Does this look like the face of a girl that has CLEARLY been working her parents over for a week and a half? No?
Well, think again! We have been averaging 1 1/2 to 3 hours trying to get her to be still, lay down, and go to sleep. And mind you, that is TWICE a day! We were DONE!
So, I read a couple of books (well, articles in 2 books) about getting your child to stay in the bed/transitioning to the ever-illustrious 'Big Girl Bed'. The books suggested that we simply state that it was bed time...offer comfort...maybe a little night light...leave the door open, etc. If she continues to get up (and run her parents ragged) - put up a baby gate (while leaving the door open). When she cries (and boy did she), don't get angry...simply point to the bed and remind her 'It is bed time'. It was so much nicer, not loosing my cool and getting frustrated!
You would think that putting up that gate was pulling out her fingernails! She HATES it. It doesn't obstruct the view, just the passage through the doorway. Then we tell her that if she remains in her bed, we will not put up the gate. It has taken 2 naps and 1 bedtime (that's all!) to get through to her. 30 minutes for yesterday's nap, 30 minutes last night, 20 minutes today's nap, and NOT ONE TIME DID SHE GET UP TONIGHT!
Needless to say, we were WORKED!
4 comments:
Yeah!! I am so happy for you two and the Big Girl that you have now. What a proud day. She is growing up fast!
I am glad it worked for you this way. I did not know how to help you in this situation because your cousins were good to me when they were little.... it was the teenage years that they killed me in. So bless you and your hubby with little Miss Priss.
When Chloe first started using her big girl bed we had to stack two baby gates one on top of another and she still climbed over them!
Glad Miss C. is doing good now and maybe ya'll are getting more sleep.
Diane H.
She is! Thank you Diane. It is nice to know that our Big Girl isn't the only one!
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