The One with the Sleeping Breakthrough

I don't know if you all know the sleep habits David has adapted, but they consist of desperately needing his daddy to sit with him, right next to his bed on the hard floor, until David falls asleep. Then when Chandler gets up and the floor creaks, David wakes up and we're right back where we started. I decided that this was ridiculous and that my almost 3-year-old was certainly big enough to fall asleep by himself.

So, on Tuesday night, I removed Chandler completely from the picture. I sat with David and read a story, sang songs to him while he drank his milk, and then sat with him while he fell asleep. It was a start, at least he wasn't constantly asking for his daddy. Then when he was pretty much asleep I left the room. This became the start of a severe screaming fit. I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the police. It sounded like we were torturing him.

I finally went in and said "Stop screaming. Do not scream again or I will give you a spanking." I said it harshly enough that I had his attention. Then I talked to him about being a big boy, how he can go potty all by himself and get himself dressed, and how proud I am of him. Then I gave him Mickey Mouse (a gift from Rach) and told him to squeeze Mickey everytime he was sad or scared or wanted to scream. And I told him to say "I can do it Mama." IT WORKED! It was pretty pathetic, the way he squeaked out "I can do it." But he fell asleep by himself!

So the next day we made a big deal about it and told him how proud we were and told his teachers. He was so proud of himself that last night he was all prepared and didn't even whimper when I left the room! He just kept yelling "I can do it Mom!" with Mickey. But it got quieter and quieter until he was asleep!!! He went to sleep by himself. From now on Chandler does not get to put David to bed. He's the weak one. He gives in to the "sit with me Dad" in the sad little voice. No more. I'm not breaking him of this again!