My children do not like sleep. I have no idea why. Sleep and I get along just fine. As a matter of fact, I need sleep or I am cranky and irritable and have a very hard time functioning. I've alternated between co-sleeping and sleeping in individual rooms. Whatever seems to be working at the time is what we do. Currently my youngest (and I) sleep better when she is in her own room. However, even then sleep can be a challenge. Here are a few steps to getting sleep with a toddler who doesn't like to sleep:
Step 1: Around bedtime, make sure toddler is fed, clean, happy, and sleepy.
Step 2: Nurse or rock toddler to sleep, read a story, or just plop in the crib. Whatever they are used to doing to fall asleep, just do it.
Step 3: Turn on white noise machine in toddler's room to create a sound barrier so noisy cars and dogs and random neighbors do not disturb the tiny cherub.
Step 4: Close door to toddler's room, making sure monitor is activated.
Step 5: Get yourself ready for bed. Take a bath, read a book, whatever you need to do to relax.
Step 6: Turn on white noise machine in your room to create a sound barrier so noisy cars and dogs and random neighbors do not disturb your beauty sleep.
Step 7: Check on toddler via baby monitor. Use stealth tactics to adjust any blankets or temperature of the room if need be.
Step 8: Sink into a white-noise induced, much needed, blissful sleep.
Step 9: Wake up frantically multiple times throughout the night to check on toddler via baby monitor.
Step 10: Wake up multiple times to toddler yelling for you from down the hall.
Step 11: Stagger back and forth from your room to toddler's room multiple times to help toddler fall back asleep.
Step 12: Eventually fall into an exhausted sleep until morning.
Step 13: Wake up to find toddler softly snoring next to you. Start to drift back to sleep again.
Step 14: Wake up to toddler jumping on you and yelling at you to get them dressed.
Step 15: Stagger through the day attempting to function and do everything on the to-do list.
Step 16: Wait until Husband comes home from work to entertain the children while you go take a nap.
Step 17: Awaken from nap multiple times by toddler (and other children) coming to check on you.
Step 18: Give up on nap and go make dinner.
Step 19: Repeat steps 1-18 for the next few years.
