Comments on: Just so you know, toddler sleep training is a pain in the ass http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:08:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maxwell http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-16250 Maxwell Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:14:37 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-16250 Hi Daphne, you got some great post here! It’s full of interesting stuff that many parents like us can learn from. You know what, I’ve been in your shoes before! And I know how hard it can be. We had this beautiful <a href="http://www.toddlerbedsforboys.org/" rel="nofollow">Toddler Beds For Boys</a> before, but the kids were growing really fast and they couldn’t just get enough sleep on it because the bed was just not enough. When we decided to buy a new bigger bed, I thought solved it all! But no, it was just a beginning of a long adjusting for all of us. Fortunately, we managed and so will all the other parents who will pass this stage of parenting. Thanks for this great post! Hi Daphne, you got some great post here! It’s full of interesting stuff that many parents like us can learn from. You know what, I’ve been in your shoes before! And I know how hard it can be. We had this beautiful Toddler Beds For Boys before, but the kids were growing really fast and they couldn’t just get enough sleep on it because the bed was just not enough. When we decided to buy a new bigger bed, I thought solved it all! But no, it was just a beginning of a long adjusting for all of us. Fortunately, we managed and so will all the other parents who will pass this stage of parenting. Thanks for this great post!

]]> By: Joanne http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-10425 Joanne Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:35:28 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-10425 Hi Daphne, I also googled toddler sleep training and this blog came up. It's so great to hear other people having the same problem. My 2yr old was also trained in his cot, before he learnt to climb out. After being forced to transition to the bed, I too tried putting him to bed more than 84 times (I lost count), which included holding him down in his bed a few nights before I came to my senses and put a gate on the door of his room. Now his door can be open, but he's stuck in there. We do the routine and leave him in there, and he's pretty happy because he's not shut in behind a door, but has some boundaries to help him contain his own freedom (I think he was as relieved to get the gate as we were!). Also we make it completely dark except for a little trace of light from a half covered night light. The gate has helped ENORMOUSLY and he can now put himself to sleep on his own, but it takes him 1-2hrs to do it (as opposed to the 30 mins on his own in the cot that he used to do). So instead of going to sleep at 7.30pm he's now going to sleep at 8.30 - 9pm. Initially having blackout curtains meant that he slept in until 7 or 8 in the morning, so he was getting a fair amount of sleep (he USED to sleep 7.30pm - 7.30am). My problem now is that he decided to potty train himself, and is waking up at 5.55am because he's desparate to go potty (he refuses to go in his diaper), but is still going to bed at 8-9pm. So I'm going out of my mind trying to work out how to get him to sleep EARLIER at night. As you say, all the published methods are nuts. Sitting in with him kind of helps, but not that much. Unfortunately he's now learnt to lift up the blackout curtains so he can see out the window (where the summery daylight streams in) and he's trashed his room so much that it now has baby proofing on the baby proofing. And forget about nap time sleep training - we just take him for a walk in the stroller to get him to sleep, and then bring him home and transfer him into his bed! Not a good long term solution, but until I get his night time routine back I don't even dare touch the hallowed daytime sleep or I might lose it altogether! Hi Daphne,
I also googled toddler sleep training and this blog came up. It’s so great to hear other people having the same problem. My 2yr old was also trained in his cot, before he learnt to climb out. After being forced to transition to the bed, I too tried putting him to bed more than 84 times (I lost count), which included holding him down in his bed a few nights before I came to my senses and put a gate on the door of his room. Now his door can be open, but he’s stuck in there. We do the routine and leave him in there, and he’s pretty happy because he’s not shut in behind a door, but has some boundaries to help him contain his own freedom (I think he was as relieved to get the gate as we were!). Also we make it completely dark except for a little trace of light from a half covered night light. The gate has helped ENORMOUSLY and he can now put himself to sleep on his own, but it takes him 1-2hrs to do it (as opposed to the 30 mins on his own in the cot that he used to do). So instead of going to sleep at 7.30pm he’s now going to sleep at 8.30 – 9pm.

