in and check and make sure she isn't poopy/sick/hot/cold etc and then after that she gets to cry. It KILLS me but I know it will get better. She needs to learn to console herself to sleep and not have me patting her back, singing, or what she wants most of all to sleep with us. No happenin! So we'll see! I wanted to document this and to help if ppl google this. When I goggled almost all the stories I read were about stopping co-sleeping, something we never did. She has always been in her own bed, just never able to get herself to sleep. Again this is my fault. Oh the things we learn! I just keep telling myself that one day she will be in jr high and I will never be able to get her OUT of bed right??? ;)
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