Ann has been for most of her little baby life a good sleeper. Not an all night sleeper from day one or anything but when I was nursing I could get her back to sleep with no problem. Following nursing she would wake up once a night around 3:00 am and need some snuggles and would go back to her bed to sleep. Usually not a problem. She then transitioned into sleeping all night and waking around 5:30 am on average and starting her day. Again, I'm ok with that. I grew to love dark mornings and lots of coffee. I still like those mornings. Now we are in a new stage. I'm confused, tired and frustrated.
She wakes up between 11:30 and 1:00 am EVERY SINGLE NIGHT and screams until we do one of two things:
1. Take her downstairs and turn on cartoons, hand her a cup of milk and leave her on her beanbag.
2. Take her downstairs, give her a cup of milk and lay on the couch with her.
In both instances she will fall asleep and we will hightail it back to our bedroom and leave the munchkin in her peaceful slumber until she wakes up in the morning.
This isn't the most ideal situation and I'm sure I will get some raised eyebrows because of the "leaving our baby unattended downstairs" part but if you've been to our house you know we can hear her turn over on the couch or beanbag... so, it's worked.
The night before last we were fed up and decided this was not going to work anymore. She needs to figure out how to sleep in her own bed, the entire night and not relocate. It's ridiculous.
So last night.... we made up our minds to begin "crying it out" again. When she was smaller it worked. Pretty much worked like a charm. Then she started standing and now, NOW, she stands in her bed, jumps up and down and screams. She isn't just crying or fussing she is screaming at the top of her lungs and throwing the most awful temper tantrum until we come in there. Which we do not... go in there. Going in there only increases her anger unless we get her out. Last night she threw a fit (not crying, not fussing but a FIT) for 2 entire hours. It was the longest two hours of my life and involved tears, on my side of the bed not John's, praying for patience and wisdom and then the fun emotion of anger. I was so frustrated that at the 1:45 mark I sat up in bed and firmly told John I could NOT do it any longer and he said give it 15 more minutes and we will reassess. She was so upset... you have to know it isn't easy not to run in there and kiss her fat cheeks and smell her sweet head. Hence the tears on my part.
So, at the two hour mark after 15 minutes of me pleading with God for patience, peace and guidance on whether this was the right method for our child.... she stopped mid-scream and fell asleep. I'm sure she was pure worn out. Jumping up and down in your bed and screaming at the top of your lungs to the point of choking must be tiring....?
My question is, I know one other mother who goes through this with their child essentially the same age as Ann... and she goes much longer than Ann does. This mother has the patience of a saint and is like super mom. Since I have neither of those qualities I can't consider going longer than 2 hours.
What have you done with your toddler in a situation such as this? We are doing it again tonight and I'm hoping that she has learned something from last night. She only slept until 4:45 this morning and I went in there and we started our day downstairs because I couldn't handle the crying again.
I need tips, tricks, methods... encouragement. Thanksssssssssss
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