Initially having blackout curtains meant that he slept in until 7 or 8 in the morning, so he was getting a fair amount of sleep (he USED to sleep 7.30pm – 7.30am). My problem now is that he decided to potty train himself, and is waking up at 5.55am because he’s desparate to go potty (he refuses to go in his diaper), but is still going to bed at 8-9pm. So I’m going out of my mind trying to work out how to get him to sleep EARLIER at night. As you say, all the published methods are nuts. Sitting in with him kind of helps, but not that much. Unfortunately he’s now learnt to lift up the blackout curtains so he can see out the window (where the summery daylight streams in) and he’s trashed his room so much that it now has baby proofing on the baby proofing.

And forget about nap time sleep training – we just take him for a walk in the stroller to get him to sleep, and then bring him home and transfer him into his bed! Not a good long term solution, but until I get his night time routine back I don’t even dare touch the hallowed daytime sleep or I might lose it altogether!

]]> By: PrincessLia http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-8837 PrincessLia Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:05:17 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-8837 <a href="#comment-8835" rel="nofollow">@PrincessLia</a>, Sorry- the little doll just came and pressed her Pop Tart into my keyboard which submitted before my summation. I know this is long winded for a comment, and I'm sure you can already smell out a fellow blogger and English Major, but its so GOOD to have adult conversation! Anyway, so not only are we attempting to put her in a bed after we go through our routine, but she hits me and head buts me. When she does this, I put her in bed and walk out, trying to send the message that I will not tolerate being her "bitch." But in the end, she still wins because it takes me 2 hours just to put her to sleep, a process which prior, only took 30 minutes and that includes brushing her teeth and snuggling for story time! I'm literally having to sit there and rock her until she falls asleep. I read on the Supernanny website that you should just keep leading the toddler back to her/his bed. But this will take 3 hours!! I know there are probably no shortcuts here, but I miss my evenings. I'm grateful to be a mommy, and to have Gracie (my baby), in ANY capacity because I know there are many who don't have children. (This is my disclaimer because you can't complain to the older moms! They always have something to say in retort, like "You're going to miss this one day!" I hate to say it but I think to myself- really? I'm going to miss THIS? THIS has me discussing a hysterectomy with my doctor!). But with that said, I can't do much more of this and stay sane!!! @PrincessLia, Sorry- the little doll just came and pressed her Pop Tart into my keyboard which submitted before my summation. I know this is long winded for a comment, and I’m sure you can already smell out a fellow blogger and English Major, but its so GOOD to have adult conversation! Anyway, so not only are we attempting to put her in a bed after we go through our routine, but she hits me and head buts me. When she does this, I put her in bed and walk out, trying to send the message that I will not tolerate being her “bitch.” But in the end, she still wins because it takes me 2 hours just to put her to sleep, a process which prior, only took 30 minutes and that includes brushing her teeth and snuggling for story time! I’m literally having to sit there and rock her until she falls asleep. I read on the Supernanny website that you should just keep leading the toddler back to her/his bed. But this will take 3 hours!! I know there are probably no shortcuts here, but I miss my evenings. I’m grateful to be a mommy, and to have Gracie (my baby), in ANY capacity because I know there are many who don’t have children. (This is my disclaimer because you can’t complain to the older moms! They always have something to say in retort, like “You’re going to miss this one day!” I hate to say it but I think to myself- really? I’m going to miss THIS? THIS has me discussing a hysterectomy with my doctor!). But with that said, I can’t do much more of this and stay sane!!!

