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TR - sleep issues and pre-preschool question
First, My son (2) will often finally fall asleep at 9/9:30 and still wake at 6 am. He is in is his bed by 8 but cannot wind down and makes up lots of excuses to have a parent up there. This has been going on since he went to the big bed in January and my hubby and I are really needing some down time at night before we go to bed ourselves - so please offer any suggestions! Oh, and he will say he is scared or needs to be tucked in again or he will just yell until one of us comes up and wants to chat. Tonight I told him he couldn't play in his bed (I catch him making pillow forts, etc..) otherwise it was back to the crib because big kids lay and rest and can sing a song or say some more prayers while they fall asleep. Seemed to work tonight, but it's been done before with no sticking pattern.
Also, I just found out my son's bestie at daycare will be leaving in the fall for preschool. My son turns 3 in Oct, and his bud is 3 just at the cut off. Daycare will now only have 3 newborns and a 1 1/2 year old when we go back after maternity leave. What would you do - keep him there (I think he will be bored)? Find a new place for them both? I will be part time and through year end and then am considering quiting work for a while, so it will be a short time he will be there. Also, what do most of you do with your 3 year olds?? I am hesitant to start preschool as he will be in it for a long time before he starts but I worry about him being bored with a new baby in the house and him being used to palying all day with peers. Do you think there are enough activities we could attend that would allow for him to develop friendship, learn and enjpy his day?
Sorry I am so long-winded...it's been a long month and I cannot keep my thoughts straight...
Re: TR - sleep issues and pre-preschool question
Have you seen the Cloud B Light Up Turtle? It's AWESOME! It displays stars on the celing, and even a moon, it's very relaxing. I know El isn't really old enough to count them, or what not, but it gives her something to look at and she is OUT in a matter of minutes. It stays on for 45min. And you can change the color of it. We LOVE IT! H and I joke we're going to put it in our room, to snugle under the stars! LOL
I think you can get them at Barnes & Noble, and I might have seen them at BB&B!
Just a thought. And I'm not sure on the pre-school question.
They had them yesterday as well.
I can't help you with the sleep issues. I have a 3 year old that won't go to sleep before 9 (unless she doesn't take a nap) and will only fall asleep if we lay next to her. I understand not having any of your own down time before going to bed yourself. I long for the day!
My 3 year old is in full time daycare. They incorporate preschool for the 3 year olds and pre-k for the 4 year olds. If it was just short term, I would probably keep him where his is. If it turns into a longer term thing, I would want him around some kids his own age. I've noticed a huge difference in Maya's social skills and interactions since she started in a center. She stayed home home until she was 2. As much as I would love to be a SAHM, I really think she benefits from being in the center. They are also teaching her a lot of school readiness skills which is a huge plus.
I have a child with sleep issues as well. Once he climbed out of his crib in August, he wouldn't go to sleep without us laying there. In November I tried the HSHC method where you put them back in bed everytime they get up. It worked for about 6 days then he started crying. I finally put a gate on his door last month. It is a tall gate that I got from a friend that had used a baby proofer in her house. He has to stay in there for an hour in the afternoon - on occasion he will actually go to sleep. At night we did some ferbering, but he definitely outlasted us. We were ready to go to sleep and he was still crying. Finally we started standing outside his door. If he get out of bed, I go downstairs, which leads to crying. Eventually I go console him, put him back in bed and will stand again. Now he usually goes to sleep the second. Most days he doesn't nap so goes to sleep without crying. Our problem is he wakes up after 3 or 4 hours. I have tried standing and he has more endurance after sleeping for awhile. Eventually I cave and bring him to bed. I either need to suck it up and just deal with little sleep for several nights or may see if he will sleep on his sleeping bag on our floor. Then the goal will be to inch it out of the room. I know how you feel though and it is very, VERY frustrating.
Talking to a friend just this week that is a single mom and had let her little girl sleep with her for years. They had been to a family counselor as the little girl was having some issues at school. The counselor said that by not helping her learn to sleep on her own, she was missing out on an important step of becoming her own little person. Oy! Now that makes me more motivated for our little man to figure it out - I just have to prepare myself for the potential pain that could come with it.