Monday, June 16, 2008

Wild Thing Needs No Sleep

little kid is having a very hard time going to bed tonight.

When I originally went to put him down at 7:00pm, I predicted that I was about to have a fight on my hands and that he just wasn't tired, so I let him have another 20 minutes.

When I finally did put him down he screamed and screamed and screamed until I went in to check on him and attempt to tuck him back in. He grabbed at me, clawed at me, screamed at me, and basically refused to lie down, so I told him to go to bed and left the room.

And then I heard the click of a door opening...and the sound of fat little feet padding down the hallway.

This is the first time he's ever climbed out of his crib, and let me tell you right now: Mommy don't play that game.

I don't care if I have to build something with chicken wire and two by fours...he is staying in there. I must have one place to put him where I know he'll stay. If putting a top on his crib makes it a cage, then let it be known that my kid will be sleeping in a cage.

He is in there screaming "MUM MUM MUM MUUUUUUM MUM MUM MUMMA MUMMUM MUMMMMM MUMMM MUUUUUUM" right now. This has been going on for an hour and twenty minutes.

Not fair. Not fair at all.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I feel for you, Ashley. That's the hardest part--when you lose your last spot to park them for your sanity's sake. #2 hasn't climbed out yet but she's really close, esp. when she's mad. But the crib's the only way I can contain her so I can make sure and get my beauty sleep (or I'll go postal) while cuddling the ever-clingy newborn. #1 stays "quiet" in his room with books and his Leapster. I'm dreading the day #2 finally makes it over the rail.

Melodie said...

My little one did the same thing. She did NOT want to go to sleep and after screaming her head off, managed to climb out of her crib. She couldn't get her door open, so she just started banging on her bedroom door. Luckily, she never did it again.
We just moved her into a toddler bed, because of my fear that she'd climb out again and hurt herself, and she slept there most of last night, and even laid herself down for a nap this afternoon.
Sorry if any of that sounds like I'm bragging!

Anonymous said...

Five words for you. Gate the fucking bedroom door. Or Benadryl. I'd go with the first option, though.

:)

Life, Love And Lola said...

One of my girlfriends had deadbolts installed on the outside of her children's rooms and she locked them in when this kind of thing occured. At first I thought it was wrong but now I understand. Or, you could crate train him. :)

Maddness of Me said...

When I was 5, I had my tonsils out in the hospital overnight. They had to put me in a cage because I tried to escape. It was for my own safety. I made it all the way to the main entrance.

It was a bed, with bars on the side and over the top.

They could reach in to stick a shot in my ass.

One mother's cruel is another's safety.

Anonymous said...

P busted her butt climbing out a while back. I took off the front rail of her crib and trained the little monkey to stay. Every once in a while she gets up, so I'm getting baby gates to put in the two doors that allow access to her room. She can sleep on the floor or in her bed. IDONTCARE. Just leave me alone for that time, you know?

Also, I think this may be why older houses have locks on the outside of bedroom doors. Just a guess.

Anonymous said...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiance_disorder

Anonymous said...

As long as you don't hurt the child, or yourself or anyone else, the child not sleeping won't hurt him. And, for the record, the follow-through that you so obviously have will make it worth every drink you are thinking of having right now!

Anonymous said...

OMG to the anonymous person who wrote oppositional defiant disorder. I've worked with those kids. Little kids does NOT have ODD. He's a brilliant, spirited child who likes to push the limits. He will be an absolute leader one day! That "anonymous" asshole can bug off.

Coming from a mother of a spirited child who climbed out of her crib at 15 months, I have 2 words for you: crib tent. It's made by Tots in Mind and is worth every penny and more. Here it is on Babies R Us:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404625

Thankfully I found mine at a resale shop. Ask around and see if any of your friends have one or you could do a wanted to buy on Craiglist. If we lived closer, you could borrow mine until I need it for maniac #2. My daughter loved it and slept in her crib until well after 2 when we had to move her b/c baby #2 was coming. I hope someone has one you can get for a reasonable price. Lord knows you deserve some peace with LK. ;-)

{Hugs}

Anonymous said...

BTW, I just looked and there's some on Ebay for a bit cheaper. This one is in Florida...maybe it's close so you wouldn't have to pay shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Cozy-Crib-Tent-Infant-Toddler-Tots-In-Mind-EUC_W0QQitemZ310058728364QQihZ021QQcategoryZ117033QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mitch said...

For the record, we are entering a full moon phase. My kids go ABSOLUTELY CRAZY this time of month and absolutely fight sleep. I hate it -- every.single.full.moon.

Not much of a help, I know. But my August baby is so tall, I'm shocked he hasn't crawled out of his crib yet. I'm just waiting.

Kim said...

You NEED the crib tent. And a doorknob cover on the inside of his bedroom so he can't open the door if he happens to outsmart the crib tent. My oldest son somehow figured out how to unzip the stupid thing from the inside. RUN, don't walk to buy one. It's entirely worth the money.

Dainty Cakes Tampa said...

Ds went through that phase. We bought a simple hook and eye lock for the outside, used it when we put him down, and then unlocked it when we went to bed.

Julie said...

Ditto to txchic and Kim!! Crib tents rock!!

carolinesc7 said...

Take a screwdriver, and just remove the damn doorknob and put it back on to lock from the outside.....It won't even cost you a dime:)....And I thought my kids were giving me a hard time.....my sympathies--especially about Tinkerbell

Joy said...

Oh yea my friend turned the knob around and locks the door so her son can't get out. Before she would stand and hold the door shut!

Oh yea I don't play games either when it comes to sleep. You will be napping when I say so, you will not be getting up from that nap till I feel like it has been long enough (2hrs) and you will go to bed at night ALONE!

The little girl I babysit pulls a bunch of BS with her parents at nap time and they ask me "what do you do?" I lay her down and walk out-Simple. She may cry for a minute but she goes to sleep and stays asleep. She had never slept 2hrs at a nap time til she came here:) Seriously I don't mess around

X said...

What is it with applying labels to any kid that dare test the parental tides?

I had no idea children emerged from the womb perfect in every which way from toddler-hood on up. Who knew?

Ashley, crib tent, Chica. Get one. STAT.

Caren said...

My son too had a crib tent, I hated it at first but he never minded and it worked. I dare say that little kid might just figure out how to unzip it though. Good luck!

Marie said...

We made a nursery door in my sons room when he was two because we could not contain him anymore. We cut the top of his door like they do at church and you can close the whole door or just half of it and leave the other half so you can at least see them.

Anonymous said...

My son currently has a crib tent....and we loved it. He doesn't mind and I have the peace of mind that he cannot get out.

When my 4 year old was a year, she learned how to climb out of her crib, so we moved her into a toddler bed.
Big mistake! She still won't stay in her bed three years later!

So, go the crib tent route.....it is well worth it!

Anonymous said...

Joy - I'm always asking my daycare lady the same thing "how do you do it?" My dd never gets out of bed for her at naptime but for the life of me I can't get the little turd to stay in bed. I don't mess around either - we practice the Supernanny concept (tell her once to get back in bed and then just put her back without speaking to her or making eye contact). I've actually considered having the daycare lady come over on weekends (she lives across the street) to help me get dd to sleep.

Katie

Multislacking Mama said...

Oh, Wild Thing. Your Momma is bustin' out some chicken wire and two-by-fours on your be-hind.

I'm sorry he is a naughty boy, but chicken wire and two-by-fours made me laugh.

It isn't fair.
Holly