Last night over a lovely pizza dinner (nothing better than Pino's Pizza), Doug told me that when he was a baby he would climb out of his crib during the night without anyone knowing it. I told him that I think Mamie is likely to stay in her crib until she's 12. She's got 432 play friends in there, 5 books, a blanket, a pillow and an anatomically correct baby doll. No reason to leave.
Approximately ten minues after I said this remark Mamie started screaming "no crib, no crib."
Flabbergasted, I went in to her to see her standing up holding her blanket, Coco bear, dog purse and Baby Rose. She looked like a hitchhiker, ready for her ride. "C'mon, pick me up, already." I asked her what was wrong and she said "read book, no crib." So I took her to the living room, which was now dark to show her that everyone was sleeping. Everyone, being the television set. She led me back to her room where I once again did the whole night-time routine: 5 books, tickling, saying goodnight to everything in room including the walls and then plopping her into the crib. She was all happy faced until I left at 8:33. Then crying for 30 minutes. Really it was more complaining than crying, but you get the idea: no sleep. She finally went out around 9:04, a good hour and half later than her usual bedtime of 7:30.
Doug and I were too afraid to move or put on the television (no American Idol for us) so we decided to go to sleep too. I imagined that since Mamie went down so late that she'd of course sleep at least until 7:30. The past four mornings she was up at 6AM, so she had to be tired. Right?
WRONG. 5:20AM we heard her talking to dog purse. Fine, she does that sometimes, and then she falls back asleep. But today that didn't happen. She got louder and louder, fake crying and screaming and moving Elmo around so much in her crib that we could hear his eyes banging against the rails. It would get quiet for a few minutes in between this floor show, but then start up again. I wanted to go in and plop her in our bed so we could all sleep, even though that would not be good for anyone (we just went through this 3 weeks ago and it was a nightmare) but I thought no, just wait it out. She has to fall back asleep.
Then we heard a thump.
"That's gotta be Baby Rose," I said to Doug. Baby Rose is a hard doll. We thump her around ourselves as entertainment for Mamie.
We then heard Mamie talking quieting to her animals -- and then nothing. Quiet. Not that I could sleep at all, but it was quiet. At 6:10, I decided to check in on her. I knew that this might wake her up, but I had to see what was going on. I thought that I could sneak Baby Rose back into the crib too. As soon as I opened the door, I heard "Hi Mommy." But there was no one in the crib. Mamie's room is small, so where could she be? I turned to look at the little cushion area we have in there. It's a place where we read books and cuddle and where I change her diapers. And there she was.
"So I guess you don't want a crib anymore, Mamie. Huh?"
"No, crib," she said. "Own bed."
All righty then!
So we've technically been up since 5:20AM. As Mamie played in the living room, all lively and awake, Doug and I discussed the next step over strong coffee and stale bagels. Toddler bed? Mattress on the floor? Lowering the rail on her crib? Sleeping with us forever? No sleep at all, ever?
What to do? For the nap today we'll try lowering the rail on her crib but I'm thinkin' it's bed time. Man, she is growing up so fast and while it will be amazing and nutty to see her in a real bed, or a small version of one, I can't help but think that we will never sleep through the night again, ever. Because won't she just find the freedom too enticing? Will she venture out of even a toddler bed? Man, I miss the cage, I mean, the crib already. How do people do this?
I know, it's my fault. It's my fault for saying that she loves her crib. ALL. MY. FAULT.
Approximately ten minues after I said this remark Mamie started screaming "no crib, no crib."
Flabbergasted, I went in to her to see her standing up holding her blanket, Coco bear, dog purse and Baby Rose. She looked like a hitchhiker, ready for her ride. "C'mon, pick me up, already." I asked her what was wrong and she said "read book, no crib." So I took her to the living room, which was now dark to show her that everyone was sleeping. Everyone, being the television set. She led me back to her room where I once again did the whole night-time routine: 5 books, tickling, saying goodnight to everything in room including the walls and then plopping her into the crib. She was all happy faced until I left at 8:33. Then crying for 30 minutes. Really it was more complaining than crying, but you get the idea: no sleep. She finally went out around 9:04, a good hour and half later than her usual bedtime of 7:30.
Doug and I were too afraid to move or put on the television (no American Idol for us) so we decided to go to sleep too. I imagined that since Mamie went down so late that she'd of course sleep at least until 7:30. The past four mornings she was up at 6AM, so she had to be tired. Right?
WRONG. 5:20AM we heard her talking to dog purse. Fine, she does that sometimes, and then she falls back asleep. But today that didn't happen. She got louder and louder, fake crying and screaming and moving Elmo around so much in her crib that we could hear his eyes banging against the rails. It would get quiet for a few minutes in between this floor show, but then start up again. I wanted to go in and plop her in our bed so we could all sleep, even though that would not be good for anyone (we just went through this 3 weeks ago and it was a nightmare) but I thought no, just wait it out. She has to fall back asleep.
Then we heard a thump.
"That's gotta be Baby Rose," I said to Doug. Baby Rose is a hard doll. We thump her around ourselves as entertainment for Mamie.
We then heard Mamie talking quieting to her animals -- and then nothing. Quiet. Not that I could sleep at all, but it was quiet. At 6:10, I decided to check in on her. I knew that this might wake her up, but I had to see what was going on. I thought that I could sneak Baby Rose back into the crib too. As soon as I opened the door, I heard "Hi Mommy." But there was no one in the crib. Mamie's room is small, so where could she be? I turned to look at the little cushion area we have in there. It's a place where we read books and cuddle and where I change her diapers. And there she was.
"So I guess you don't want a crib anymore, Mamie. Huh?"
"No, crib," she said. "Own bed."
All righty then!
So we've technically been up since 5:20AM. As Mamie played in the living room, all lively and awake, Doug and I discussed the next step over strong coffee and stale bagels. Toddler bed? Mattress on the floor? Lowering the rail on her crib? Sleeping with us forever? No sleep at all, ever?
What to do? For the nap today we'll try lowering the rail on her crib but I'm thinkin' it's bed time. Man, she is growing up so fast and while it will be amazing and nutty to see her in a real bed, or a small version of one, I can't help but think that we will never sleep through the night again, ever. Because won't she just find the freedom too enticing? Will she venture out of even a toddler bed? Man, I miss the cage, I mean, the crib already. How do people do this?
I know, it's my fault. It's my fault for saying that she loves her crib. ALL. MY. FAULT.
Several months ago Arthur climbed out of his crib 3 times, the 3rd time hurting himself a little. I tried not to make a big deal of it but insisted that he stay in the crib. And it worked! He's still in there and hasn't climbed out since. I just was NOT ready for moving to a toddler bed because I don't want them getting up whenever they feel like it. Anyway, I just thought that you might like to know that it's possible for a fellow toddler climber to stay in. But every kid is different, so who knows how determined Mamie will be. Also, there are crib tents that all of my friends love. They're kind of expensive, so I have avoided buying two. But that is another alternative if you want to keep her in the crib longer. Kids love them!
I hope you get some sleep! Hopefully we'll see you around.
I've always found your blog interesting as my son was born three days apart from your daughter.
We ended up going through the bed thing early as he is very, very tall and the crib was little challenge. Don't be shocked if the first week or so in a regular bed ends up with her crawling out and sleeping on the floor. It will drive you nuts, but hang in there. A small toddler gate might be a good idea in the doorway to keep her in the room without feeling locked-in. (fancy "big girl" bedding might help the transition).
Good luck.
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