My son has had allergies since the day he was born. It was never a big deal until it morphed into asthma.
Since then, I've gone out of my way to keep him away from any dirt, dust, pollution, or pollen, and especially smokers. It sounds maddening, but it was actually quite do-able until we moved to EUROPE (!!!)
I've instituted a strict "no outside shoes in the house" rule and vacuum every single day-- upstairs, downstairs, and the staircase, too. It's a thankless pain, but I'm happy to do it to keep my kid healthy...
...and for all of my efforts, I turn around today and find him with the dirty vacuum attachments in his MOUTH!
(Loud SIGHING)
Since then, I've gone out of my way to keep him away from any dirt, dust, pollution, or pollen, and especially smokers. It sounds maddening, but it was actually quite do-able until we moved to EUROPE (!!!)
I've instituted a strict "no outside shoes in the house" rule and vacuum every single day-- upstairs, downstairs, and the staircase, too. It's a thankless pain, but I'm happy to do it to keep my kid healthy...
...and for all of my efforts, I turn around today and find him with the dirty vacuum attachments in his MOUTH!
(Loud SIGHING)
**************************************************************************
We went ahead and transitioned our son into a toddler bed along with our move.
It took a few days, but we finally found a nice one. Our son was so eager to have his very own "big boy bed" that he lay down and took a nap on it that afternoon.
I don't know why we bother to congratulate ourselves on our "parenting brilliance", because he has yet to actually sleep in it again...
Bedtime used to be tidy little process in our house. After our son's bath, we read stories and said prayers. Then, we'd play his lullaby CD, put him in his crib, give him a kiss, and leave the room. Most nights, he wasn't heard from again until late the next morning and I was free to clean, do laundry, blog, whatever... I was a blessed woman.
All that wonderfulness has been replaced with whining (his), begging (mine), and lots of crying (ours).
We've tried silently waking him back to his room a la SuperNanny, but the kid is relentless. We've offered brides and talk about all the exciting things planned for the next day "that will get here sooner" if he would... just... close... his... eyes.
We've stayed downstairs and ignored his screams of bloody murder at the gate, but I'm pretty sure that our neighbors hate us for that. (We share a wall on both sides.)
We've even tired making it bedtime for everyone. Hubby and I make a big production about turning out all of the lights and getting into our bed, but our son just comes into our room and yells "Get up!" repeatedly a mere three inches from my head.
Lately, we've just passed out from days upon days of exhaustion while he stays up and plays with his toys. Who knows what time his finally gets to bed... if ever.
Did I mention that he's usually up before we are? Yeah, it's maddening....
There have been a few mornings when we've found him asleep. We've woken up to find him curled up on the floor next to our bed or his, but ever IN his bed...
I'm about to do a little regressing of my own and put him back in a crib. At least, he had no choice but to stay there.
Any advice, Internet????
We went ahead and transitioned our son into a toddler bed along with our move.
It took a few days, but we finally found a nice one. Our son was so eager to have his very own "big boy bed" that he lay down and took a nap on it that afternoon.
I don't know why we bother to congratulate ourselves on our "parenting brilliance", because he has yet to actually sleep in it again...
Bedtime used to be tidy little process in our house. After our son's bath, we read stories and said prayers. Then, we'd play his lullaby CD, put him in his crib, give him a kiss, and leave the room. Most nights, he wasn't heard from again until late the next morning and I was free to clean, do laundry, blog, whatever... I was a blessed woman.
All that wonderfulness has been replaced with whining (his), begging (mine), and lots of crying (ours).
We've tried silently waking him back to his room a la SuperNanny, but the kid is relentless. We've offered brides and talk about all the exciting things planned for the next day "that will get here sooner" if he would... just... close... his... eyes.
We've stayed downstairs and ignored his screams of bloody murder at the gate, but I'm pretty sure that our neighbors hate us for that. (We share a wall on both sides.)
We've even tired making it bedtime for everyone. Hubby and I make a big production about turning out all of the lights and getting into our bed, but our son just comes into our room and yells "Get up!" repeatedly a mere three inches from my head.
Lately, we've just passed out from days upon days of exhaustion while he stays up and plays with his toys. Who knows what time his finally gets to bed... if ever.
Did I mention that he's usually up before we are? Yeah, it's maddening....
There have been a few mornings when we've found him asleep. We've woken up to find him curled up on the floor next to our bed or his, but ever IN his bed...
I'm about to do a little regressing of my own and put him back in a crib. At least, he had no choice but to stay there.
Any advice, Internet????
3 comments:
Since I plan on keeping our toddler in a crib until he's 16, I have no good advice. Tough love works, or so I hear.
I do, however, find myself laughing with ya on the vacuum attachment in the mouth. OY.
Glad the move went well!
I can tell you what worked with both of my boys --
1. We bought a bed rail for the bed. We used it on one side and then pushed the other against the wall. It gave them the feeling that they were still in a crib, even though they weren't.
2. Both boys got to help pick out bedding and wall decals for their room. This helped make them want to be in their beds.
Good luck with this. I know it is tough.
Don't go back. I know it is tough but you have to keep at it. If you give in and put the crib back now it will be even harder next time.
Allow him to play with his toys in his room but make it a rule that he has to stay in the room. A bed rail make help him feel secure so you could try it.
I, however, am cruel. I tell my son I will close his door if he does not go to sleep. It works for him but every kid is different. And the process does take time...just like potty training. It is just another way for them to make us crazy.
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