Science Experiment: Toddler sleep patterns

I used to love it when the time changed in the fall.  Getting that hour of sleep back each October/November was so amazing and it felt like a treat to sleep in for a few days until I adjusted to the time change.  Now I loathe the fall time change.  My kids didn't really seem to "get it" and woke up at 5:05am on Sunday since they normally wake up between 6 and 7.  Today wasn't much better, although Patrick did convince Laney to stay in bed until 6am.  Their bed time hasn't been as bad, but I was inspired today to test drive a new plan of action for bedtime with Laney.

I spent most of the spring fighting with Laney about going to bed in her bed.  I would put her to bed only to have her get out of bed and come back downstairs over and over.  Some nights I would put her to bed at 8 and she wouldn't actually go to bed until 10.  Eventually we got so tired of fighting about bedtime with her that we let her start falling asleep on the couch while we watch TV.  Not exactly good parenting, but at least she was going to bed earlier.  This has been working pretty well, but we have entered a new era of tantrum throwing that is really starting to wear me down.

Fast asleep in her spot on the couch, with Pillow on a pillow, Lovey tucked in next to her, thumb in her mouth, special blankey over her body with her feet tucked in.  

Laney is a world class whiner, combined with a unique ability to be stubborn about anything (okay it's not unique, but I am totally blaming that one on Patrick!)  She has an average of 3 or more tantrums a day and they last for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.  I am really at the limits of patience with her.  In fact, it took me FOREVER to get out of the house this morning because Laney and Liam started fighting and both had melt downs over it.  While driving the kids down to Sea World, Laney told me that she had had a bad morning because she was tired.  A tiny light bulb sprang to life in my head and I told her that I thought she wasn't getting very good sleep by falling asleep on the couch.  I asked her if she wanted to try going to bed in her bed, with a bribe attached of course, and she consented.  I couldn't believe my ears!  During our trip around Sea World we hammered out a plan/bribe to get her to start falling asleep in her bed again.

When we got home from Sea World I switched the chair and lamp table in her room so the lamp would be right next to her bed in case she got scared.  I woke her up twice this afternoon when she started to nap so that she would be good and tired at bedtime.  We decided she could have 3 books read to her before bed, and then she would close her eyes and go to sleep.  Part of the deal was that I would stay upstairs while she fell asleep, but I would stay in my own room.  The other part was that she had to stay in her bed until morning.  No doing laps up and down the stairs all night with invented needs (like needing one more hug, a drink of water, etc.)  She happily agreed to this when I told her we could go shopping after the third night to wherever she wanted to buy a prize.  Know what she picked?  A trip to Babies R Us to buy clothes.  Specifically, new jammies or play clothes.  I offered her a trip to Toys R Us to pick out any toy she wanted, but the girl wants what she wants.  Love that about her.  :)

So the first night went off without a hitch.  We did baths, jammies, then a round of Candy Land with Patrick after Liam went to bed.  Then we brushed teeth, had a drink of water, and headed up to the bed.  I tucked her in with pillow, new lovey, and old lovey, and only made it halfway through the second book before she was lights out.  Hopefully the experience was positive enough to get her through the next two nights because mommy is reclaiming the night.  I need my downtime too, and that means no kids in sight.  Keep your fingers crossed for nights 2 and 3!  Updates to follow.