Lower the cot mattress to its lowest setting, remove anything your toddler could use as a step, and keep bedtime calm and predictable. Red Nose Australia says that once your toddler is trying to climb out of their cot and looks like they might succeed, it's time to move them to a new sleep space, usually between 2 and 3½ years, but sometimes as early as 18 months.
Esmé has started to try to roll over which is a sure sign it’s soon time to remove her from the swaddle for her own safety.
Our swaddle of choice has always been the award winning Love To Dream™ Swaddle Up - or as they’re known in my house - her “wings”. Essie has also been gnawing & sucking greatly on her hands whilst they are in her wings which is again another sign she’s looking to use them for comfort and therefore needs access to them
This will be a whole new experience for me. My first didn’t care much for swaddling, and my second was Miss Independent from day one - she did things her own way in every area. So I’ve never had to wean either of them off something as clearly important as the swaddle is for Esmé.
The idea of the Stage 2: Swaddle Up Transition bags is to still provide the tight, snuggly feeling of being swaddled, but with the option to remove the arm wings to allow your child to slowly adapt to having their arms free. You can remove one at a time, or choose both, so my plan is to start by just removing the side Essie is starting to suck and leave the other one all snug by her head for the first few sleeps… and then adjust accordingly to how she’s managing the change.
Next up, our little peggy two bottom teeth that have been slowlyyyy making their way through have just pierced the skin this week, which explains why everything is soaked with drool. Cue the constant gnawing on fists and the distinct cry that hasn’t ever really matched any other. In classic teething fashion, though, no two days are the same. Some days it’s unnoticeable, the next its ice cold face washers, teething rings and mummy carrying her around the clock.
And then there’s sleep regression, because we are regressing hard! I find people talk about the four month sleep regression with so much fear and I’m not here to do that to you. Sleep regression isn't just about shorter naps or a bit of fussing at bedtime. For some, it can be a complete unravelling of whatever sleep pattern you thought you had down. I’m well aware that this may be my third-time-mum experience speaking here, but like all motherhood battles, you just have to roll through it… knowing the sun will come up at the other side. We’re currently in the thick of it for sure. Sudden 3am wake ups, that then went to 2am, that is now 1am. Why, Essie, why? ‘Cause my little baby is growing up: growing in size and growing her little brain to be more active…. So it’s all normal.
Despite all the chops and changes happening right now, I feel more connected to Esmé than ever. I know her cues, and I understand each cry. It never really gets easier, trust me on that. You just learn to manage things better, bit by bit. Whilst one challenge might ease, another will always pop up. That’s the nature of parenting… we’re built for these moments.
If you’re in the thick of it too, I see you. I feel you. We’re not failing. We’re doing exactly what needs to be done in this season of our lives.
As someone with an 11-year-old who now settles for a quick fist-pump from a distance, I’m soaking up every drool-filled, sooky snuggle I can get right now.
