Sleep Training Day 01

23 months and 10 days old

The Nap

Nap routine started with saying, "It's nap time, darling." It was almost time (i.e. about 6 hours from the time he woke up) anyway and he was clearly low on "batteries".
Request for milk - done.
Proceed to nap venue.
Request to be read to - done BUT 2 books only. The 3rd book we would put next to his pillow and read it when he's up.
End of story time.
Mummy states: "Sleep on your own, darling. Mummy will come back in 5 minutes. You may not sit or stand up."
Mummy leaves and stands outside the room, unseen.
Jo lies on the bed checking out the 3rd book and reading to himself.
After a while, he called out, "Mama!"
I replied and went in, adjusted his sleep position, stroked his head and back and said nicely but firmly, "It's nap time."
(This repeated itself about 5-6 times before he finally fell asleep stroking Giraffe's feet.)
Yippee!

The Nighttime Sleep

This is what I've been dreading but it's Saturday and the best time to start something new. I've been dragging my feet for too long, regarding this. I guess there's that part of me that just can't bear to... but he was taking longer and longer to fall asleep even in my presence. That was driving me bonkers. So yup, we start tonight.

Night time ritual, as usual:
Shower and change in to PJs
A cup of milk in the kitchen
Mummy goes for her shower while he doodles on paper with Grandpa at the dining table
Mummy goes to kitchen to announce that it's time to go to the room
Potty time - the best time for "harvest" is a short while after the warm cup of milk; it works 90% of the time and it worked tonight. Potty time ends with the reward of being allowed to flush it all away.
We immediately proceed to the sink to wash hands, brush teeth, and clean up.
Then off to bed to put on diaper and pants. But first, some ointment to the tummy.
We read 3 stories tonight, but seeing that I'll be embarking on my grand plan tonight, I acceded to his request for a 4th story - 'The Three Wise Men' from the Bible.
Then we prayed and I massaged him.
Lights out (okay, the nightlight stays on. Jo has an overwhelming fear of the dark and anything black).
And the grand plan begins....

I was called in countless times - must be at least 20 times.
Then he cried and said that he hit his mouth (with the ointment bottle, accidentally). So I had to comfort him.
The plan continues.
Mickey and Giraffe were then brought in for solace.

He whimpered but half-cried in my absence. I was just outside the room but I wasn't worried as I remembered that there's a difference between genuine crying and self-soothing crying. His was the latter. Of course, when it escalated and threatened to cross over to genuine cries, I went in and reassured him. He did soothe himself to sleep in the end. Praise God.
It wasn't as tough as I had feared.

End of Day 01