We used to get him super worked up before bed. A total opposite of what people tell you, but it worked for a while. Chris, my husband, and I would have him laughing hysterically. When he started walking, we would chase him all over the house pretending he was escaping. There was even a time we had him fall asleep to a movie every night because it was the ONLY way to get him asleep.
These tricks only last a short time. I am not a big fan of crying it out. There are times Micah just needs to deal with it, but I like to make sure he is fine before I just leave him in a dark room to cry.
The latest bedtime routine is my favorite.
I don't know how I "decode" the different cries, but I just accept that it is part of my Mommy superpowers. Micah was going to bed and he was anxious. He would cry and cry and I could hear him say things like...Mommy, where are you? I love you, Mommy. It was two or three nights of this before I stumbled upon our new routine.
We put Micah to bed 30 min to an hour before his bedtime. It all just depends on how tired I feel like he is and when my husband comes home. I like to make sure that Micah and Chris get to see each other everyday, but when Chris has to work late and Micah has school, it just can't be helped.
After I put him to bed, I let him play on his Kindle for a short time. With the stimming behaviors, Micah needs time to settle down and chill out. I figure it is like when I read before I go to sleep. I tell him that I will have to come get his Kindle from him and point to the clock on his wall to show him what time I will come in.
When I come to collect the Kindle, Micah usually just hands it over. Sometimes I have to take it from him, but that happens less and less. Then, I'll turn off the lights and sing to him. His favorite is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We also sing Jesus Loves Me, ABCs, and some of his school songs about the days of the week or the months of the year. Sometimes Micah sings to me. These are usually songs he makes up. I always make sure to clap and tell him how beautiful his song is. The rule is, for me to sing to him, his head has to be on the pillow.
After we sing, we talk. I think this is the important part for Micah. I tell him about what we are planning the next day. I'll say things like, "Tomorrow you will wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and go to school to see Mrs Megan. You're going to see your friends and play and sit down quietly when Mrs. Megan is teaching. You're going to visit Kindergarten and sing songs and count. Then you go lunch and eat. Then, Mommy will pick you up. Tomorrow is Thursday so that means you get to go to gymnastics, but not until later in the evening. Before gymnastics we will play and have a snack and you'll take a nap."
I have learned that Micah likes to have a plan. He doesn't get super upset if we can't stick to that plan exactly, but he likes to have an idea of what is going to happen. Sometimes we write down what our plans are on his white board. He loves that. If there is something Micah seems anxious about, we explain it with pictures and words. For example, going poopoo. (Sorry if that is an offensive word to some) Micah was afraid of the potty and seems to try to not poop. Even if it was just in his pull-up. So, one day Chris and I sat down with him and explained what poopoo and peepee is. I drew a person and explained that it is just getting rid of what our body doesn't need. It was really simplified and probably not entirely accurate, but it helped. He loved it.
Here is my baby boy asleep.
Have a great one,
jozlin
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