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Toddler waking hysterics: help!

6 replies

maxiflump1 · 05/12/2016 23:14

Ds is 21 months and generally has been a great sleeper. He was doing 7 til 7 from about 4 months with just the odd bad night here and there. The last month however has been awful! He goes down ok at bedtime without fuss but then wakes any time between 10 and 2 and is totally hysterical. He literally sounds like someone is trying to kill him! I thought it might be night terrors but he seems to know what's going on. If DH goes in he will scream even more for mummy and it will then take me anywhere up to 3 hours to get him to go back to sleep. He's not clingy during the day with me and had never been much of a mummy's boy.

He doesn't seem to want a drink or a nappy change and I'm pretty sure it's not teeth or illness. I'm struggling to get more than 3 or 4 hours sleep at the mo and work in a very emotionally demanding role so finding it very hard to function at work. We did try and leave him to cry the other night but after a half hour or him being hysterical I broke!

Interestingly we had a family do yesterday and he didn't have a daytime nap as we were busy. He actually slept through last night for the first time in weeks. Should I be considering dropping his daytime nap? He does still seem to want them though and will happily take himself upstairs after lunch when I ask him if he wants a nap.

Could this be a sleep regression or just a developmental leap? Any advice gratefully sought!!!

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maxiflump1 · 06/12/2016 00:29

Anyone?! I've been up with him since 1030. Tried to take him in the spare room and cosleep but he's now wide awake crawling round the bed and poking me in the nose Confused

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cookiefiend · 06/12/2016 00:50

No idea, but try bumping this conversation in the morning when more people are around.

You could try another day with no nap and see if that helps, but he does seem quite young to be dropping a nap.

Hope someone can help soon!

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Marmighty · 06/12/2016 00:52

I think it's a developmental leap. My DD has been much more restless for the last month or so (24 mths now) and naps have been all off, but her language and understanding is going through a boom, so I think her brain just can't switch off sometimes. We've had a few midnight parties but things seem to be settling down again the last few days. This too shall pass!!

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DuggeeSchmuggee · 06/12/2016 01:06

Agree with Marmighty, developmental leap. My DS did this from about 22 months for nearly 5 months (sorry). He didn't wake in hysterics, but was wide awake for a good 2/3 hours in the middle of the night.
I just ended up sleeping (or trying to) on his floor.
It will pass, it's just a case of riding it out.

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icklekid · 06/12/2016 05:44

My ds (2 years and 4 months) has started doing this. He wakes at 3am hysterical and returning him to bed isn't working. At the moment I bring him into our bed as he goes back to sleep within 30mins. However he is then woken around 5am by dd (4 months) wanting feeding who is in our room so it's not ideal... he also once slept through without a nap but has also been the same (and worse because over tired) when I've tried not letting him nap. We are just hoping it stops soon!

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maxiflump1 · 06/12/2016 07:19

Thanks for the replys guys. A developmental leap sounds about right: his speech and comprehension has come on in leaps and bounds over the last month so maybe it's just difficult for them to switch off.

And you're right: this shall pass (hopefully!!!) X

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