Mission: Getting Toddler to Fall Asleep on his own: Week 3
It has been about three weeks since we started our mission to get our toddler, Smarty Pants, to fall asleep on his own. To get the full scoop on how this mission started, check out the intro article to this series here.
It has been a challenging and trying three weeks, with more ups and downs than an election campaign, but, like a good afternoon nap, it has been very rewarding (while at the same time making me feel groggy).
On the road to success
We are now at the point where we can get out of Smarty Pants’ bed while he is awake, and he won’t complain, cry or try hold us back. He also doesn’t crawl out of the bed anymore either. We simply tell him that we love him and that we will still stay in the room on the floor. (I say “we” because Love Buns has also put him to bed a few times using this approach now too).
Now, as we get out of his bed, he usually just turns to his side and falls asleep. We are inching our way closer to the door, away from his bed, and are at a point about half-way down his bed. Sometimes he scooches his head down to the middle of the bed, so that his head aligns with where we are sitting. If he does this, I move his head back up to his pillow once he is asleep.
We’re happy with the progress he has made, and we think he is happy about it too. In the mornings he usually says, “I slept all by self” and seems to be proud of it.
We are slowly making our way toward his bedroom door, and I emphasize the word “slowly.” Eventually, we will make it past the door and will be sitting outside his bedroom door while he falls asleep. I have the feeling that I will be plucking gray hairs from my ears by the time that day arrives, but who knows.
I’ll give you another update next week to let you know where we are… hopefully we will at least be at the foot of his bed.
Have you gone through a similar experience, and do you have any tips to share? Join the jam by leaving a comment and let me know! Thanks!
Flickr photo courtesy of KevinThoule
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okay, this sounds like something that just might work! only diff our tod is 17months what do we do if he wakes during the night, wich are about 4 times a night?
Hi Melanie, this might work for you too for sure! When we went through this with our son, we found that he woke up less during the night, or maybe he still woke up, but fell back to sleep soon after again without crying. Since he fell asleep without us by his side, when he woke up without us by his side, he wasn’t scared and was able to fall back asleep on his own. In case your son does wake up in the night and cries for you, I recommend going into the room, reassuring him, and then leaving the room again. You can give it a try and see if it works. Let us know!