Sunday, January 18, 2009

I could use some advice...

I USED to have the world's easiest baby to put to sleep. Or at least I thought so. Sing Lilli a few songs, put her in her crib, cover her with her special blanket, cuddle her up with her stuffed dog, say "night night", and waltz out of her room in a pleased-with-myself fashion. Completely confident in the fact that she would shortly fall asleep and that was the last I'd hear of her until morning.

I'm still getting to sleep through the night (thank heavens!), but for the last week or so I've been having an ordeal getting out of her room. She keeps saying "Mama! Mama! No night night! Up! Up!" and clinging to me or trying to climb up me, and sobbing like her heart is broken when I leave. Don't worry, I'm not the kind of sucker who goes back in just because she's crying a little, I know that sets evil precedents, but what the heck is up? Once she had a wet diaper that she'd snuck out on me, and that's why she freaked when I started to leave, but the other times she hasn't been either wet or full of poo. As far as I know she's not sick or anything. It seems like she might be teething (especially tonight), but would that cause this? Is she just trying to play me? Is she scared of something? Is she having a weird 18 month growth spurt that means she needs an extra snack before bed?

Yes, this is my second child, but this is a new one for me.

It's rare that I'm actually seeking opinions, normally I just want to vent and I greet all fix-it solutions with a pleasant nod and a vacant smile, but this time, I'm asking.

Help!

1 comment:

Sprite's Keeper said...

Ugh, sorry, no advice here. Every night, I get locked into negotiations with the toddler, and when I leave John to it, I have to go in later and collect everything he lets her keep in exchange for her silence. BTW, my update from the playdate will be out Thursday. I needed some time today to start playing with the pictures.