Sleep problem solved?

At least one good thing came out of Jackson's illness last week: I think I may have found a solution to his fear at bedtime (and it doesn't involve me having to sleep next to him--yay!).

When we first switched Jackson to the "big boy bed" a few months before Cooper was born, we couldn't get him to stay in his room--he got up multiple times, giggling and wide awake, 'til very late at night. It was frustrating, to say the least. Our solution was to shut the door to his bedroom; he didn't exactly like this plan, and I didn't either really. When Jackson learned how to open his door a little while later, we put one of those child locks on his doorknob, which brought on a couple of nights of all-out fits that only ended when he would be overcome with fatigue, often falling asleep in the floor. Again, it was one of those decisions that you feel a little uneasy about, but it was allowing him (and us) to get some sleep. After a few nights passed, and a nightlight was introduced, and we came to get him immediately when he called out in the mornings, Jackson got accustomed to the door being shut. No big deal.

Last week, in the throes of his sickness, I left Jackson's door open. It just kinda made sense. It was as if, because I was dealing with another crisis, I just knew how to solve the sleep thing (similar to finding the thing you're looking for only after you start looking for something else). And ya know what? He went right to sleep every night last week! So now, we do our bedtime routine (oh so special; one of my favorite parts of the night), finishing with our prayers and one last kiss, saying "I love you, good night." He starts to whine as I get up from the bed (new since the fear of monkeys started). But then I remind him about our deal: I promise to leave the door open and come back if he gets scared and he promises to stay in bed and go to sleep. So far, it works! Ahhhhh.

Now I just need to start rolling back his bedtime to a more decent hour. I think I'll start by enforcing an earlier nap time. . .

♦