A Mommy Story

I swear I’m not writing this to brag. Aaron told me it was too amazing not to blog about, and well, he usually doesn’t get a say in what I write, so I’ll give him this one. But if I become the new mommyblogger pariah, it’s all your fault, dear.

Yesterday around 1pm, Cordelia was being a cranky monster. You know, a typical toddler. We were an hour away from her normal nap time. It was going to be a long hour.

I changed her diaper, and she was making it as difficult as possible for me. As soon as the changing of the diaper was completed, she stood up and huffed at me with a scowl on her face. I was tired of the attitude.

“Do you need to go take a nap?”

Pause. “Yes.”

Stunned look from me. “OK, go get your froggie and Blue and you can take a nap.” I figured she had no idea what she was agreeing to, and it would go no further than that.

But Cordy walked around the downstairs, gathering her Blue and her froggie, and went to the base of the stairs. I offered to carry her up, like I normally do, but she pushed me aside. Still holding her toys, which took up both arms and made it harder for her, she climbed the stairs.

Once at the top of the stairs, I expected her to run off into the guest room, which is where she likes to try to hide from me. But instead she walked right over to her bedroom door and waited for me to open it. I opened the door, and she walked in.

She waited at the CD player for me to put her sleep music on (yes, she still has a CD I play for her at nap and bedtime). Once the music was playing, she walked over to her crib, still holding her toys, and waited for me to lift her into the crib.

I put her in her crib, and she laid down. I left the room, shutting the door behind me, and walked down the stairs. At the base of the stairs, I stopped and listened to the monitor: not a peep from her. And standing there, I asked out loud:
“What just happened here?”

She slept for nearly 2 hours.

My 22 month old daughter put herself down for a nap.

I’d like to say I’ll soon be publishing my book of sleep training tricks for all of you, but she did this herself. I have no secrets to share, really. She used to be a horrible sleeper, who woke 2-3 times a night, refused naps, and screamed like a banshee at bedtime.

I guess I do have one secret to share: bedtime is non-negotiable, and always has been. Once she’s down for the night, she’s not coming out of that bedroom. When she would cry when put to bed, we’d let her cry for 10 min., then go in to check on her, but not take her out of the room. Once it’s bedtime, she’s there for the night. Repeat 10 minutes later, and another 10 min, later if needed. Usually she was asleep before the end of the first 10 minutes. I know many feel crying it out is cruel, and I can say it wasn’t easy and isn’t the only way to do things. But she knew we were right there, and if she really needed us, we’d be in within 10 minutes. It worked for us.

Now she doesn’t even cry – she seems happy to go to bed. I don’t know if she just accepts bedtime now, or if she’s finally developed her mother’s love of sleeping. Either way, she blew my mind yesterday when she put herself to bed for her nap.