[its_our_family]

This sounds terrible so I have to give background first.

We co-slept with T as long as we could and still stay sane. He is constantly kicking and twitching in his sleep which drives everyone nuts. So, since early on he has been in a twin mattress. I get in bed with him when he wakes and normally stay there till morning.

Well, about 4 months ago we were packing and moving and unpacking. We had, up till that point, been able to take Tracy to bed, lay him down, kiss and hug, say night night, and walk out of the room. He would roll over and be out in 5 minutes

Well, when we moved there was too much action going on. So, one night we put him in bed and.... turned on a video for him

Now almost every night he asks for a video to go to sleep by. At first it didn't bother me. I've always had to have noise to sleep. I like sleeping with the TV on. We have no issues with tv watching within reason. When I was little I listened to books on tape to go to sleep but he isn't old enough.

She would go through the hassle of starting over with him going to sleep on his own like he used to or should we just leave the tv alone??

 

[foreverinbluejeans]

Sometimes you have to do what works. It is important for children to sleep without light, even a night lite. So as long as you can turn the tv off or it has a sleep timer it shouldn't hurt. You might try one of the machines that makes different sounds or music to see if those work.

 

[its_our_family]

Why no light?? Tracy sometimes sleep walks so I kinda lik the light so he can "see" He has a lava lamp. Its dark and slow moving.

 

[Ruthla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by its_our_family Now almost every night he asks for a video to go to sleep by. At first it didn't bother me. I've always had to have noise to sleep. I like sleeping with the TV on. We have no issues with tv watching within reason. When I was little I listened to books on tape to go to sleep but he isn't old enough.

A couple of thoughts: Why do you think he's too young to listen to books on tape?

If you sleep with the TV on, is it fair to expect him not to? I personally like it dark and quiet when I go to sleep, but if my kids want to listen to some music in their room that's fine.

Between the move and all the adjustments that entails, playing the video at night is probably not such a bad thing as long as he has a relatively consistent bedtime and he's getting enough sleep. However, if it bothers you, you could try to introduce alternative ways to get him to sleep and only put on videos when he specifically asks for one.

 

[its_our_family]

Thanks.

It really doens't bother me about the video. It bothers that it doesn't bother me.

We realized last night that he is voluntarily goes to bed if he is sleepy IF he gets a movie. He came up to me last night and said, "Deeduldee peas" (DVD) I asked if he was ready to go to sleep and he said, "Yes, I seepin".

You could tell my the look on his face that he was exhausted, no nap today. So, I too him up. He gets in bed I turn the DVD on and he's out in about 10 minutes.

I guess we'll stick with it

He doesn't like books on tape because he expects there to be something else with it. We sued to do cds but he really didn't like any we found. He would cry when we turned them on. I'm not sure why he feels the tv is more comforting. I talked to my mom last night and she sleeps with the tv on too whn she is alone.

So, I'm thinking we will go with it for a bit longer.

 

[foreverinbluejeans]

Children who sleep with any light on at night before the age of 2 are five times more likely to develop myopia (short sightedness) according to a study.

www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9905/12/children.lights/

If you go to google.com and type in 'night light children myopia' there are several articles about this study.

 

[SEEPAE]

I go through this, LOL, some nights I fall asleep watching an interesting show and the next few night I need the TV on to go to sleep, LOL. I have to fight to fall asleep without it, so I personally say dont make him fight with it.
They make a video that is especially for going to sleep, I cant remember the name but it has animals and lullabies and after like 10 minutes it starts to dim and soften and continues to do so until it shuts off.