Snickering in the Dark

It was bedtime and we followed the normal routine. I nursed T, tucked him in and lightly rubbed his back. I was about to walk out when I heard a soft little "Ha ha ha" pause "ha ha ha." Was he snickering in his sleep? Maybe. My exit from the room was met with loud protestations that sounded nothing like laughter. OK, not asleep.

I proceeded back to the crib, hugged T and asked him to lay down. He complied and then commenced snickering and giggling as I rubbed his back. That was just the beginning of the bedtime routine breakdown. None of my usual tricks were working and although I was charmed by his playfulness and laughter I was reticent to encourage him. Concepts like sleep and bedtime have been a challenge for T.

Ultimately I ended up playing his little game, hoping it would wear him out and he'd go to sleep. It started with the standing hug, followed by the request to lay down, followed by T putting his head on the mattress in standing forward bend position, followed by me helping him lay down, followed by another fit of giggles. After a few rounds the game escalated....

T stands up and races to the head of the crib, I swing him back into sleeping position, major giggle, repeat from the beginning. I was sure this would wear him out. After five or six sprint/swing cycles he tripped and face planted into the end of the crib. At this point, I broke my rule about not removing him from the crib after I've put him down for the night and pulled him out to make sure his teeth were all still in his mouth and nothing was bleeding. After a quick calming snuggle he was back in the crib and snickering.

I really wanted to play with him, but didn't want to encourage a rambunctious bedtime routine. I took a gamble and walked out. He whimpered once as I left and then again as he saw me walk past his room. That was it. Minutes later he was asleep (I went back in and checked). Part of me still wishes I'd played a little longer.