Sleepy Time Jars

By Heather

I have a two-year-old and a four-year-old, and we recently put them together in the same room. Last month we transitioned the little one out of the crib and bought a toddler bed for him. He has always been really good about going to sleep, but ever since we made the transition it has been quite the nightmare! He wants us to lay with him until he falls asleep, which sometimes takes hours. He turns on the lights, throws parties, tries to get into his brother’s bed, the list goes on. On the other hand, his older brother has no problem ignoring him and falling asleep, but he has been getting up and coming to our room multiple times each night. Last week it all got so out of hand that we really needed to DO something about the situation. So here’s what I did.

I made an incentive jar where. If it gets filled up over time, they get a reward. I went to the craft store and let the boys pick out a couple packages of “sleepy time balls,” aka pom poms. Then at home I found two large mason jars (one for each child) and decorated them with their initials. Then I explained how the Sleepy Time Jars work to the boys.

Each time they fall asleep like big boys–during both naps and night time–I put a sleepy time ball in their jars. Also at night, if my oldest doesn’t get up and come to us, unless he is in trouble or has an emergency, he gets one in his jar. However, if they complain, get crazy, and party in their room before bed time instead of trying to fall asleep I take some sleepy time balls OUT (gasp).

Once one of their jars is filled up, that child gets a special reward, like mini golfing, eating out at a restaurant of their choice, a toy–it’s totally up to them what they want to be rewarded with.

So far this system has worked perfectly, without even one peep from either of them. They’re super into it and each morning and nap they wake up eager to see another sleepy time ball drop into their jar.