Toddler Sleep: I'm done

[MarissaNicole]

I know it wasn't easy but I would definitely count last night as a success. Good job!

Wife to PGY4

[GreyhoundsRUs]

I would agree with MN! It also was probably harder for her to fall asleep if she had a shorter nap. I have no suggestions, as we did CIO at 6 months with DD. Even now, DD has some nights that she cries for 5 minutes or so if she's overtired or decides that there's too much fun going on

[SoonerTexan]

Last night she kept pointing where I usually lay down and saying "bed, sleep". She was SO upset.

N did that for the first few nights. It is probably harder for you because the crib still contains her (for now). I basically stood there the first few nights and rubbed her face or forcibly laid her down. Then I would leave and let her cry for a few minutes and give her the option of laying down with mommy in the room or me leaving again. Sounds like yours might be a little more stubborn, though!

Actually, I forgot, but the reason we decided to get serious with keeping her in the crib and not laying on the floor: sometimes I would lay there with her for a 1/2 hour and think she was asleep and she would suddenly get up, creep to the door, and attempt to go peace out with daddy in the family room and play. It was hilarious, but not at the time!

[Pollyanna]

Just curious, why do so many folks find the door being closed important?

[ladymoreta]

Just curious, why do so many folks find the door being closed important?

For us, it's because we're a family of very light sleepers (well, except DH of course). With the door open, any amount of noise or light (except a night light) would wake mine up, even with their white noise on full volume.

[SuzySunshine]

We have always closed doors at night time out of habit though I do have babysitters that will leave them open and the kids still go to sleep. On those nights we do close them when we go to bed and for us, much like LM, it is because our bedrooms are all very close together. DH & A are VERY heavy sleepers, nothing wakes them up (except DH's pager) but R & I are both light sleepers so we need the doors closed. Even with the doors closed DH's alarm usually wakes R up.

[spotty_dog]

Just curious, why do so many folks find the door being closed important?

Good question! I'm a bit curious too. My husband actually thinks/thought it somewhat cruel to ever close the door completely. "They're only little!" For me though, it's easier to relax in the rest of the house if I feel like that buffer is there between my noises and their sleep. Anyway DS usually reminds me to close the door all the way, because if we don't the cats will get in, LOL. But occasionally DD asks for the door to be a little bit open (or to have the lights on for a minute so she can read before bed, or to have a drink of water, or to have her favorite dolly...it can be something different each night). We just run with it.

[Deebs]

DH was a firefighter for years. Night fire safety includes sleeping with a closed door so smoke doesn't creep into bedrooms while occupants are sleeping. We never told our kids why they slept with closed doors, but when DD stayed with my sister, she asked her cousins if they had ever met a firefighter because when she went to the fire station, she was told to sleep with her door shut.

[diggitydot]

DH was a firefighter for years. Night fire safety includes sleeping with a closed door so smoke doesn't creep into bedrooms while occupants are sleeping. We never told our kids why they slept with closed doors, but when DD stayed with my sister, she asked her cousins if they had ever met a firefighter because when she went to the fire station, she was told to sleep with her door shut.

Yup, that's why we all sleep with our doors shut, too. My grandpa was a fire chief for 30 years and my BIL is a battalion chief. Fire safety is kind of ingrained in our psyches.

[SoonerTexan]

Didn't know about the fire rule. We usually do it (not consciously) because our house setup is such that her room is close to the action...especially the really loud washing machine. Even so, putting a dish away loudly in the kitchen can be enough to wake her up and she isn't a particularly light sleeper.

[Thirteen]

We shut his to keep out noise and light.
Ours is always open, though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GrayMatterWife]

DH was a firefighter for years. Night fire safety includes sleeping with a closed door so smoke doesn't creep into bedrooms while occupants are sleeping.

Wow. Really? Good to know!

We sleep with our doors closed because I like sex and really cannot concentrate if I feel like I live in an open-floor plan loft!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

We usually keep it closed because of noise but I'm fine to leave it open while she falls asleep. Thanks for the good info Deebs!

[Deebs]

You're welcome (though I like GMW's reasoning more). When does bedtime start tonight? Good luck, Mama!

[ides]

We keep ours cracked open for the cats to come and go.