Sleeping

This afternoon, Lucas came to me and said, 'Mom, today I will sleep on my own in my room'. I was overjoyed to hear that. We have been trying for years to get him to sleep on his own. Then we had some negotiation. I decided to bribe him before he changes his mind.
Me: If you sleep on your own for 7 days in a row, I will get you a B-Daman.
Lucas: If I sleep on my own for 4 weeks, I will get 4 B-Daman?
Me: Yes
Lucas: After 1 month, I should not get any more B-Daman because it will be a waste.
Me: That's absolutely right.
Lucas: This is a bet right?
Me: No, this is not a bet. This is a promise. A bet is something you cannot control the outcome like gambling. But this, you can do it. ( I am getting desperate).


Right before bedtime,
Lucas: Can I start next week?
Me: No, the deal is you start today.
Lucas: Can I sleep on night, and then the next night next week?
Me: No, the deal is it has to be consecutive. OK, If you sleep on your own until Friday, I will buy you a B-Daman on Friday.
Lucas: (thought for a moment) OK. Is it counted if I sleep walk?
Me: No, if you sleep walk to my room in the middle of the night, you have to start all over again.


Then at 8pm, he went to his room.
Lucas: Can you put the 2 remote for fan and air-con) on my bedside table?
Me: OK.
Lucas: Let me take the alarm clock. (he took from my bedside table).
Me: You read until 8.30pm. Then you go to sleep.


At 8.45pm when I go to check on him,
Lucas: Mom, I stopped reading at exactly 8.30 and I still can't sleep.
Me: Maybe you should switch off the lights. It is nicer to sleep in cold and dark.
Lucas: What time are you coming to check on me again?
Me: 10pm.
Lucas: Good night.


At 9.20pm, I went to check on him. He is soundly asleep. :)


Meanwhile, Chloe was excited too. She told me, "Yay, there will be nobody sleeping at the bottom of the bed to disturb me".

I'm Not Sleepy

My kids are afraid of sleeping and eating. This has been awhile back, but quite good. Lucas was on cough medication which made him gorgy. He was sitting quietly on the sofa. I asked:
Me: Lucas, are you sleepy?
Lucas: NO, I'm not (sounded annoyed)
Me: OK

His expression when I asked if he was sleepy

 

His expression seconds later...and he was not sleepy :)

Sleeping...Not on the Bed

It is very hard to get Lucas to sleep. Takes easily half an hour to an hour to fall asleep. Sometimes, he was just so tired, he can sleep in any position.

In his car seat

Draped himself over the edge of the bed.

Sleeps on the floor

Settling Down

We are almost settled down in the new house. All boxes are unpacked except for a few cartons of books. Just ordered more book shelves and storage space. Meanwhile, there are a couple of nitty items to fix such as there is a leak in the bathroom and kitchen, some doors don't closed properly etc....



Meanwhile, it has been a tough adjustment for Lucas. The babysitter Lucas is used to is not with us anymore. We have the maid instead and Lucas is not so keen in her. Hopefully that will slowly change. I am sending Lucas to a new nursery for trial class this week. He is so active and I ran out of ideas on how to entertain him. Better to go to nursery and play with someone his age.

Lucas also get his own room - not sure if he is overjoy or upset about this though. He has been sleeping with us on our bed for the past few months, as he has outgrown his baby cot. It is a challenge to get him to sleep on his own bed and his own room. He wakes up a few times a night crying for me. This morning, he just walked quietly to my bed and sleep there, without my knowledge!! There are lots of drama during bedtime - threatening, cajoling, sweet talking but nothing seems to work so far. Wonder if he is too young to sleep on his own or too late to train him to sleep on his own.

Good Night

Usually, I have to convince Lucas to let me go out of the room while he is trying to fall asleep.

Me: Mommy is hungry. Mommy is going to 'mum mum' (eat).
Lucas: NO
Me: But Mommy is hungry.
Lucas: NO
After several pleading, he will reluctantly say 'Bye Bye'..sign that I can leave the room.

Tonight was different. I was about to walk out of the room (thought he was fast asleep) and suddenly he turned to me and said 'mum mum'? (going to eat?). 'Bye bye' and gave me his flying kisses! I was dumbfounded.

Easter is this weekend, and I am going to spoil him with some Easter chocolate eggs.

Becoming Independent

Lucas woke up a happy boy this morning. He was sleeping on our bed (we allowed him since he wasn't feeling too well) and figured out how to get down from the bed on his own. Normally, when he is sleeping in his baby cot, we will have to cry for us to pick him up. This morning he seemed pleased with his achievement. If only he is tall enough, he will open the door and there will be no stopping point.

He is two third of his baby cot length now. When he turns, he will hit the cot frame. That also explains why he does not like to sleep in his cot. It is time to get him the proper bed, but there is just not enough space in the room. Soon, when we move to a bigger place, he will get his own room.

Learning to sleep on his own

There has been some improvement in Lucas's sleeping habit in the last two days. We used to lay down with him and wait until he falls asleep before we leave the room. In the last two days, I will tell him

Me: Lucas, Mommy is hungry. Mommy is going to 'mum mum' (eat). Lucas goes to sleep, okay.
Lucas: NO
Me: Mommy is hungry. Mommy is going to 'mum mum' (eat). Lucas goes to sleep, okay.
Lucas: (reluctantly say) bye bye. (and give his kissess)

I did the same thing again the next day and he buys it.
Dominic tried it too and it works.
So, we are consciouly telling ourselves to train him to fall asleep on his own.
And we are keeping our finger crossed.