Bedtime Bootcamp Day 1
So I have to admit, we have not been very structured with Maddie's bedtime routine. As of recently we have been very, very relaxed with the whole situation. She's been sleeping in our bed for the past few months and doesn't go to sleep until we go to bed, which is sometimes not until midnight. Needless to say this has made our morning routine a nightmare at times.
In addition to nightmarish morning routines, I am a little scared to develop bad habits that are going to be impossible to break. You see these types of things on "Super Nanny" that a child can't sleep unless she's in Mom and Dad's room and then no one gets enough quality rest. Also, I think the straw that broke the camel's back was that the last few nights Maddie has decided to sleep "cross-ways" in the bed between Rick and I, so one of us has little feet in our back. In addition to this, at least twice during the night Maddie wakes us up to move which ever cat(s) that have decided to sleep on her pillow. So, in essence, none of us are getting quality sleep, and she is not getting enough sleep.
So with all that said, I decided to implement a "Bedtime Bootcamp" this week. Ideally, I would like to have her bedtime at 8pm. However, because of our afternoon routine we don't get home till 6:30 or so and then don't eat dinner until 7:30 - 8:00 sometimes. So therefore, I am aiming for a 9:00 bedtime. In addition to a set time for bed, "Bedtime Bootcamp" will also include first and foremost, her sleeping in her own bed. Also, a set routine for bed to include bath, brush teeth, one bedtime book of her choice (we have to shine a positive light on it somehow right?) and tuck in. All of these thing we have been very relaxed on.. even to the point of letting her shower with us to save on time (another bad habit). Ultimately, I would like to separate her from her Binkie too, I mean, it is about time right? But lets take this in baby steps...
So tonight, we had dinner, then a bath... a bubble bath for a treat. Typically bathtime can be a "Bear" to get through. She hates having her hair rinsed out. Then she never wants to get out of the tub. Now that I think about it, I think that what has made it so bad, is that many times I rush her and loose patience with her wanting her to get out of the tub. However, tonight, after we got through the necessities of bathtime, I set the microwave timer for 10 minutes of free bathtime play, instead of rushing her out of the tub. While she was playing I got her bed all ready.. after all she hasn't slept in it in a few months. She has also been pretty independent as of lately, so I let her play in the tub by herself and checked on her a few times. Much to my surprise, getting her out of the tub wasn't so bad!!!
Another thing that she loves to do is run away from you naked into the living room after a bath. She'll put up a little fight about getting her clothes on, and she again will run away from you when you try and comb her hair. However tonight, I feel like I was a little more patient with her and all of that went a lot smoother.
After we got dressed, we brushed teeth... again she usually puts up a fight with this and wants to be independent. And again, tonight I was more patient with her and let her brush her own teeth and then, much to my surprise, she asked me for help to get the ones in the back!!! Combing her hair was not a problem at all.
After all of the bathtime routine was out of the way, I had her pick out her own book. Dr. Seuss was what she picked. She whined for a few minutes about wanting to sleep in our room, but that didn't last long and she crawled up into her bed. I read her "One Fish, Two Fish" (Wow! What was going on in Dr. Seuss' head???? This book made absolutely no sense!) Once we finished the book and I kissed her goodnight, she started to get upset and cried for wanting to sleep in our room again. I gently told her "No" and that she was to sleep in her own room. She followed me to her bedroom door crying as I left her in her room. That was at about 8:50, and I haven't seen her since!!!!! I want so bad to go check on her, but at the same time I don't want to mess with a good thing. I just am not so sure if she is asleep in her bed or if she is laying on the floor. But I guess that is neither here nor there, just as long as she is in her room.
So will she stay in her room all night? Doubtful! But at least I got her to go to bed in her own room with a lot less effort than I expected. Much of that I attribute to the fact that I didn't loose patience with her and tried to make it a positive experience.