]]> By: PrincessLia http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-8835 PrincessLia Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:57:12 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-8835 How ironic, I also stumbled upon your blog when googling toddler sleep training and I'm also late to arrive in this forum. :) It is so good to know I'm not the only parent pushing a big rock up an even bigger flippin hill! What's worse, I broke the cardinal rule of parenting. Never get cocky. I certainly did. I was at my breaking point during my husband's first deployment and decided to sleep train my (at the time) 12 month old. I suffered through method after method, and like you, modified a few into one. In a week, she got the message, that she was going to go into her crib and like it. I felt so in charge. I felt so confident. I felt so cocky. And therein lies by big mistake. Recently, I received a phone call from the retailer that we bought my daughter's crib from, explaining to me that the crib was recalled. So, since it was a necessity, and since the timing came in with my husband's military bonus, we felt like buying her a "big girl" bed would be in her best interests. I bought her an adorable twin bed. Blue, no less. Its so totally HER! We took pics when we showed her the room. All the while, mind you, I'm still sitting there, feeling the unlimited certainty of success, because MY daughter at 20 months is SLEEP TRAINED! We are on night 4 of this nightmare and its like I never even sleep trained her. Its like some distant dream. I am in sleep training HELL. Its worse to try this at 20 months than it was when she was 12 months because now she physically is able to beat me up when she is having a tantrum. At 12 months, she had HALF of the tantrums she does now. And because of my husband's many deployments, she really only wants mommy at bedtime, even if its just to beat like a scared schoolgirl. How ironic, I also stumbled upon your blog when googling toddler sleep training and I’m also late to arrive in this forum. :) It is so good to know I’m not the only parent pushing a big rock up an even bigger flippin hill! What’s worse, I broke the cardinal rule of parenting. Never get cocky. I certainly did. I was at my breaking point during my husband’s first deployment and decided to sleep train my (at the time) 12 month old. I suffered through method after method, and like you, modified a few into one. In a week, she got the message, that she was going to go into her crib and like it. I felt so in charge. I felt so confident. I felt so cocky. And therein lies by big mistake. Recently, I received a phone call from the retailer that we bought my daughter’s crib from, explaining to me that the crib was recalled. So, since it was a necessity, and since the timing came in with my husband’s military bonus, we felt like buying her a “big girl” bed would be in her best interests. I bought her an adorable twin bed. Blue, no less. Its so totally HER! We took pics when we showed her the room. All the while, mind you, I’m still sitting there, feeling the unlimited certainty of success, because MY daughter at 20 months is SLEEP TRAINED!
We are on night 4 of this nightmare and its like I never even sleep trained her. Its like some distant dream. I am in sleep training HELL. Its worse to try this at 20 months than it was when she was 12 months because now she physically is able to beat me up when she is having a tantrum. At 12 months, she had HALF of the tantrums she does now. And because of my husband’s many deployments, she really only wants mommy at bedtime, even if its just to beat like a scared schoolgirl.

]]> By: Daphne http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-8721 Daphne Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:25:15 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-8721 <a href="#comment-8606" rel="nofollow">@seekingclarav</a>, I'm just curious - what exactly is Madelyn DOING when she's up from 10p.m - 4a.m? Crying? Shuffling around the house like it was <em>Zombieland</em>? Having Froot Loops while watching reruns of <em>General Hospital</em>? If she hasn't been already, you may wanna consider shifting her to another room. And if all else fails, my doctor friend tells me a little sedative never did a toddler any harm. She recommends it for friends who bring toddlers for long-haul flights. True story. @seekingclarav, I’m just curious – what exactly is Madelyn DOING when she’s up from 10p.m – 4a.m? Crying? Shuffling around the house like it was Zombieland? Having Froot Loops while watching reruns of General Hospital?

If she hasn’t been already, you may wanna consider shifting her to another room. And if all else fails, my doctor friend tells me a little sedative never did a toddler any harm. She recommends it for friends who bring toddlers for long-haul flights. True story.

]]> By: seekingclarav http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-8606 seekingclarav Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:33:07 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-8606 So I know I am late to comment but I just came across this post by googling "sleep training methods toddler" because I am loosing my freaking mind. For some reason I thought my 2 yr old would just plop on the bed and go to sleep. HA. I too have tried all the methods (it's only been 2 naps & 2 nights) and I no longer have feeling in my right arm from the head stroking and both of my legs could have well been amputated and I wouldn't have felt anything. Have I mentioned I am 6 months pregnant? which is why we started these shenanigans in the first place. The goal is to have her sleep trained in a bed before I am too big to get off the floor with out a crane. So she was awake from 10pm until 4am last night and I was just flailing around on the bed crying and laughing at the same time while reading your post. Send help! So I know I am late to comment but I just came across this post by googling “sleep training methods toddler” because I am loosing my freaking mind. For some reason I thought my 2 yr old would just plop on the bed and go to sleep. HA. I too have tried all the methods (it’s only been 2 naps & 2 nights) and I no longer have feeling in my right arm from the head stroking and both of my legs could have well been amputated and I wouldn’t have felt anything. Have I mentioned I am 6 months pregnant? which is why we started these shenanigans in the first place. The goal is to have her sleep trained in a bed before I am too big to get off the floor with out a crane.

