Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Bedtime Breakthroughs - Baby to Big Boy Overnight!

If you would have asked me two weeks ago when we were going to break the "bobo" habit or ditch the crib for a toddler bed with my youngest, I probably would have laughed.  My answer would've been something like "I'm not sure about the crib, but the "bobo" will probably go to college with him, and I might have to go with him so he can hold my hair while he sleeps"

That was two weeks ago.  It's amazing how quickly and unexpectedly things can change!

Bedtime Breakthrough - Baby to Big Boy Overnight overlayed on big brother holding new baby

Big brother sucking thumb and new baby sitting in Daddy's lap skyping
Mr. L. has always been a "bobo kid."  As an infant, they were a near-constant companion.  His big brother rarely used a pacifier; he preferred his thumb as soon as he had the muscle control to put it into his mouth reliably.  It was cute at the time, and it was a great self-soothing method.  It's been a constant struggle to keep the thumb out of his mouth, since, though!  When baby #2 preferred a pacifier, I was thrilled.  I could take it away when the time comes (I thought) and breaking the habit would be a million times easier (I thought).

How wrong I was!  For the first year of his life the "bobo" was always within reach, and a back-up wasn't far away.  They seemed to help quell Mr. L.'s absolute hatred for car rides which made them worth their weight in gold.  The fact that they also frequently calmed my seemingly un-cheerable little one was a bonus.

At daycare, they were used sparingly outside of nap time, which I was more than fine with - all the easier to drop the habit later.  When he moved up to the next room at a year old, they were a strictly "crib only" soother.  When he moved up again at 18 months, we were told they would be slowly and gently weaning all toddlers from their pacifiers.  I panicked thinking my baby would never nap without it, but the awesome women at his daycare made it happen almost seamlessly!

One year old sitting in toddler sized chair with pacifier in mouth

Still the "bobo" was a must as we prepared for bed at home and whenever we rode in the car. Even after the pediatric dentist chided me for the damage they were causing and warned me about the need for braces, I wasn't ready to just force him to quit cold turkey. I read all kind of articles about toddlers and even preschoolers who still used a pacifier at bed time.  I read about how to break the pacifier habit.  I read anything I found on the topic, and still felt strongly that the time just wasn't right for us.

Then I had a giant mommy fail.

All of the pacifiers in the house ended up in the dishwasher at the same time.  The dishwasher was in the middle of running.  It was bedtime and I had ZERO "bobos"!  *GULP*

You know what?  Mr. L. handled it like a PRO!  He asked several times for his "bobo", and each time we explained that they were all being washed, and we didn't have one to give him.  He checked the usual storage places a couple of times, and made a trip to his room to confirm our situation.  That was it.  He tossed and turned a little bit more as he fell asleep that night, and he twirled my hair like there was no tomorrow, but he did it!  He fell asleep without a pacifier!

The next morning, I knew we couldn't go back.  My husband and I quickly made sure all stragglers left in the cars were out of sight, and resigned ourselves to a long car ride to school.  Mr. L. surprised us once again!  He again asked several times, but was receptive to our explanation that there was no "bobo" to give him.

Over the next several days, he asked less and less frequently.  The transition was so much easier than I ever pictured in my mind.  

pile of no longer needed pacifiers

Feeling like a big boy with no pacifier, must have taken over Mr. L.'s brain - only a few days later her figured out how to climb out of his crib.  Luckily, I happened to be sitting on the floor when it happened, or he'd have fallen right on his head!

32 month old "helps" transition crib to toddler bed


That afternoon, Mr. L. helped daddy convert the crib to a toddler bed.  My baby is really growing up! (Now if only it would spill over into potty training!)


32 month old lying on stomach in new bed signs BED






toddler bed with pillow, blanket, and stuffed animals ready to go






The moral of the story?

If you're struggling with something, hang in there.  It might seem like the necessary factors you need are impossible right now. But, tomorrow, they might be waiting for you on the door step.  Never give up the hope that life you dream of can be yours - be that sleeping through the night, starting your own business, fitness, or anything thing else your heart desires.

Change happens so quickly and unexpectedly.  You never know what tomorrow holds.  Keep doing the things you know you need to do, but don't stress about the parts you can't control.

