BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: Ruggie on May 25, 2006, 08:24:01 am
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I have been reading your posts with sunsmile and colesmom regarding wi/wo. I am thinking of using it for 18mo DS.
He settles perfectly everynight, he climbs into his own bed by himself and we turn out the light and leave the room. He would be asleep within minutes.
He takes 1 nap a day at around mid day for 2-3 hours. He uses a dummy, that is his cue for nap only.
However, he wakes at the anytime between 4:30-5:30. We use to give him the dummy to go back to sleep, but this habit was stopped when he was 12 month old (took us 1 week). Since the arrival with DS #2 (plus being sick before for 2 weeks all at the same time) he has started waking again at the 4:30-5:30 and now that he knows to ask for the dummy he would not settle til he gets it.
Its accidental parenting on our part since we were too tired to deal with him properly when DS#2 first came home. Its now been 6 weeks.
Should I think about getting rid off the dummy all together? Something I am not looking forward to since he uses it to nap and its my only rest time when he is down for 2-3 hours.
Can wi/wo helps with the early wakings despite him asking for his dummy? Although I am starting to noticed that even the dummy is not sending him back to sleep some mornings and we have to start our day at 5, which throws the mid-day nap slightly out of whack. No matter what happens in his day, we still keeping his bedtime routine the same and at the same time. and he still settle fine every night.
Would love to hear your answers and anyone else who have had similar experience.
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Walk out/walk in MAY help with early wakings - if you do it until its time to get up, eventually he may stop waking early.
Do you have an objection to him having a pacifier when he sleeps? Henry naps with one (three) and takes one (three) at night. Its not a problem for me because that's the only time he gets them. I have no intention of removing them anytime soon. If you have no objection to him having a pacifier when he sleeps, I would suggest putting several (notice Henry has three) in his crib at bedtime. Let him know they are there so he can find one on his own when he wakes and wants one. That way at least he'll stop waking you for it and may just go back to sleep on his own.
You might also check the light in his room during the early morning. Henry's room gets light way too early for him to be getting up for the day so I put aluminum foil on his window AND he has blackout blinds. Its completely dark in there now other than his night light. That can help with early mornings, too.
You might also try moving his bedtime earlier by about 15 minutes. Sometimes going to bed even a little earlier can help with early wakings - crazy as it sounds, it really does work.
HTH!
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we want to stop the dummy coz he is getting cheeky with it and is using it more and more, other than just for nap. He would ask for it, goes to bed and then climb out and play in his room with the dummy in. There are no toys in his room, he just plays with his curtains, table, whatever etc. He also ask for the dummy whenever we are in the car. The rule is if dummy in, he is not allowed toys to play. Since there is no define awake or sleep time in the car, he sucks the whole way ( and we live quiet a drive away from places). When I ask for it back since he is not sleeping, he would rest his head on the seat to tell me that he is, but he doesn't.
Also the dummy wasn't helping with the morning wakings either. Its winter autumn here so its not the light thats waking him up. But I have counted that if he wakes at 5am, he has been sleeping for 10 hours straight. Perhaps thats all he needs ???
Anyhow, after an incident on Friday I got so angry that I scold him for roaming around his room with the dummy, and since it created such a dramatic effect, we went cold turkey. He has been dummy free for 48 hours now. So for now we just giving him lots of support to get through and have managed a nap each day, once on his dad's shoulder and once he just drifted off while he was in the car. We noticed he didn't ask for his dummy as often today. Fingers crossed coz I have to deal with him without a dummy and DS#2 tomorrow without their dad. Wish me luck!
Thanks for your help. We will get over the dummy first and if the early waking persist, we will attempt wi/wo.