Naptime came today, just like it did yesterday and the day before. Naps have taken a new and exciting twist though. The newly minted three year I watch has graduated from a crib to a big girl bed! Yes! That means she can hop out of it whenever she wants! Yes! Wait…no?

So these are all of her tricks I heard and saw today while I tried to accomplish the simple goal of getting her to stay in bed:

“Hello?!”

“I want mommy!”

“Stop that!”

“That’s not nice”

Reading a book

Singing

Hanging her feet off the edge of the bed

Sitting on the stool that leads up to the bed

“I know, jump!”

Jumping on the bed!

Jumping off the bed, thud!

Trying to make herself cry

Banging her feet on the baseboard

“Go away!”

Saying she couldn’t reach a lovey

Asking for her soothing sounds to be on

Sliding off the bed and then jumping back on

Leaning onto the side table to get more books

Getting off the bed to get a book

Coming to the door to see if anyone’s in the hall

Leaving the room

“Help!”

“Katie?”

“Do it again Katie!” (putting her back into bed)

“I want my ladybug!”

“Choo-choo park!”

“Mommy, come pick me!”

“I have to go potty!”

“I’m mad!”

 

And here are my tactics to get her to stay in bed:

1. Put her in bed the first time she gets up

2. Tell her “It’s time to stay in bed”

3. Tuck her in with kisses and “sleep tights”

4. Stand outside the partially open door facing out into the hallway

5. If she gets out of bed, put her back and say “Stay in bed please”

6. One more tuck in & “night night”

7. Resume guard duty

8. Place back in bed each time she gets up

9. No eye contact

10. No talking

11. No tacit responses to her requests

12. Resolve!!!

 

After a long time of placing back, I was finally ready to relent, as long as she had been in her bed for a little while and (wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles) she fell asleep! 45 minute nap today! Maybe tomorrow it’ll be a full hour! Naptime!