2 year old screaming at bedtime.

[romwe19]

My sons recently turned 2. From the age of about 14 months he's been in his own room. Gone down perfectly fine every night and slept right through.


The past 2 nights he has absolutely screamed the house down when I've put him into his bed. It breaks my heart seeing him like that. He clings onto me and really doesn't want to let me go.

I've picked him up, cuddled him and he's stopped crying. Told him it's bedtime and I'll see him in the morning, gave cuddles and kisses but the minute he gets into his bed he screams again.

I just want to go in and hold him so he's ok but my partner thinks we should leave him as before this his bedtime routine is perfect.

Has anyone else been through this at 2? Any advice?

[SuperSleepyBaby]

Others might disagree with me, but I would stay with him until he falls asleep if he is so upset. I have 4 children and they have all gone through different phases of sleeping well by themselves and then being clingy and needing to sleep with me.

[Nichola2310]

A friend who used a sleep consultant at that age was recommended to use the "just checking" technique. Put a sheet of paper in his room and walk in and say just checking and tick the sheet.

Keep doing this increasing the time interval until he settles. Then the next morning show him the sheet full of ticks.

It worked for this child, he had never gone to sleep on his own but within a few nights the "just checking" stage only took a few mins.