So, we have been very lucky with Jonah and his sleep patterns up until a few weeks ago! He started sleeping in his crib at 6 weeks and about 90% of the time sleeps "like a baby" through the night unless he has a nightmare or is sick. Now, I attribute that to having the Schneider gene which means he will always try to at least get in 12 hours of sleep a night plus a 2 hour nap during the day! I've really tried my hardest to keep Jonah on a tight schedule in the evenings and we follow the 3 B's - Bath, Book, Bedtime! Well, a couple of weeks ago he started really crying and yelling "Mommy, Daddy" in the most pitiful saddest voice you have ever heard every time we tried to put him down for the night which "used" to be around 8:30pm. This was the kind of cry that tears out your heart and makes you want to rush in his room with your red cape on, swoop him up in your arms and be the hero parent that saves the night! But even though it was killing me I stood my ground with him and I told Josh that he would just have to cry it out! Well, Josh is a big pushover (Sorry Sweetie, but it's true!) and couldn't take it so he started going and getting Jonah and letting him come lay down on the couch until he fell asleep and then Josh would put him back in his crib. Then after a few nights of this, Jonah casually mentions "Mommy's Bed" (I'm not sure why he considers it "my" bed. Josh sleeps in there too. I promise I don't make him sleep on the couch!) Jonah has apparently been training with Yoda and learned the Jedi mind trick because when he said "Mommy's Bed" and walked into our bedroom and proceeded to climb into our bed I just couldn't say No! Though I have to mention that he is the sweetest little thing when he's laying there falling asleep. He rubs my face and then will ask me to pat his back and sing "Mary had a Little Lamb" (Okay maybe I'm a pushover too!) So, the first night I laid in there with him until he fell asleep and then, like the previous nights before, Josh carried him to his own bed. That was it. It was done. I had broken the #1 Cardinal Rule - Don't start letting your children sleep in your bed because if you do it will continue for the next 5, maybe 10 years rule! Just ask my mom! And since Josh has been gone this week in California it's gotten even worse. Jonah has not only fallen asleep in our bed but has also slept there all night because I was too lazy to pick him and take him to his own crib. And to make matters worse the time that he has fallen asleep has progressively gotten later and later! It's like I've thrown all the time I spent keeping him on a schedule out the window! So, tonight I put on my Mommy Armor and we followed our normal routine of Bath, Book, and Bed and then I put Jonah down in his crib at 9:45pm. As I'm typing this post I'm listening to him cry out "Mommy" and it's slowly tearing at my heart! It's a hard habit to break but I have to be strong and keep telling myself that he will eventually fall asleep and it will be okay and I'm not a bad mother! I think they need to make a Mommy patch (like a patch for people trying to quit smoking) that will ease the pain of breaking these kinds of habits!
Stay tuned until tomorrow's post to find out if Jonah makes it through the night in his "gasp" own bed!!!
