Getting The Kids To Bed
Okay, I know this is a common issue with parents…they have a hard time getting their kids to sleep! And many parents have a hard time getting their kids to sleep even in their own house! I can’t imagine what those parents do when they’re on vacation. Fortunately for me and Brett, our kids are WONDERFUL sleepers. I don’t know how it happened. I honestly don’t! We didn’t co-sleep when the kids were infants. We always knew that just wouldn’t be us. I’m an extremely light sleeper and I knew I’d never sleep well knowing my baby was right next to me. I was always paranoid I’d roll over on him or her.
When we’re at home, we have our routine, as most households do, where we potty, wash hands, brush teeth, brush Emma’s hair, and story time. Story time is in Emma’s bed because she’s got a double. Then Mason goes into his room and it’s lights out for both! Well, almost lights out. We have a dimmer on their fan light so we leave it on the dimmest setting so they can read if they want to. Within 5 minutes they’re usually both out. Seriously. And on vacation it’s the same thing. Seriously. How did I get so lucky? Trust me, I know it’s not the norm! Even on vacation when they’re not in their own beds, they still have no problem. In San Diego, they both slept on inflatable mattresses without any issues. Of course I would wake up in the middle of the night because I was worried they’d slide off or something.
Emma sleeps like me. A little lighter and a little earlier. And that goes for night time and morning. She’ll go to bed earlier but she’ll wake up earlier, too. We’ve tried too many things to change that. It’s just who she is! Mason, on the other hand, sleeps like my husband. Heavy and LONG! He can stay up later, but he’ll also wake up around 10:00 if we give him the chance. Yes, he is 4 years old! So crazy to me! Oh, and Mason, much like Brett, and sleep in many places, as witnessed below.
How do your kids sleep?
Once my kids are asleep, it’s lights out, no problem. Getting them to go to sleep is a little harder. I used to have to lay with them, but I’m tired of it, so we’re weaning them off of that! Strangely, they always fall asleep easier when we’re on vacation. : P
We coslept with Skyler for the first 6 months, and at that point he was kicking us in the ribs and trying to shove us out of the bed. So off to his own crib he went without complaint. Now he refuses to sleep without a half bottle of water.. We’re working on that one, but at least it’s not going to rot his teeth.
Amy…you need more vacations!! (don’t we all!)
Azaera, my kids still have water in sippies. at 4 and 6. We need to move into water bottles or something. NO MORE SIPPIES!!! With us in the desert, I can’t refuse them water at bed! It was never juice or milk though.