This patient support community is for discussions relating to the challenges of parenting
toddlers (age 1-5), including physical, speech, sensory, cognitive and emotional development, choosing a daycare/nanny, games & activities, and toilet training.
We're now down to me sleeping in their room in their bed with them until they go to sleep, which lately isn't taking very long. I go back to my bed and sleep. Around midnight she'll wake up and SOMETIMES I can get her back to her bed without further ado. Sometimes not and she ends up in our bed. Then DD#1, feeling left out, comes into our room to sleep the rest of the night.
It's not a restful sleep.
HOWEVER, here's my good news for you.... DD#2 will sleep at MDO and at the church nursery without fuss. I think it's because I'm NOT there. So, I would bet that your son will be similar and do wonderfully at school.
The general consensus from all I've read and we've attempted to do, is just stick with a routine bedtime and a routine routine to get them there. Now, in our life, that's kind of impossible, but we try to keep it as close to consistent as possible when we can.
If crying it out won't work, and staying by the crib side won't work, then have you tried moving him from your bed to his crib after he goes to sleep? Maybe won't get you much, but it might.
I feel for ya....and I totally understand. Sorry if this is not much help. Just thought you should know someone else is where you were and has lived to tell the tale. Just ignore those bags under my eyes.
I'm sorry to ask but what is a pallet?
Take your mattress and toss it on the floor with some blankets...instant pallet. OR for a lower to the ground pallet, but still comfy enough for a child... we usually put down about 3 quilts as a base and then a blanket or two for cover with a small pillow on the floor. That way they can have a "big" bed but no worry about falling off onto the floor. When the babies were real little we would surround the quilts with pillows to make a bit of a container. Granted, they still got up, but mostly they would sleep pretty good.
My Lauren (dd#2) doesn't want me (or her mimi) out of sight either. Kathryn (dd1) goes through periods like that, but Lauren seems to always be in that period, it just doesn't seem to end. I guess if it does, it's short lived.
Advice? Love 'em as they are... deal with 'em as you can... let 'em sleep with you when nothing else works. They will grow up, eventually. Kathryn is much better than a few months ago when Lauren was smaller. Lauren is getting better, but much slower to adjust than Kathryn. Each child is different and gotta love 'em for it. They are the sweetest and sometimes the most frustrating. But ain't that love?
Your baby boy will grow up fine knowing he's loved enough for you to care enough to make sure he feels safe. And that's our job. Make 'em feel safe in a world that's not always safe.
I'm sure you are doing everything right, as I feel there are no wrong answers. Some answers aren't as "right" for some children as others. That's what I've learrned between these two...what works for one will not usually work for the other. Adjustments are made and love goes on. And I sure do love these kiddos of mine.
It's the call for popcorn and choc-milk. And, I'm a bad mom...we recently took away bottles and now they are stuck with binks. Oh well. And potty training..... it's an ongoing process.
:) Take care!
PS... Sorry if I ramble...