Enter Sandman

Isabelle has a new skill that makes her parents pleased as punch. About a week before we left for Toronto, we started to realize the aftereffects of the binky exorcism earlier this month. Isabelle was no longer falling asleep as quickly as she used to, leaving her Mom or Dad lying down with her for up to an hour before finally dozing off. If you tried to sneak out, she sensed it and would sit up and protest your departure. Something had to be done as it was making our nights longer and longer, not the best when we are already sleep-deprived parents!

Playing sleep with Great Grandpa


The next step was to see if Isabelle would fall asleep on her own. Although coached on the concept all through her bathtime, when it came to the moment of truth, she was distressed and not shy to let us know. We stuck to our guns and assured her that we were right down the hall and that she was taking the next step to being a big girl. 45 minutes of off and on crying and getting up and out of bed and then finally she gave up the fight.

The next night was much better and even though the experiment was interrupted by our Toronto trip, we went right back to the plan on our return are now on day #6 of success. Every night she asks if she is going to bed by herself and is clearly stressed by the response, but we stick to our story and it appears to be working (touch wood). She begrudgingly accepts her fate and has negotiated the open bedroom door as her end of the deal.

We'd like to think she has embraced her role as a big girl setting a shining example for her little brother. But it's much more likely that the reward gummie worm she receives the next day is the real reason!

Baasley, one of her oldest and best sleepmates