Friday Five: Molly's sleep

Molly has been having a little difficulty in the sleep department.  Mostly in the going to sleep department.  It is a nightmare (get it...).  I feel like I am at the end of my rope.  I am waving my white flag.  I give up.  I can't figure out how to make that girl go to sleep.  Here are five things we have tried. 

1.  Threatening/Yelling.  Yep.  I was that mom.  "Go to bed now or else."  Turns out Moll doesn't care.  I knew we had a problem when she started asking for her punishment after prayer.  She would tell us she was going to get out of bed and could we go ahead and punish her.  FAIL.

2.  Super Nanny style.  I believe Super Nanny just took the kid back to bed calmly over and over without emotion or conversation.  Molly thought this was a rather fun game.  She smiled bigger and bigger each time she came out of her room.  Makes it hard to maintain the whole no emotion thing.

3.  Earlier bedtime.  I am going to keep trying this one for a few more nights.  I am convinced that she is not getting enough sleep which is why it is so hard at bedtime and naptime and also why she is so cranky in the mornings and evenings.  We are moving back bedtime half of an hour.  This may mean that for the next week or two we stick closer to home at night, but oh well.

4.  Nightlights.  She cried for awhile about it being too dark in her room, but as it turns out, when the light is on she actually stays awake longer.  So, no more light for her.

5.  Music.  We are in the process of trying this one.  I will let you know how it turns out in a couple of days. 

I realize that nothing is going to work right away and that we have to try out things for a bit before deciding that they aren't working.  So we have tried all of these things (music in progress) for more than one night.  One thing is clear....I will win the bedtime/naptime battles.  Kids need sleep and according to several sources, kids Molly's age need about 13 to 13.5 hours each day between naps and bedtime.  We are about 1.5-2 hours off of this. 

If you have any suggestions (except for allowing her to sleep in our bed...that is not an option) I would love to hear them! 

Btw, we do have a bedtime routine that consists of brushing, going to the bathroom, reading a bedtime story and then prayers.....in case you were going to suggest that!!!!