9:30pm Bedtime
Yesterday evening I tried my toddler night time schedule again. I gave him a bath around 7:30pm and I remembered to remind him that we were getting ready for bedtime which would be soon. I took my shower a little later at 8:15pm. Finished up around 8:30pm and he was done with his milk. I went to his bedroom and again, reminded him that it would be bedtime pretty soon. We read two books and played a little bit with his stuff animal and by 8:50pm, I was ready for him to sleep.
Constantly, I assured him that I would be just outside the door and would come in if needed. Kissed him good nite and cuddled and I walked out the door. Pulled up the pink Ikea Mammut stool and sat down reading my Reader Digest just right outside the door. The light on the hallway was on. I only started reading the first line, I saw someone standing besides me. By looking at him, I know he still wanted to play. But I reminded him again it was bedtime and he had to be on his bed. I carried him to bid good nite to Daddy and down the bed he went. I gave him another cuddle and more kisses. This repeated for about 5 times. Towards the 4th and 5th time, I didn’t give him any eye contact or cuddling.
The next thing I gave him was a warning that I would close the door if he ever leave the bed again. And he did it. And close the door I did. He cried a little … I was all the time outside the door requesting for him to go on his bed and I would open the door but he would just stand behind the door crying. It was about 9pm then. He asked for Oh Shee (potty) about 3 minutes into the crying. I opened up the door and brought him sitting on the potty. He didn’t go. I put the pants on and wiped his wet face. He walked himself to his bed and laid down. I gave him kisses and cuddle and assured him I would be just outside the bedroom if he needed me. I walked out. He didn’t leave the bed. I was sitting and reading … and I heard no noise. I went about to do my chores.
About 9:20pm I thought he should have gone to sleep by then, so I went inside his room quietly to pick up some laundry to fold. He heard me and turned over. Our eyes met. I told him I needed to fold his cloths, took the unfolded laundry and walked outside. In about 1 minutes, I heard his anklet bells ringing louder and louder. He came to my bedroom. I left what I was doing and went to him. Eye contact with him telling him that is bedtime. I took him to potty and he did go. He went back to his bed on his own. I gave him cuddles and kisses again and left the room. It was about 9:30pm. He slept.
That’s pretty good. Belle would never sleep on her own if I’m the one who puts her to bed. So, I leave that job for the Daddy.
It is opposite here. Daddy can’t put him to sleep. He only wants me. Scolding scolding also, he wants me to ‘pui’ him to sleep.
posted on August 5th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
mine will only got bed at 930 if he;s out for the entire day. Otherwise it’s 11pm. 9.30 is very good edi.
posted on August 5th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Getting earlier everyday so tonight should sleep at 9:15pm? Good job though! Persistence makes it worth while.
posted on August 5th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Good to train the child to sleep early. My hubby claim that it is more healthy too.
posted on August 6th, 2008 at 1:30 am
wow, not bad! respect u for using this method and good that he allows u out of the room. mine wont at all, she needs us in sight for her to sleep. good training! soon, u will accomplish what u want.
posted on August 6th, 2008 at 4:33 am
it is always a challenge to put our baby to sleep yeah!
Yup it is.
posted on August 6th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Wah…quite a challenge eh? Lucas goes to sleep on the dot at 9.00-9.30 pm coz his bedtime is such from small. I usually put him to bed but sometimes when I want to blog/chat/do work, I’ll growl to Hubby to do it.
He’ll do the book reading etc, give the milk, switch off the lights and then go to sleep himself. Soon, both fellas are sound asleep!
Nowadays because Hubby watches the TV (with Olympics on now) Lucas doesn’t want to go to the room. He’ll sleep in the hall which is fine since I’ll carry him to bed. But some nights he can’t tahan already, he’ll ask to go to the room himself and in just 1-2 mins, he’s out
Err…I wouldn’t close the door on Brandon lor. They are bigger now and have wilder imaginations. It may scare him and make the room even scarier than it is.
Is the room pitch black? Lucas used to be OK but now he doesn’t like the dark so I leave the curtain open a bit for the street lamps to shine in. Good night!
Thanks for sharing. I wish we do that from long time ago. His sleeping time was more like from 10pm on wards used to. I don’t remember why that is so. I think I did try to put him to sleep earlier but it didn’t work then.
Now it is much better. The routine works pretty well. Last week he slept around 9:30pm initially then by the end of the week, he started falling asleep around 9-9:15pm. Not by himself though. I started the week being outside while he stays inside. That took the toll on my energy of putting him back everytime he walked outside, or giving too many warnings and resulted with the screaming and cries from the little one. Three nights ago I just slept with him inside the room. Teman him until he falls asleep then i come outside. That works. Only takes him 10-15 mins to fall asleep then I got my free time. Much better than screaming and crying session.
posted on August 11th, 2008 at 7:47 am
[…] in the middle of last week I wrote out the 9:30pm bedtime? I was following a schedule for the whole week. We have to sacrifice and have our dinner at […]
posted on August 11th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Ok… we tried that training long ago and hubby has failed miserably coz Darrius will cried his lungs out the moment daddy switched off the light and will not stop until I enter the room to sleep or daddy will throw him out of the room (MEN!)
Don’t know when we can start that training again since we don’t have any extra room for Darrius to sleep on his own.
It didn’t work for me either - leaving the room and let him sleep by himself. He can’t sleep by himself. He needs me to be inside. Instead of the crying and screaming, I decided to sleep by him when he was sleeping … it only takes 10-15 mins then he falls asleep … then I leave the room. Since it will be only 9-9:30pm, I am still OK … not as tired as putting to him at 10-11pm.
posted on August 12th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Congrats..!!chloe never sleeps in her bed alone even till now .. we all keep her company in the tv room.. till she goes into a deep sleep..then pb will carry her to her bedroom to sleep.
posted on August 19th, 2008 at 7:43 pm