It has been well established on this blog that I have had 6 years of my children’s sleep issues. If you have not kept up, feel free to join my long suffering readers with these posts about my struggles:
Guilt {My Struggle with Giving My Child Melatonin}
Now that you are all caught up, let me share my happy news with my patient readers who have given me advice, encouragement and love over the years!
MY KIDS ALL GO TO BED AND SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!
Yes, you read that right and no, I am not exaggerating.
Here is the skinny on how I – well my neighbor suggested it but I am drinking in the credit anyway – seemingly have solved the sleep issue in my house!
Two weeks ago I had a business engagement at night. I hired a sitter to come in and watch the girls, but being in high school, she could only stay until 9. Well, I could not get home until after 10 so I called my wonderful neighbor and she volunteered to relieve the sitter.
I got home at about 10:15pm which is prime time fighting hour in my house with the kids to sleep and all was quiet. Not just quiet, but super quiet. Quiet like don’t step on a piece of dog hair lest you ruin the happy moment, quiet.
My neighbor told me that she arrived at the house and all heck was breaking loose so she took all of the girls folding couches, put them in Katie’s room and read them books. It took 2.5 books for the kids – all 3 of them – to fall fast asleep. So I left them there – she actually threatened my life if I moved them… OK maybe not that drastic but close – and enjoyed the first night in years of not having to be up 10 times a night with various kids.
So, the next night I wondered if I had my neighbors touch.
I did…. amazingly, and all three girls fell asleep on their little couches in Katie’s room and they all slept through the night.
Some nights take more than others to get them calmed down… I won’t lie… but this is the best sleep they have gotten their entire lives!
I have a routine now that seems to work. Only one night have I had a child not asleep by the end of this and I had to fight her. But I will take that over the previous years any day of the week!
First, each child picks a book to read. Whomever gets into bed first gets their book read first. I start out reading a little loud to get their attention and then drop my voice to where they have to be quiet to hear me. After the three books, I count backwards from 100. If there is noise, I start over. They want me to finish because then I sing their favorite bedtime song to them – Mama’s Going to Buy You a Mockingbird. Usually by that time, they are all asleep. But if not, I count backwards again and that has done it 13 out of 14 nights.
PLUS – and I am SO excited about this – because they have each other in the room, the dreaded, “Mommy I am scared!” and “It’s too dark!” have subsided! No more leaving the bathroom light on all night or having 17 night lights. They are in a dark room with 2 night lights and happily sleeping!
Yes, I know!! Happy dance!!!
And now we have a ‘sleeping room’, a library and a playroom. And I have to say, this is genius! I can clean 2 of the 3 rooms at night when they are in bed! So I have less work on my part when the kids are up trying to “help”!
I mean, come on. How cool is that for the kids?
So I understand this may not work for everyone. And I know that it is not feasible to put all of the kids in one room. But for me, with a 6, 4 and 3 year old, this has been golden.
Much like silence.
Which I have now.
So I get to brag!
What has worked in your house? Do you kids bunk together?
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We put all four boys in the same room (7, 5, and 2 1/2 twins) and turned the nursery into a family closet. Now, all of their clothes are in one room and I don’t have to worry about making sure everything gets folded and put away before they go to bed. Bedtime is definitely much smoother because I can put everyone down at once and no one is misbehaving in another room while I’m laying his brothers down.
That is awesome! So far, I love it!
Congratulations on finding what works for your kids! And such a simple solution for a long standing problem knowing you’ve tried everything else before. I’ve never had sleeping issues with my kids, until now that they’re all teenagers they like to stay up & read long after they’re told to go to bed which I guess isn’t a horrible problem to have. :) And my 2 boys have always shared a room because of small houses, only my daughter who is the youngest gets her own room.
I keep telling my husband we should devote one room to sleeping and the other to play. I think it would help my son, who is scared of the dark, to have his sister sleeping in the same room. Plus, only having one messy room full of toys sounds like a huge plus, as we’re about to try to sell our house. I’m going to have him read your post. Thanks!
Your welcome, Kristen! It is really SO MUCH easier and it has solved the fear of the dark!! I love it!!! GOOD LUCK- let me know how it goes!
My girls sleep together as well. I know all too well what you are going through. I used to have one who screamed through the night….then that would wake up the other one. But three girl? Hot dang I don’t envy you. I’m so glad you found something that works! Mama needs sleep too!
LOL! I am enjoying them much more now that they are sleeping through the night!
Excellent idea and a much better use of space!
That is a great idea. My kids don’t give me much problems (my 5 month old has been sleeping through the night since she was 1 month old). My son was more difficult but we brush his teeth, get a drink of water, read a book, and say our good nights (goodnight sleep tight don’t let the bed bugs bite, I love you, sweet dreams, see you in the mornin’). Then he is usually good about staying in bed and going to sleep. I wasn’t able to get him sleeping through the night until he was 3, his bedtime is 8pm.
Brilliant! I am passing this idea along to my SIL who is having alot of trouble with her kids right now.
We actually went from seperate rooms to a shared room (5yr & 3yr old boys) back to seperate rooms. I wanted a playroom & a bedroom but ended up changing the rooms back. My oldest has allergies so I have an air humidifier going all night (which he sleeps well with white noise) but found out my youngest has to sleep with no noise. I now do bedtime routines with youngest going to bed 30 minutes before his brother…sometimes giving baths together then youngest gets books and hugs/kisses and then same for older son and by the time I’m done with his books younger son is asleep (i end up reading the same books most nights this way but they can’t feed off each other and calm down much quicker). Congrats on bedtime for your girls :)
Wonderful ideas, however, I have only 1 daughter and we are having the same struggle. Any ideas for us?
Well done on getting your kids into a great bedtime routine and sleeping all night! It’s great advice for all parents out there! Sleeping all night is a luxury that you savor, after you go through sleepless nights with babies for months and years.
I am a certified sleep consultant and one of the first things that I recommend to parents is to instill a calming bedtime routine which is the same night after night. The routine and consistency, makes them feel safe, secure and comfortable and they know learn what is expected of them.
Awesome! Still trying to fight my boys. They are so hyped up at night, no matter what I try. I like how you have the rooms for separate tasks. i would love that! Unfortunately, my two youngest share a room with everything in it. I’m thinking about moving toys to a closet in the hall but must clean it out first. About the only thing that gets my boys down is to put them in separate rooms (typically one in mine) until they have gone to sleep. Then the one not in their room gets woke up just enough for them to get to his room. Next year when big sis goes to college, I will have her bedroom to put one to sleep in!
We tried the bedroom/playroom method for the last year. We finally called it quits! I wish is would have worked but they each have their own room. The problem now is out son seems to migrate to our room each night with his flip couch bed!!!! time to kick him out!
That is so hard!! Kids just want to be with their parents!! Let me know how it goes :)