As a nanny, I do a lot of research into child psychology, different parenting techniques, and methods to use for discipline, comfort, and even speaking to a child so that they’ll listen. Although most of my blog is how I deal with Professor, I’ve recently gotten the chance to night-nanny, and so I get to deal with Piglet, now nearly 23 months old, head-on.

She’s normally a joy to nanny. She’s always smiling, she eats without being picky, she’s compliant with most things you ask of her, and best of all, she goes to bed without any problem. Over the years, I’ve had to hover over children’s bedsides, lay down with them, rock them to sleep, or sit up with them because if I left the room, Bad Things Would Happen (or so I was assured by the child in question). It can be occasionally frustrating to deal with sleep problems. When I nannied every night of the week through university, it was extremely frustrating to have to listen to the crying, stalling, and tantrums when the magic word “bed” crossed my lips. So, Professor and Piglet, while they have their challenges, are such a treat to night-nanny, simply because they go to bed and they stay there.

Now, I’m not saying that you don’t hear the occasional monologue as Professor acts out the latest adventures that his stuffed toys get the privilege of having, or the soft singing and sucking as Piglet settles herself down, then sucks her thumb to get to sleep, but it’s such a change from the hysterics that I’ve been used to. Well, that’s changed lately with sunny little Piglet. Now, she puts up a fuss when it comes time to go to bed.

My research has brought me to the 18-month sleep regression, where children tend to have sleep problems at or around the age of 18 months. Although Piglet is a little older, this is what I think I’m seeing. She tends to go down so easily, but the last two times I’ve babysat at night, she’s cried when I put her in her crib and I’ve heard her tossing and turning when she does end up sleeping.

We go through her routine. Bath, brush teeth, story, and then it’s in the crib you go, sweetie. But lately, when I place her in her crib, she pops up like a jack-in-the-box, starting to cry, flailing her arms, yelling my name, Daddy’s name, Mommy’s name, and even her brother’s name! Because I’ve been taught to let them sort it out for a few moments, I tend to leave the room.

Now, let me pause here, and let my readers know that this is perhaps the hardest thing I have to do when nannying.

It’s HORRIBLE to leave her sad, teary little face and walk away. But I do it, because she’s almost two, and there really is no reason why she should have a problem about going to bed when her routine has been followed, she gets lots of comfort and hugs, she has a dry diaper, and she has a bottle of water with her.

I go into Professor’s room and read him his story. Her cries get louder and more hysterical. Although I know I’m supposed to wait until at least five minutes, according to Ferber, I go in after two because I can’t stand it.

She always stretches out her arms and cuddles up on my shoulder, sniffling and sucking her thumb, and breathing that hitching little breath that’s incredibly heartbreaking because it means that she’s cried so hard that her breathing is messed up.

Sometimes, a little rocking and cuddling and whispering comforting things into her ear is all it takes for her to relax. Then, I put her in bed, and she drifts off to sleep. Let me again interject here and say that Professor is extremely patient during all of this. He relaxes in his bed and when I apologize for interrupting HIS bedtime routine, he just smiles and holds out the book!

However, last night, it took two tries and listening to Professor’s story to get Piglet to relax. And when she finally did, it was like the sun had come out again!

I hope that Piglet doesn’t think that I don’t care about her and her little upsets. But she does have to learn that bedtime is bedtime. I think as long as I ensure that she gets comforted while realizing that I mean business, it should be okay. I also hope she sleeps better! Her brain is growing at such a fast rate, she needs all the sleep she can get!