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After 2 Year nightmare fighting for contact...Usual experiences of the many loving dad's out there, having their child removed by malicious ex making false accusations, and torturous court process, am finally able to have my lovely toddler stay overnights. Day sessions went well. My boy adjusted well to spending time at my home.
Want overnight to go well. Would appreciate hearing from other dad's their experiences/learnings when they started overnights and how they managed to settle their child during night.
My toddler is 2, still in nappies, not talking sentences yet. Have set up cot-bed in my room. Ex won't share info about nighttime routine.
Thanks.
Well done, you must be thrilled. He may be used to a comforter of sorts at night such as a teddy or blanket so make sure that comes too. A bedtime story will be good too.
If the ex isn't going to share the usual bedtime routine I would suggest implementing your own routine if overnights are going to be regular.
Me and the ex have always had a different routine and the children adapted well to both.
Personally, I would keep it consistent especially for a toddler, so maybe after dinner, have a bath and then maybe 30 mins of TV, mine always liked to watch in the night garden before having a bottle of milk and then going up to brush teeth. Tuck them into bed and would read a story, my first would fall asleep during a story but for the others they were too interested in seeing how it ended!
Your toddler will probably go through an adjustment period where he might get up afew times or be abit unsettled the first few times but best thing to do is to be consistent, a cuddle and back to bed always worked for us. We also used a groclock for an appropriate time to get up but your son may still be too young to understand this but might be a good idea in the future when he is abit older.
Good luck and really happy for you!
Thank you champagne & dad24 for tips and encouragement.
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