Cora’s spent one night and one nap in the toddler bed air-mattress now, and it’s been relatively easy, thank God.

We’ve got the toddler mattress set up on the floor right next to her crib, with all her stuffed animals and blankets spread out around her. When she first climbed in, she grinned as if she’d just won the lottery and rolled luxuriously all over it. I can tell just looking at her that she’s insanely proud of herself for “finally” becoming a big enough girl to rate a little more space.

I’d worried that, with her awful sleep habits, she’d be up and awake all night long, but once she went to sleep she was out for the night, and in fact I had to wake her to take Maddie to school. I’d also been concerned that she’d get up and wander around the room, but so far she hasn’t – either she’s intimidated or it hasn’t occurred to her yet, but she stays firmly in the bed.

The one drawback is that now bedtime routines are much longer: we used to read two books in her big chair, then snuggle and rock for a few moments, then put her in the crib. Now we read two books in her bed, then snuggle silently for a few moments, then begin the negotiations when Mommy gets up to leave. Cora starts to look apprehensive, eyes clouding over with concern, and begins stuttering, “Well, well, it’s just that . . . it’s just that . . .” She worries that I won’t come into her room any more if she cries, or something like that. So after a few moments of concern, we climb into her chair together and rock a while, and then finally she relaxes enough to walk to her bed and get docilely in.

I’m putting up with it for the moment rather than cracking down and leaving her to cry, because I think she’s still figuring things out, getting used to the new feel. My guess is that once she gets confident in the new, exposed sleep spot she’ll be able to do away with the “hold me ‘til I’m exhausted” routine. So for now, naptime and nighttime have a good fifteen minutes added on to an already long routine, but I’m sticking it out. I know what it’s like to feel scared and vulnerable in the dark.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m grateful it’s going this smoothly. But in a week or so, man, I’m hoping she moves on. Mommy’s ready for a little more sleep on a regular basis.

Comments

DKTqELstxZFPi Written by Anggi on 2013-03-23 18:56:09 IP: 50.193.61.126 Enlightening the world, one helpful arctile at a time.

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