Sleep challenges

A couple months ago we decided to move Caroline from her crib into the toddler bed.

She did great and would stay in bed until we told her it was time to get up regardless of whether she was awake or not. 

A month ago I decided to break her from the habit of sucking her two middle fingers. It was becoming harmful as her bite was changing and she would get sores on her fingers where her teeth rested. We got the special nail polish that tastes acidic to remind her how yucky the habit was, she tested it once and never again did she try to put her fingers in her mouth. I must say I was impressed. I really thought she would have been more stubborn about that considering they were always in her mouth.

Now that she no longer has a soothing habit to help her fall asleep Caroline has decided to start boycotting naps. At not even 3 years old naps are beginning to happen less and less. I'm not ready for this. Liam took naps until he was 5 years old. This is going to be hard. But hilarious.

Example #1

Aunt Emily was here the other week babysitting while we were at work. Lucy was napping and she said after she put Caroline down for her nap she went to take a shower. Maybe 20 minutes later Emily emerged from the bathroom and heard a noise. The noise of a horse. She opened Caroline's door to find her riding her rocking horse with her cowgirl hat on. Caroline was shocked that she had been found out and shamefully walked back to bed.

Example #2

At the babysitters house Caroline was supposed to be taking a nap but instead was trying to wake up the other little girl in the room  by talking loudly to her. After being told numerous times to be quiet the babysitter decided to move her from the cot to the pack n play. Once she was back upstairs she was watching the video monitor and thought that the monitor was starting to short out on her due to the fact that the screen kept going black and white continuously. She then realized that Caroline was right underneath the light switch.

Example #3

Again at the babysitters house Caroline and the other little girl were supposed to be napping. The babysitter had even given them each a couple of books just in case they didn't sleep they would have something to do. From the video monitor she was able to see Caroline offering one of her books to her friend. Once she stretched out her hand to take the book Caroline would quickly take it out of her reach. This continued for several minutes.

Example #4

We have also been having problems with Caroline staying in her bed in the middle of the night. The first night there was a thunderstorm and she said she was scared. So Evan brought her into our bed. That did not work as Caroline is and has always been the kid who doesn't fall back asleep if she's next to mommy or daddy. We allowed her to sleep on the floor on a sleeping bag that night. So, since then she has been coming into our room and telling us that she wants to sleep on our floor in the sleeping bag. Even though I have told her no, sometimes when I get up in the morning I find her next to Lucy's pack n play where she has laid out her blankets and her pillow. She is resourceful.

I am remembering that Liam went through this phase as well. At about the same age too. Hopefully it will be short lived. I don't think I can handle more than one child waking me up in the middle of the night. Lucy has first dibs on that title, someone better tell Caroline.

At home we have started having naptime with the door open. This has resulted in Caroline actually staying in her bed. Note that I didn't say sleeping or even laying down. Many times I will walk by or sit in the hallway and see Caroline lining up her stuffed animals and talking to them all. She also loves to stand and do a halfway backbend holding onto the crib sides. I imagine she's waiting until she feels the blood rushing to her head.

This weekend we may transfer her to a twin sized bed so we can turn the toddler bed back into a crib for Lucy. I can't even imagine what she will attempt in her new room with Liam. I'm guessing that Liam will not be amused when Caroline tries to wake him up in the middle of the night.