From: dxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Douglas Fowler)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Sleep deprived parents needing help
Date: 20 Nov 1992 16:40:45 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: dxf12@po.CWRU.Edu (Douglas Fowler)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, cew@med.unc.edu (Cathryn W. Chiesa) says:

>Yes, I know this theme has been discussed before, but I still
>need some help.  Up until two weeks ago we had a lovely
>bedtime routine for our 2.9 year old son.  We gave him
>a bath, read a couple of stories, and tucked him in. 
>Now, we have the nighttime from hell at our house.
>
>For some reason, he hates being in his room alone.  We
>have had to stay with him until he falls asleep, which
>can take up to an hour.  Then like clocke work he is
>up between 2:15 - 4:15 and wants to come in our room.
>Instead one of us gets up and stays until he falls
>asleep in his own bed.  He says he doesn't like his
>bed or his room and is lonesome.  We leave the hall light on
>and he has a tape palyer in his room.  Nothing unusual
>is happening at day care or home.  He has been having
>problems with fluid in his ears, a cold, and is cutting
>his last set of molars.

     What kind of tapes does he have.  Ones that are just music are nice to
fall asleep to, but perhaps if he says he is lonesome, what would help is
tapes of your voice, reading stories or something like that.  Sorry if you
already have that on tape.

>Last night I was up for about three hours and am no totally
>exhausted, plus all of us are gettign grumpy from lack
>of sleep.  Little George is particularly whinny.  I am
>thinking about putting up the gates across his door and
>just letting his have a tantrum (which he did the last
>time I closed his door).  He really SCREAMS, it breaks
>my heart but how else can we get him to go to sleep on
>his own again and stay in his bed all night.  What
>has been the experiences of those of you who have
>used this approach with an almost three year old.  I
>guess I am afraid later in life he will develop some
>problem which will be traced back to the fact his parents
>let his scream at night and put a gate across his door.
>I don't want to close the door because that really upsets
>him      

     I don't think he'll remember the gate being up 15 years from now if
you give a lot of other support.  Of course, if he really screams a lot, you
might lose sleep, anyway!  Also, depending on the type of gate and the
type of climber you have, you could have to worry about him climbing over the
gates! (Maybe he's a little young, but cousin Matthew was climbing to the top
shelf in his closet at 3.25.)

>ANy suggestions on how to get him to sleep and to stay asleep
>will be greatly appreciated by two tired parents.  Basically,
>he says he is lonesome and doesn't like his room.  I have been
>thinking about his one of those Mickey Mouse that glows when
>you squeeze him.  He has a monkey that he already sleeps with.

     Sounds like you can rule out the possibility of nightmares; it also
sounds like you give him lots of love otherwise, so that's not the problem.
The glowing Mickey Mouse sounds like a good idea.  Also, I used to sleep
with a dog on each side at that age.  My mom remembers hearing me wake up
sometimes and having conversations with them for a while before drifting off.
So, maybe he just needs more "friends" like that.
     
-- 
Doug Fowler: dxf12@po.CWRU.edu  : Me, age 4 & now: "Mommys and Daddys & other
   "Thou shalt love God with all: relatives have to give lots of hugs & love
thy heart...*and thy neighbor as: & support, 'cause Heaven is just a great
thyself*." Deut. 6:5            : big hug that lasts forever and ever!!!"
Newsgroups: misc.kids