15 Jun 2007
I am trying to get Toddler out of our bed and I am in the process of setting up her crib as a toddler bed. So I went to the store to pick up some fitted sheets and a guard rail to go with the new set up. While at it I also picked up some fitted sheets for the infant. Infant sleeps in her crib. She has thrown up in the crib whenever she is extremely congested with cold. Also she has the habit of pulling the sheets to entertain herself till she fell asleep. Me being the lazy person, got pretty tired of laundering sheets and making the bed three times a day and let things slack. Plus, I also started imagining that she threw up when ever I put new sheets on the crib! Long story short, she sleeps on her crib mattress, with nothing between the plastic of the mattress and her skin, hugging her favorite pillow and holding a queen sized comforter that is at least 10 years old. Why the queen comforter? Well it was very cold until very recently, even now it gets cold early in the morning and she just squirms out of her measly blankies. Anyways, digressions apart, the point I am trying to make is, her crib looks yucky.
So I vowed to dress up both the cribs and put some effort in making them look decent. We have a queen bed and two full sized cribs in our small bedroom. That means that I had to squeeze myself through three-inch spaces and set up the crib – new sheets, padding, two throw pillows, pretty blankie, baby sized comforters and a cute little teddy bear. Having done that. I stood back and admired the result of the effort. Looked wonderful, just like a place a baby would sleep in.
When bed time came I sang my usual song, kissed the children good night and moved out of the room. Infant started screaming her head off. Sometimes she does this, but after she cried for a couple of minutes and blew some steam off, she would go right back to sleep. So I dismissed her wails. But the kid kept screaming for more than 10 minutes. So I picked her up, hugged her, consoled her and put her down again. The minute I walked out of the room there was more crying. I tried everything, making sure her diaper was fine, her clothes were comfortable, we cooled the house by switching the A/C, gave her some water…etc. I suspected that she might be coming down with something, but again no. Whenever we carried her and bought her in to the living room, she started squealing with delight and was keen on watching X-Men. So hubby and self concluded that this is just a playful child who is throwing a tantrum because she is not feeling like sleeping. Not wanting to encourage her any more, we put her in the crib and walked away.
By now Toddler was intently observing hubby and self, walking in and out of the room, carrying the infant and (according to her) spending special time with her. So Toddler decided to throw a tantrum. She cried her heart out and came out in to the living room, found out that there wasn’t anything particularly interesting going on told us, “Okay amma, I want good night sleep tight” and went back to bed!
All through this time the infant was standing in her crib, and crying her lungs out. She was going strong and steady for 15 min now. Hubby and self decide to let her cry. 10 more minutes and we hear throw up (Hey, what about my theory about new sheets and throw up?! I am not lazy, I have a vision ). We did the usual soothing, cleaning routine. But nothing calmed her, she bought the roof down when ever we put her down on the crib.
Suddenly it struck me. We put her on the naked crib mattress and thrust the ugly, huge green comforter at her, she clutched it, gurgled and went right back to sleep. So all this fuss was for the stupid comforter.
Boo and Kodi’s mom had left surprise comments about the preferences of a 2.5 year old after reading my post about the car seat fiasco. What do you say about this?
8 Responses for "Infant decides to act up"
Come on! We thrive on familiarity! Give my poor girl the comforter and whatever else she asks for! At least shes going to sleep on her own! I would give her anything! 🙂
Hi UTBT,
Can’t help saying this at the risk of annoying you – but as I was reading your line about how baby sleeps on the mattress directly and needs the old comforter I thought it was headed in this direction – that she is not going ot easily accept the new set up…anytime I change anything for my son I dread it…that moment of acceptance feels so good. Like when we changed his infant seat to front facing seat – we took him along and made him sit in different seats (that we thought were safe) and then we ordered on of them online after making sure he seemed ok sitting in it. And same with toddler bed – he loves cars – so bought him a pixar cars toddler bed and I kept it ready to go but didn’t put him on it for two weeks. He used to just climb on it during day time and say “bed bed” and point to the cars/wheels/head lights and play on it. We then moved that bed to the same spot where his crib was (plan is to use the crib for the second baby) – the first day we were going to make him sleep on it I kept telling my husband “God please please I hope he accepts this bed and doesn’t cry” and when my son just casually slept on it like it was no big deal I was sooo thrilled and relieved. Anyway – so any change for these little ones is one big deal…you can now imagine my fear at the BIG change that is about to happen to my son – a new baby in the house hopefully in the next few days. And much less attention from me. Am so nervous as to how he will cope with it…the transition phase is not going to be easy.
Boo, Noon, I have no problem with infant sleeping with her dirty green comforter. Its just that I didn’t expect preferences to set in so early! When do children start developing preferences anyways? Worth researching.
Noon, don’t beat yourself about it. The first two months will be hard. But once you all get the hang of it, it must be fine.
Moral of the day: Infant and toddler both have personalities, and strong wills..
They are going to grow up to be strong women !
well, then. Infant is more of a toddler than an infant (she’s walking, isnt she?! that makes her a toddler)
and so my prev comment still holds good – toddlers have feelings too – and won’t let their mom walk all over them 🙂
ps: owe you a grateful reply – will get to it before day’s up.
Isnt that so cute, kids want what they get used to, no matter how much we try to improve things for them….and of course, they get what they want, we being such pushover parents. The brat is now sleeping on the floor with a pillow because I have shifted to the floor thanks to a bad back, and has to be carried up to the bed when he is fast asleep…I tell you…
I think kids start developing preferences right from birth. I am still amazed by how clearly Sathya wants certain things over others…right from birth…he did not like to be held in cradle hold, except while nursing. At all othe times, he wants to be perched on the shoulder looking out and about.
2. Sathya does nto like to sleep on the back. Only on the tummy. He’ll nod off in a flash if he’s on his tummy, in his crib. All other places and positions, take forever to get him quieted.
They are very picky. Infant’s preference didn’t come as a surprise to me at all. 🙂
Tharini, it is amazing isn’t it? Apparently children start forming attachments right after birth itseems.
Kiran – I was improving things. On the dot. Now I have motivation to improve anything!
Kodi’s mom – Walk over them? Who me? I am the one lying down defeated on the floor.
Poppins – Stronger personalities! Wish I get strong enough to deal with them.
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