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Sleep

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Original poster

Ok, please come and give me reasons as to why I shouldn't sit with DS1 (3.5) till he falls asleep....

11 replies

Ceebee74 · 30/12/2009 20:13

DS1 has always been a good sleeper but since he moved into a bed about 15 months ago, actually getting him to go to bed and stay there has been 'challenging'. Have tried a variety of things and some have worked for a while but we always seem to revert to him messing about on the landing, screaming, crying, making himself sick on occasions etc.

Over the last few days, I have been lying with him listening to his story CD for no more than 10 minutes - by which time, he is fast asleep. So, for 10 minutes of my time, we get much calmer evenings all round and me and DH are far less stressed with each other. Seems to be a good situation but am wondering whether it is a bad habit to get into.

Any reasons why I shouldn't be doing this? I am really at the end of my tether with his p*ssing about at bedtimes tbh and maybe I am opting for the easy life

OP posts:

domesticextremist · 30/12/2009 20:15

You can do it as long as you are edging closer to the door dont they say?

And of course if you are happy doing it then its fine anyway isnt it - its only a bother if you're not happy with it...

Aranea · 30/12/2009 20:16

Sounds lovely to me! I used to have to sit with dd1 till she fell asleep and it was a nightmare as she takes forever to go to sleep. Sometimes I'd be there for nearly 2 hours... but 10 minutes? I think that sounds like a lovely cosy bedtime ritual. (And he won't need you there forever you know. Even my dd1 goes to sleep all by herself these days)

SleighGirl · 30/12/2009 20:16

I think it's a lovely thing to do but what if you need to go out......?

You could do gradual withdrawl, sit next to the bed then a bit further away etc etc

Also what if you become his sleep prop and if he wakes in the night starts needing you there?

Totally up to you, if you're happy to do it why not?

MmeLindt · 30/12/2009 20:17

As long as you are happy wiht it and it does not get to be more than 10 mins then stick with it. Better than an hour of nonsense.

thisisyesterday · 30/12/2009 20:20

of course you can do it.
be prepared for it to be long-term though, that's the only thing i would say.

one day he won't need you. that could be in a few weeks, or it could be months away.
so just be prepared!

i think it's lovely though, you do what you have to do, and as long as the 2 of you are happy with it that's all tha tmatters

coldtits · 30/12/2009 20:23

I do it with ds2. It takes about 15 minutes.

I reason that I'm his mother. If I can't give him 15 minutes at bedtime, what can I give him>?

Prosecco · 30/12/2009 20:23

It is impressive.
What is her name?

Prosecco · 30/12/2009 20:24

Sorry wrong thread

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 30/12/2009 20:29

Thanks for the replies (and yours Prosecco )

It is lovely and I don't get to cuddle him very often so I do like it - but I suppose a part of me feels guilty that I don't do the same for DS2 as he is in his cot, never cries at bedtime so is easy to put to bed

Also, yes I am worried that I will become his sleep prop - but so far, although he does get up quite often in the middle of the night too, he just has a little strop then and puts himself back to bed - mainly because me and DH are too lazy to get out of bed to sort him out so we both lie there telling him to go back to bed!! Not very consistent am I?

As for going out - ha! If I do go out, DH would probably do it and DS1 would be happy with that - and since me and DH never go out together as we have no-one to babysit, I am not worried about that!!

OP posts:

Aranea · 30/12/2009 20:39

Oh, I wouldn't feel guilty about ds2, I'm sure he'll go through an awkward phase too at some point!

And when I used to do it with dd1, I did occasionally go out and leave my mum or my sister to cuddle her to sleep. It kinda worked.

nulgirl · 30/12/2009 20:39

I do this with dd every night and she is 3.4 now. It used to take ages before she dropped her naps a year ago but it now only takes about 10 mins. I read her story and then sit on the floor and read my own book. Nice time for me as well to get a chance to read. I figure she won't be asking me to do it when she's 16 so I might as well enjoy it now. Its also not like i have a really active social life in the evenings with lots else to do. DH does it when I am out and she is fine with that too but she prefers me (the only time she does as she is such a daddy's girl)

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