Sleepytime Magic

Something amazing happened today when I was putting K down for her nap. After half an hour of reading, cuddling, singing lullabies, and swaying together, K was still not ready to cooperate. Since my back was beginning to kill me, I put her down in her pack'n'play. She was very unhappy at first, so I sat next to her on the floor. I kept telling her "Mama stays." Over and over again, I just played with her hair and telling her I wasn't going anywhere until she went to sleep. Eventually, she sat down and started looking at her book, with her bear by her side. She'd look back at me from time to time and touch the side of the p'n'p. I'd meet her hand, and she would go back to reading. I sprawled out on the floor, just waiting to see what she would do. Within ten minutes, she was lying down and closing her eyes. I watched my baby girl fall asleep on her own for the first time in 16 months. It was truly magic. We've really struggled with K's sleeping routines and such. Watching her fall asleep felt like such an honor. And she slept, as previously mentioned, for almost 3 hours!!!!

J and I tried this tactic for bedtime as well. Mission accomplished. This time, J got to watch her fall asleep. We left the room smiling. Minimal fussing, no crying, sleeping baby, happy parents. Maybe she's been experiencing separation anxiety all this time. Since I tried so hard to assure her that I would stay, it was like she was actually comfortable in her bed. I can't wait to try this at home!!