Ok, we screwed up with Allison and her sleeping arrangements. We did finally get her to sleep in her own bed. Now the issue is getting her to go to sleep without me laying down and sleeping with her. Nathan and Zoey never really had a problem going to bed at bed time. We had routines that we followed. Brush teeth, picking out animals/babies to sleep with, picking out a story to read, then lights out. Every once in a while one of them would get out of bed for some reason or another, but it was straight back into bed. I’m not sure why we didn’t stick to this with Allison. My only theories are that Nathan and Zoey do their own bedtime routines now and Allison is the baby.
For the past few nights, we have been trying to get her into a routine. Greg has been sitting in her floor while she yells and cries, “I want my MOMMMY!!”, “Not you Dad!”, “Mom, Where are you???” This is heart-wrenching for me. We need to establish a routine that doesn’t involve her crying for me for an hour before she finally so exhausted that she just passes out. I know eventually (a few more days or a week), Allison will be more used to the new nightime routine. We just have to make it through this tough spot. Man, does it suck right now though.
Anna, I can totally relate to your pain. My oldest daughter used to be the same way. My husband finally had to take over the bed time duties because I would always fall asleep while having to lay with her. Try walking around the block when your husband is putting her to bed, then you don’t have to hear the cries. I know they are heartbreaking.