24 comments:

  1. I'm so happy for you! That worked well and quickly :) Thanks for sharing your success story with us at Together on Tuesdays #59!!!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I was pleasantly surprised by the transitions.

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  2. Oh wow, it goes SO fast! I'm impressed with how well he handled giving up his bobos! We're hoping to tackle this with our daughter after Halloween and I'm super nervous but this gives me hope :)

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    1. It was much smoother than I ever expected. I hope you have the same experience! Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. My 2.5yr old moved really well into big bed and different bedroom, and is a good sleeper for night & naps, but she does still use pacifier to go to sleep. We have at various times tried to get rid of it, but it has always made her sleep bad & seems a bit pointless to destroy her good sleeping when she will probably stop on her own, so currently we are giving her a bit longer. It doesn't worry me too much - we stopped letting her use one for anything but sleep by the time she was a few months old, so she has never talked around it and does not use it to regulate her behaviour. She doesn't even keep it in once asleep - it just helps her go to sleep. Glad your transition was so smooth in the end! #SSAmazingAchievements

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    1. We were in the same place, pretty much. I wasn't going to force the pacifier issue, but when fate stepped in, and the first night went well enough that I just felt in my gut that it was time. We've had a few challenging nights, especially as his last 2 year molar comes through, but we've made though so far. (Especially now that we've figured out the tooth and offered some Tylenol!) Sleep is such a precious thing - for them and for us! Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Oh that's so true - I love your last paragraph "Change happens so quickly and unexpectedly. You never know what tomorrow holds. Keep doing the things you know you need to do, but don't stress about the parts you can't control."
    That's so true when dealing with children; they grow up and change and with that their views develop and one day they'll happily go to bed and the next they wont! I'm glad your transition went well
    xx
    #SSAmazingAchievements

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    1. I was definitely pleasantly surprised with how well it went. We're having some night waking, and I'm trying to remember my own words during those night tantrums! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I have always been amazed at the power of that one magical week when things seem to "click" for a child. I found it also with potty training and later on with reading and other school skills.

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    1. I'm hoping the potty training clicks soon! He'll go when he's in a group of similar aged peers at school, but adamantly refuses at home. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. What a clever little boy. We had to go cold turkey after my son had a terrible accident and knocked his two front teeth. We had tears at bedtime for about 5 days and then slowly but surley, he stopped asking. They take us by surprise these kids, don't they. Thanks for linking to #featurefridays

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    1. Oh no - what a way to have to give up a soother, when you most need soothing! Kids are so resilient, for sure! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. So cool! My first didn't get into pacifiers but my second loved hers. I think she was a little older than 3 when we finally eliminated it. I know it wasn't entirely easy but I totally can't remember how we got rid of it altogether.

    Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).

    Wishing you a lovely weekend.
    xoxo

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    1. It's amazing how things can seem so significant and difficult in the moment, but when we look back we only have a vague recollection. Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. That's amazing, so much change and he's handled it brilliantly. Sometimes the build up to making a change can seem mega for us as mums and then it's "whatever" from the child concerned. The key I guess is flexibility, on both parts.
    Hope the potty training does go by as smoothly and thanks for linking up with #SSAmazingAchievements

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    1. Flexibility is so important - I agree! Potty has been much less smooth and easy, but it's definitely been a lesson in flexibility! All things in their time I suppose.

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  9. I'm so glad this went so well for you. So many big changes for your little man and so quickly. We had the same thing with the dummy, one night we couldn't give it to him and we never went back. Still waiting if we can work out how to crack this potty training thing ;0) x

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    1. Potty training has been our match for quite some time - all things in their time I suppose. We're definitely taking a lesson in remaining flexible and positive! Thanks for visiting!

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  10. Great advice! We as parents think they are never going to outgrow something and then all of a sudden, they blossom up to the next stage. Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week :)

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    1. I was definitely more stressed about this transition than I needed to be! Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. It's crazy how fast things can change like that! I think it's just about time for my 3 year old to lose her "blue paci."

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    1. This was definitely an easier transition than I ever expected. I wish you the same speed and ease! Thanks for stopping by!

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