Savannah's Weblog

It was last July that Savannah started having trouble sleeping. Waking up just before dawn, she'd come to find me. I was 7 months pregnant, and it was hard to go back to sleep. Then the bedtime troubles started after Seth was born.

I finally bought a copy of Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems. After I felt I had the information I needed, I took a couple of days to psych myself up. Two nights ago, I told her, very nicely but sure of myself, that bedtime was going to change. I started with, "Mama and Daddy are not going to lie down with you anymore."

After a few seconds for that to sink in I said, "But, instead of 1 book at bedtime, you get 3. And then we can play a quiet game like cards or a puppet show." This excited her.

I then explained the calendar we were to put on her door. For going to sleep by herself (of course this would include Minnie Mouse and Bunny), she would get one sticker. For staying in her bed all night, she would get another sticker. After four stickers, that's two nights of complete success, she would get a "little present."

Two nights have passed, and she received her first little present, some new paints. She painted me a pretty picture today. The first night she cried for 1 minute. Then I heard nothing. No running up and down the hall crying for 2 hours like she did last fall. No running to and from the potty for an hour and a half. Just one minute.

Last night I think I heard whimpering and talking. But nothing loud. She definitely tried to get another story out of me and asked that I lie down with her. But she's growing up. A few months makes a big difference.

She's also more restful during her sleep. Last night she was in the same position when I went to bed at midnight and still covered up! A friend of mine told me that sleep brings sleep. (You know, the wise get wiser. The rich get richer.) Even adults have trouble sleeping when they're overtired.

Who knows, she may soon ask for Daddy to read and play with her before bed.