This is only Day 1! Hopefully, the rest of the week will be just as easy if not easier... and we won't have to worry about developing (any more) bad habits.
In addition to nightmarish morning routines, I am a little scared to develop bad habits that are going to be impossible to break. You see these types of things on "Super Nanny" that a child can't sleep unless she's in Mom and Dad's room and then no one gets enough quality rest. Also, I think the straw that broke the camel's back was that the last few nights Maddie has decided to sleep "cross-ways" in the bed between Rick and I, so one of us has little feet in our back. In addition to this, at least twice during the night Maddie wakes us up to move which ever cat(s) that have decided to sleep on her pillow. So, in essence, none of us are getting quality sleep, and she is not getting enough sleep.
So with all that said, I decided to implement a "Bedtime Bootcamp" this week. Ideally, I would like to have her bedtime at 8pm. However, because of our afternoon routine we don't get home till 6:30 or so and then don't eat dinner until 7:30 - 8:00 sometimes. So therefore, I am aiming for a 9:00 bedtime. In addition to a set time for bed, "Bedtime Bootcamp" will also include first and foremost, her sleeping in her own bed. Also, a set routine for bed to include bath, brush teeth, one bedtime book of her choice (we have to shine a positive light on it somehow right?) and tuck in. All of these thing we have been very relaxed on.. even to the point of letting her shower with us to save on time (another bad habit). Ultimately, I would like to separate her from her Binkie too, I mean, it is about time right? But lets take this in baby steps...
So tonight, we had dinner, then a bath... a bubble bath for a treat. Typically bathtime can be a "Bear" to get through. She hates having her hair rinsed out. Then she never wants to get out of the tub. Now that I think about it, I think that what has made it so bad, is that many times I rush her and loose patience with her wanting her to get out of the tub. However, tonight, after we got through the necessities of bathtime, I set the microwave timer for 10 minutes of free bathtime play, instead of rushing her out of the tub. While she was playing I got her bed all ready.. after all she hasn't slept in it in a few months. She has also been pretty independent as of lately, so I let her play in the tub by herself and checked on her a few times. Much to my surprise, getting her out of the tub wasn't so bad!!!
Another thing that she loves to do is run away from you naked into the living room after a bath. She'll put up a little fight about getting her clothes on, and she again will run away from you when you try and comb her hair. However tonight, I feel like I was a little more patient with her and all of that went a lot smoother.
After we got dressed, we brushed teeth... again she usually puts up a fight with this and wants to be independent. And again, tonight I was more patient with her and let her brush her own teeth and then, much to my surprise, she asked me for help to get the ones in the back!!! Combing her hair was not a problem at all.
After all of the bathtime routine was out of the way, I had her pick out her own book. Dr. Seuss was what she picked. She whined for a few minutes about wanting to sleep in our room, but that didn't last long and she crawled up into her bed. I read her "One Fish, Two Fish" (Wow! What was going on in Dr. Seuss' head???? This book made absolutely no sense!) Once we finished the book and I kissed her goodnight, she started to get upset and cried for wanting to sleep in our room again. I gently told her "No" and that she was to sleep in her own room. She followed me to her bedroom door crying as I left her in her room. That was at about 8:50, and I haven't seen her since!!!!! I want so bad to go check on her, but at the same time I don't want to mess with a good thing. I just am not so sure if she is asleep in her bed or if she is laying on the floor. But I guess that is neither here nor there, just as long as she is in her room.
So will she stay in her room all night? Doubtful! But at least I got her to go to bed in her own room with a lot less effort than I expected. Much of that I attribute to the fact that I didn't loose patience with her and tried to make it a positive experience.
This is only Day 1! Hopefully, the rest of the week will be just as easy if not easier... and we won't have to worry about developing (any more) bad habits.
The park even had misters, so you could go stand under them and cool off a bit. All in all, we loved the park and look forward to many more trips there. I think next time we may pack a picnic lunch and maybe even invite Daddy! 
