Elijah has always been a independent child when it comes to sleep habits. The first week he slept a lot in his little comfy seat or co-slept with me. By the second week he slept in his playpen in our room at night and slept in his seat or in our bed with me for naps. By the third week he slept more in his crib at night and in his seat and our bed for nap. By two months old he refused to sleep anywhere but his little comfy seat for naps and had to sleep in his crib for bed. He refused to sleep if he wasn’t in his bed with one of his special baby Einstein cd playing. Now at 17 months on he has a routine that cannot be changed or all hell breaks loose. Dave and I take him in his room together after he tells us he is ready for night night. I change him and then Dave turns off the light and we turn on Elijah’s nightlight and cd player. He listens to bedtime music cd by parent’s magazine. It’s so relaxing! I lay him down and cover him up and read 1 book to him. Then he waves to me, signaling it’s time for me to leave. I lean down and he gives me a kiss and hug and then I leave. Then he stands back up and Dave and him have a special game they play with Elijah’s stuffed Moose, Dave reads with him for a few minutes and then eventually Elijah will wave him off too, kissing and hugging him before he leaves. Elijah will then lay in his bed and read for a few minutes to his stuffed animals before kissing them all good night and then will goto sleep. lol He is so silly with that routine. He came up with it all himself too! At nap time I put him down and he does basically the same routine as he and I do at bedtime. Occasionally he will ask for a drink of milk or something but he doesn’t normally change from the same basic concept. We have a terrible time if we are out at family’s house during nap time or if Eli tries to stay anywhere over night. He will fight the sleep for hours!

I have always wished Elijah would want to sleep with me more. I love to cuddle him close, but he never seems to like to do that. I am hoping he will become more of a cuddler as he gets older. I can’t even get him to lay in my bed for 10 minutes! I’ve even tried laying in his room on the floor and seeing what he does but he just sits up and waves at me waiting for me to leave. He cannot stand to sleep with someone around! lol What a silly child!
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Thanks Susan! I am glad I touched on a subject that many can relate to for sure!