Operation Big Boy Bed

 

 

Today Jonathan napped in his big boy bed for the first time! We have been talking it up ever since we switched Faith's crib into a bed, and every time we asked J about it he would state that he wanted to stay in a crib. However, Jay and I were ready (and our backs) for him to be in a toddler bed, and when he clearly demonstrated his ability to climb up on and balance on the crib railing (even though the crib is turned backwards,) we knew it was time. After a fantastic trip to the Children's Museum this morning with Baba, Pappy and Cousin Natalie, Jonathan came home and went right to sleep in his bed. I am sure he will realize in the next few days the freedom the bed offers, and we will have to establish bed rules, but for now? He is doing great. These pictures are of him posing for me after his nap. I crept into his room hoping to photograph him still sleeping, but he was up and waiting for me. But he obliged me with a few proud grins.

In other sleep related news, Jay bought the kids both the most awesome night light ever, and we are hoping that it might aid our efforts at good sleep. I took Faith to the dentist this week to have her bite evaluated, and the dentist said that Faith's pacifier caused her teeth to form into an "open" bite. Basically, her top teeth do not come close to touching the bottom, even though her incisors and molars line up well. I explained that she has only been allowed her "pyer" for naps and bedtime for the last 12 months, but the dentist said she must be very forcefully with it, and she recommended we stop using it immediately, in the hopes that her teeth might shift downward, although they probably won't return to normal. (And she will likely need braces). This is also the cause of her little lisp, so I can cancel the speech evaluation I scheduled! Jay and I felt very badly about this, but we know lots of kids who have their pacifiers (or thumbs) for a lot longer and don't have problems, so I guess it is just one of those things.

The first two nap/bedtimes were very rough. Faith cried and asked us to find her pyer, and was up through the night. At the dentist office I told her "The doctor says your pyer is hurting your teeth." And she emphatically replied, "It NOT hurting my teeth!" I also told her that maybe it was time to give her pyer to a baby and she retorted "How 'bout we give it to Faith?"

We did go and buy her a special stuffed animal (Bob the tomato from Veggie Tales) to be a new comfort object. Poor kiddo, it was quite the cold-turkey quit, and has been very hard on her. But with already two days under her belt, she is proving very resilient.

Here's to good sleep in our crib-less, pacifier-free home tonight!