Toddler Sleep- Part 1

Lucas had been sleeping really good for some time before we moved. Even after we moved him to a toddler bed, he continued to sleep well. Normally he slept from 8 to 8. I couldn't have asked for much more. Then our move happened. When we moved we left him in the toddler bed but after about a month decided to switch him to the twin bed so the crib would be ready for Austin. He did pretty well with that transition. Actually, right before we decided to switch him he had started having problems sleeping again and once we switched to the twin bed he started to sleep a little better. All was right in the world.
 

Then some time went by and he slowly but surely started having more and more issues sleeping. It is now to the point where he has problems going to sleep, staying asleep, and then still wakes up early.

Here's how our nights have been going down. We start the whole bedtime process around 8. Lance and I both go in and get him dressed and/or change his diaper. Then Lance would read a few books to him. We would pray and then Lance would leave. I would then read 3 books with him in bed and sing him a song. Before I read the last book I always remind him that this is the last book that we are reading tonight. After the song I try to leave as fast as possible. He normally jumps right up and runs to the gate.

He is now to the point where I no longer sing him a song because he knows that once I sing, I will leave the room. After I leave the room the first time there is always something he wants or he will just cry out for us and when we ask him what he wants he responds with "I don't know". At which, I would like to say, "I don't know either kid! Go to sleep!". Sometimes we go back in a million times before he gives in and goes to sleep and some nights around 9 or 9:30 Lance will go in and lay with him until he falls asleep. On the nights that he takes this long to go to sleep he wakes up at least twice at night asking for us to find his puppy, paci, or just for hugs. Don't get me wrong, I love the snuggles but I'm thinking about the long run. When the baby comes I fear that I'll be up the whole night between the two. Anyway, when he wakes up during the night it normally isn't a big deal to get him back to sleep. I usually give him the puppy, paci, or a hug and he'll lay back down and go back to sleep. Then he'll wake up sometime around 6:30. He needs more sleep than that. Trust me, you'd know too if you spent those days with him.

So last night as we were doing this whole drawn out process once again we were desperately searching online for ideas of what to try. Let me tell you, this is not the first time we were doing this but it is the first time I found something that I think may actually work. Plus, it is on a blog that I actually read regularly but when this problem occurred, I never thought to look back at her posts. Then when I read this post it was like I was reading about my child. We are going to give this a try and see where it gets us. I'll keep you all updated. Wish us luck! Lots and lots of luck!

(These pictures really have nothing to do with this post)