Comments on: The Answer to Sleep Might Be as Simple as…

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 20:26:34 +0000

In reply to Sara. This is about my granddaughter. Do you have any advice on a 3 year old girl who has NEVER slept through a whole night? Maximum 5 hours, then awake for 2-3 hours playing, then finally back to sleep. This is the worst case scenario. Other times, she just wakes up, needs cuddles, climbs into bed with parents etc. They are exhausted as they also have a six month old, who sleeps much longer and better than the first one.

By: janet

janet — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 21:10:03 +0000

In reply to Bethany. Hi Bethany! I hope that works for him!

By: Bethany

Bethany — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 19:07:04 +0000

Hi Janet!
This is helpful, and I can’t wait to test some of this out tonight! My son is not yet 2 and is not quite that articulate, but I’m hoping maybe adding some things that remind him of our bed (maybe he really hates his mattress), or making a nest like you suggest will be the way to help him feel more comfortable in his “big boy bed” (which is really just his crib converted, but still counts)!

By: Ece

Ece — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 11:52:46 +0000

Hi Janet,
I’ve been following your blog and FB for quite a long time and trying to apply RIE as much as I can.
I am a stay at home mom who breastfed until my daughter’s 2nd birthday. When I finally weaned her (after giving her fair warning for about a month), my once easy going, happy child who fell asleep easily, turned into someone who screams bloody murder for naps! So around 5-6 pm she totally loses it and we are all miserable. We try to be gentle and understanding and never yell at or scold her. But that last hour before bedtime is just like hell!
I know this is a very big step for her and she must be feeling all kinds of things. My question is, is there anything else to do besides being patient, staying calm and praying for this phase to end as soon as possible.
Thanks for all your insight and sharing your experience with us…

By: Lynn Miner-Rosen

Lynn Miner-Rosen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 02:07:09 +0000

I love this conversation, Janet! I too wish I had this knowledge when my son was young and his new brother arrived! lol We eventually found a great indoor “tent” for his room that he loved to sleep in. But now there are great products available. I just saw this great product and thought this would have been perfect for my son! -Lynn http://bit.ly/20WEkmS

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 18:53:33 +0000

Janet I have a (non-sleep related) question about when giving choices doesn’t work? My 2 yo son seems to be testing his level of power. ie. when I offer choices he will tell me “no, I don’t want either”, or simply “I’m not going to”. I have tried saying, OK I can choose, or you can choose…and then if he still resists the situation, OK I’ll choose then. But this doesn’t induce him to make the choice either. I sense that he’s trying out his need to be his own person, separate from me, and in this, not complying with anything I suggest.

Any advice gratefully received!
Oh, I should also add that I have always set boundaries with him, and carried out consequences. he is expert at calling my bluff (eg. if I say “which shoes do you want to wear” and the no-choice scenario plays out then he will go as far as saying “I don’t want to go to play group/farm/playground…I want to stay home!”)and remains quite happy with this is we follow thru’ with this consequence. But I don’t feel this is necessarily how we should be handling things – sometimes things are non-negotiable and I don’t think it is right for the balance of power to be with him But nor do I want to have an argumentative battle on my hands every time I give him direction – it’s exhausting!

By: Vanessa Kohlhaas

Vanessa Kohlhaas — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 06:38:00 +0000

My children all slept in their cribs until they were around 4 years old. I think other people thought we were crazy but my children were happy and sleeping. And the cribs took up less space then beds.

Such a wonderful reminder to look at the world through their eyes. One of my goals this year is to become more mindful and present with my children. This is a lovely first step. Thank you!

By: G

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 21:11:55 +0000

Hi, Janet. I really love your site, I read it often for guidance.
This is totally off topic but I don’t have Facebook to ask my question, so here it goes.
I was wondering if you (or maybe some readers) will talk about RIE in the context of a multilingual family. I always read in the blog a lot of examples of verbal communication between parent and child, which make really clear that the child clearly understand the parent (maybe they do not haveyet enough words to answer but at least they understand). It doesn’t to seem the case here. A lot of times you suggest “say this or that ” and I do it but it doesn’t seem to make any difference, he just doesn’t get it and I could have said something totally different instead and get the same result.
Of course it might be another problem, like that I’m not patient enough/ acknowledge his feelings in the right way / stick to the routine in a predictable manner/ be always consistent or something like that, but I really have the feeling that he doesn’t understand (we speak three languages in our home, he’s 18 months old ).
Any thoughts about that?

By: janet

janet — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:21:26 +0000

In reply to Ruth Mason. :) I love that you can relate! Makes me feel slightly less insane. Thanks, Ruth!

By: Ruth Mason

Ruth Mason — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:07:42 +0000

Your “inner toddler…” LOVE that!I have one too, of course, but had never thought to name it. Thank you once again, Janet, for finding just the right words.