Hello, my son who is 2 will only go to sleep at night in the chair that I rock him in. It is a plushy oversized glider, but I am concerned that he is going to start thinking it's normal to sleep in a chair! He has had sleep issues his whole life (waking up at night and wanting me, waking up very early) and I decided to let him cry it out 5 months ago, which worked like a charm. But now, he prefers that glider more than his bed. Maybe because it rocks him, or because it is where I rock him to sleep? Should I remove the chair, or just let him sleep in it? He takes good naps, usually in his own bed, or ours. Sometimes I will sneak in and put him in his bed at night. Any advice?
Just a thought, but maybe take the cushions off of the chair so it's not comfortable and tell him they are lost or being cleaned.
Or a more drastic approach would be to lay the chair on it's side and tell him it's broke.
If he still cant sleep good in his bed, I know that the bassinet/play yard has a vibrating device on it to sooth newborns maybe some thing like this would work on a crib or headboard.
THis has nothing to do with your question-although I would leave him in the Glider :D
What is a skin care therapist-Is that like an aesthetician or a dermatologist?
Noth that it means anything, but I say if it's not hurting anything let him. He obviously gets some kind of peace and comfort sleeping there and if he's slepping well there (and your getting your sleep) that's what matters. There are so many more things to worry about. Most of the things kids go through are short lived. Don't sweat the small stuff. And maybe like most kids the minute it isn't a big deal to you, he'll change it. Take care. Enjoy.
It sounds like her just replaced one thing for another. He may be okay for now in the chair, but what about when he gets bigger? Maybe you could set a goal of a certain date with him to get him back in his bed. Try talking with him and see if you two can make a deal.
I have a daughter that just turned 3 yesterday. For a long time, she would fall asleep in our bed with a video while I would put the other 3 kids to bed and I would then move her when I would go to bed at night. About 3 months ago, she wouldn't go to sleep with our usual routine so, when it was time for bed, I layed her down in her bed and layed next to her until she fell asleep. We now do this every night, it only takes 5 min. (I make sure she's good and run out by dinner time. I have her ride her tricycle or run at the park) and I know that other moms might think that we shouldn't do this, but I did this with my now 6 year old when she was younger and she grew out of it. I've been able to tuck her in and leave the room for 2 years now. I wouldn't stress yourself out too much about this issue, they are only little for a short amount of time and they do go through stages- and that's what they are -stages- I've never heard of a teeanager or a married man wanting their mother to lay next to them at night to help them get to sleep! So, don't sweat the small stuff. Enjoy your little one. A.
I would absolutely move him to his bed and the sooner the better.
At 2, he has just entered the stage of NO, and he has a developmental need to try to do things HE wants to do and not always do as you want him to do.
The sooner you get this under control and he has a routine, a firm place he should sleep, the sooner you will have something to fall back on as he begins his need to test the rules.
Good Luck, The Mommie Mentor, www.proactiveparenting.net
I think you are doing a good job and taking the glider away will just worsen the situation. I say...just leave him be. I agree with the other mom, unless it is physically harming then just let him be.
FYI...my son is named Nicholas, too! I thought that was cute :)
No worries! My son used to sleep in his car seat! I was just as worried as you but as it turns out it doesn't matter where they sleep if their comfortable. He eventually moved to sleeping in the bed but that was after he got to big for the car seat to be comfortable, lol!
Simply: Let him be where he sleeps! :-) That child will be a teen sooner than you think and he won't be sleeping at home at all soon enough! Who says you have to sleep "in a bed" anyway? Stop caring what other's might think and never take comfort (i.e. the chair) from him just so you don't have to explain his "sleeping area habits" to others... just remember those that care; don't matter. Those that matter;don't care! :-) Have a good sleep in your own bed and no worries!
I had a similar situation with my son at that age. He would only sleep on the couch. After several months of him sleeping on the couch, even if we put him in is bed, we decided we needed to do something. We transitioned him out of his toddler bed and bought him a big boy bed. I don't know if it was when we bought him a big boy bed or he just outgrew that stage, either way he has been sleeping in own bed ever since.
It may be that your son finds the chair more comfortable then his bed. I wouldn't worry too much about him sleeping in the chair right now, unless it is causing problems physically. He probably finds the chair comforting, that he can snuggle into it. If it is an issue and he is in a toddler bed still, you may want to look into a larger bed for him.
Anna, the first rule of thumb...never rock your kids to sleep. They need to learn to put themselves to sleep or they'll be very difficult. It's a little late for that now; but the older he gets without it being addressed, the tougher it will be. He probably does like the motion of the rocker...heck, I love being in a hammock! So I'm sure it's very soothing to him. Does he insist on napping in the rocker too? It might just be that he'll have to tough it out (crying without you giving in) until he gets used to the fact that he sleeps in his crib. Other than the potential harm from him falling out of the chair (I'm assuming he wants to sleep in it by himself?? or is it that he's wanting you to put him to sleep every night?) but if he's in it alone, there's probably not that much harm in it given he'll soon be too big and it likely just won't be comfortable. I was really tough with my kids when they were infants...at the suggestion of my best friend who is the queen of mothers! She told me to NEVER "put my kids to sleep" -- that they needed to do it themselves and it has worked like a charm. I had already gotten on the wrong path with my dauther who was about 3 months old; and she screamed and screamed -- to the point where she wasn't going to calm herself down and I'd have to go in. But eventually, the screaming got a little less every night and within about a week or 10 days, she was going to bed without having a bottle first; and she slept thru the night. Now at 6 and 7, my kids know bedtime is 7:30; they brush their teeth and go to bed and I haven't had a problem in years (but again, I'm really strict on that point..and they know it!). I'm a single mom and have been since my kids were 6 mos. and 22 mos. so I don't have the luxury of having a man around to "enforce"; so I (unfortunately) have to be the tough guy. Best of luck to you...
Anna,
When I had four little ones under the age of six I was always on the phone with my mom about one thing or another that I was worried about. Her advice was "it is just a stage". She was right. Everything is a stage, good and bad. Most things didn't last more than a couple months, not even the sweet things (so enjoy them). As long as he isn't waking up with a stiff neck or falling off the chair, he will move soon enough. Make sure you take a picture before he decides the bed is better, you will want to remind him of this someday (probably in front of his girlfriend at age 17 :)).