So she was awake from 10pm until 4am last night and I was just flailing around on the bed crying and laughing at the same time while reading your post. Send help!

]]> By: Ali http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-6410 Ali Sat, 15 May 2010 00:59:01 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-6410 <a href="#comment-6398" rel="nofollow">@Daphne</a>, Seems, after doing some reading, that "sleep training" isn't the proper thing to be doing in the attachment phase... So I guess I'm just strategizing for longer sleep periods. He can crawl, so that's my problem. Probably best to just tend to him until he is older and can understand a little bit better. But if I lose it, I'll be sure to try the helmet/kneepad combo. @Daphne, Seems, after doing some reading, that “sleep training” isn’t the proper thing to be doing in the attachment phase… So I guess I’m just strategizing for longer sleep periods.

He can crawl, so that’s my problem. Probably best to just tend to him until he is older and can understand a little bit better. But if I lose it, I’ll be sure to try the helmet/kneepad combo.

]]> By: Daphne http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-6398 Daphne Fri, 14 May 2010 08:34:11 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-6398 <a href="#comment-6381" rel="nofollow">@Ali</a>, Hi Ali, thanks for popping by. You're really quite bold to start Rome at 7.5 months! The thing with Truett was that he could already walk (he was 15 months then) and when we shut the door on him for about 5-10 minutes he would cry till he was weary - and then trudged back to bed. So when we go in to check on him he isn't slumped over the floor or anything but nicely tucked in bed. So I'm not sure if Rome can walk at 7.5 months (that'll be way ahead of the development scale) but it may be a little challenging at this point. You may want to try letting him sleep with a helmet and knee guards. All the best! @Ali, Hi Ali, thanks for popping by. You’re really quite bold to start Rome at 7.5 months!

The thing with Truett was that he could already walk (he was 15 months then) and when we shut the door on him for about 5-10 minutes he would cry till he was weary – and then trudged back to bed. So when we go in to check on him he isn’t slumped over the floor or anything but nicely tucked in bed.

So I’m not sure if Rome can walk at 7.5 months (that’ll be way ahead of the development scale) but it may be a little challenging at this point. You may want to try letting him sleep with a helmet and knee guards.

All the best!

]]> By: There will be no crib! | Sunrise Rants http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-6382 There will be no crib! | Sunrise Rants Thu, 13 May 2010 18:04:10 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-6382 [...] Even if we did this, when it came time to transition to a floor bed at toddler time, we could face the same set of proble..., waking, crawling to the door, walking or running to the door, fear of letting child cry-it-out, [...] [...] Even if we did this, when it came time to transition to a floor bed at toddler time, we could face the same set of proble…, waking, crawling to the door, walking or running to the door, fear of letting child cry-it-out, [...]

]]> By: Ali http://www.motherinc.org/stuff-best-described-as-not-safe-for-parents/just-so-you-know-toddler-sleep-training-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/comment-page-1/#comment-6381 Ali Thu, 13 May 2010 17:23:47 +0000 http://www.motherinc.org/?p=3326#comment-6381 I found your blog googling "floor bed sleep training." I'm starting my son out on the floor bed and, while not good to hear your struggle, it is good to hear that my struggle at 7 months old is the same thing that would happen later anyways. So, did you have any luck? What worked? I will send you gold coins and homebaked anything for a strategy to try here! My little Rome is 7.5 months and loves the game of crawling out of bed only to be dragged back to it. He giggles. So friggin cute and annoying because I can't get too mad. I hate to think of closing the doors and letting him collapse outside of them! What to do!!?? I can't keep waking up every two hours though! I'm a mad woman!! .-= Ali´s last blog .. =-. I found your blog googling “floor bed sleep training.” I’m starting my son out on the floor bed and, while not good to hear your struggle, it is good to hear that my struggle at 7 months old is the same thing that would happen later anyways. So, did you have any luck? What worked? I will send you gold coins and homebaked anything for a strategy to try here! My little Rome is 7.5 months and loves the game of crawling out of bed only to be dragged back to it. He giggles. So friggin cute and annoying because I can’t get too mad. I hate to think of closing the doors and letting him collapse outside of them! What to do!!?? I can’t keep waking up every two hours though! I’m a mad woman!!
.-= Ali´s last blog .. =-.

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