Today will be a venting session, so please hold on tightly.

With a beautiful array of visitors that have passed through our home the past week, my daughter has now decided that our bedtime routine is no good.  She was spoiled & stayed up late for a few nights (meaning 8:30 – 9:30 pm).  And in those late nights, she also loved the idea of getting out of her bed, over & over again. I have watched my fair share of Super Nanny shows & took on some of her techniques.  They are working – just taking an hour to work!  So far I tried two things.

Our normal routine is get our blanky (blanket) and paci (pacifier), say goodnight to Bro Bro & Daddy and walk to her room.  We climb in the rocker, pull out a few books and read.  After we read, we rock for a few minutes while we say our bedtime prayers (she likes to pray for Rophie, Manda, Isiz, Lo-Lo, Nanna, Lena, BroBro…the list goes on…).  After her big ‘AMEN’ we kiss and go night-night.  And for the past 1 1/2 years…that has been it!  Easy as pie.

Now, she climbs out, turns off her music, and sits outside her door with her blanky & paci – I immediately come, pick her up (without saying a word), lay her down and go ‘night night.’  Try to make it as boring as possible.  Lately, I’ve just plopped myself at her door inside the room – which keeps her from actually getting OUT of her bed – but she still plays and plays for a very long time.  The minute I think she’s asleep, she climbs out, and the routine starts all over again.  Anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour.  My patience is completely gone by this point – but I hold my tongue so tightly so I don’t get angry at her or raise my voice.  But man, do I want to blame SOMEONE!!!  But sadly there is no one to blame right – this is just part of life.

It’s been a week – and now with her going to bed later….she also wakes up EARLIER!  Say 5:00 am, when it used to be 7:30 or 8:00 am.  I’m dying. I’m angry. I’m frustrated!!!  AND…I go to bed upset & wake up upset – not good. 

Super Nanny, please help!