~Time for a Change-up~

Holiday Madness over, time to get back into a routine. What we didn't realize was just how BADLY Aaron was off his schedule. He has really come into those tantrums, become overly sensitive to everything, and mean to his brother. For two nights in a row he didn't sleep a wink; there was much screaming and tantrums about wanting to sleep in our bed (something we've never done)... Aaron has always been a good sleeper so this was out of left field for us! This is when we stayed up real late one night talking about how to create a game changer. SO~

What Hasn't been Working: 

We have active boys; they never stop. At the end of the day we settle in with a movie before dinner, but sometimes dinner isn't quite done so we start a cartoon, or on occasion even leave on the t.v. through dinner (total no-no, I know; I'm just being honest). We also skip the bath at the end of the night if we get home late, dinner goes too late, we're doing a project together, etc. Then there is the book before bed, this also gets skipped if they're being naughty or it's once again later than hoped for! The boys often get put in bed at the same time because Aaron likes to climb up Maddix's ladder and terrorize the room. Most the time if he does go in before Maddix he causes trouble until "buddy's" in bed, then they talk, giggle, goof, and monkey around until... well the other night... 10:00pm! 

Not. Good. For. Anyone. 

Lots of times we end up growling and them to hush up and the boys will cry to sleep after losing a cartoon the next day... you get the picture. Tears. Anger. Nightmares and restless sleep. Early wake-up. Whiney boys all day... angry parents, rushed bedtime routine. REPEAT.  

 

After prayers and deliberations~ We have had four nights successful since we've tried our new research and ideas. Boys are sleeping. We are getting to bed earlier because of it. Aaron is so happy and joyful all day! No fits. He listens. He's kind. He wants to be a "good boy," as he says. 

Creating the Quiet:

We work hard to tire them out during the day. Travis and I are putting in the needed effort to make sure that a movie is turned on no later than 4:30pm and that dinner is served no later than 6:00, as well as the t.v. goes off right at 6:00pm. We've taken the toys out of the bathtub and only left the puzzle pieces so the bath is more of a calming time, then winding them up. We dim the lights as soon as Aaron is getting out of the tub; in goes Maddix. Travis has changed his wildly animated reading time to a quieting, peaceful book reading. We've also switched from reading in his bed to reading on the couch so that bed is strictly for BED. I sing him a song, we say prayers all together and say goodnight. We removed the nightlight and opened the blinds; THIS has made a HUGE difference. He no longer has all the light to get up the ladder, and he stays in his bed. This causes him to be asleep before Maddix even gets in the room (he's out by 7:30pm). We repeat with Maddix, and mostly, he's asleep by 8:30-9:00pm. 

Then they sleep in until 7:30-7:45. 

Cutting Nap Time:

Cleary he is 2 1/2yrs old, naps should go; however, we've tried before and it went horrible and didn't change his sleeping whatsoever. We decided to try again. It's a work in process, but he's switching to a quiet time with books, and he's getting better at just staying in his room nicely; I think it's going well. 

This has been great! I feel like Aaron is a whole new kid. We also bought a booster seat and he LOVES it. Instead of getting down and running completely WILD instead of eating, he's strapped in where he can sit tall and feel like a big boy and he eats so much better! 

Now that he's throwing less fits, listening more, and learning faster, we've started him with potty training. He's wanted to, but we've all been too lazy to commit, or constantly on the go. Now that winter is on its way and we're not going anywhere we know it's the time to buckle down and create a routine of it. He's taken to the potty training very well (much better than Maddix ever did). 

It's a heaven sent that Aaron has really been so nice because Maddix has taken it upon himself to really REALLY play up the attitude! That, however, is another story for another day!