WHy is my 2.4 year old happy sleeper suddenly screaming all night?

[nickytwotimes]

I knew this day would come...

Up until this week he has never been up in the night unless ill and even then only briefly.

However, this week he hwas decided to wake up at soem point between midnight and 3 am and start insisting on getting up. He gets very distressed, yet goes on pretty much all night. We have screaming, tears, shouting, squealing, the lot.

We have tried comforting him but this seems to make matters worse. I would happliy snuggle up with him but he won't have it. We ignored him last night which seemed to help, but I felt awful.

Will it pass?
Is this standard 2 year old stuff?

HELP!

It is not made any easier by dh who throws a strop, btw.

[nickytwotimes]

Help?

[WowOoo]

Mine is bit older and has always been a bad sleeper so it is normal as far as we know.

Last night, after 4 weeks of fab sleeping he just wanted to come into our bed. We put him in his bed, he cried, I stayed calm, DH shouted at him, he cried more, he calmed down, dh calmed down ds went back to sleep.

Tonihjt he WILL better or we'll just do the same thing. Calmly plonking him back in his bed.

Is he cold? Poorly? Just needing a cuddle?

[nickytwotimes]

DOesn't seem to be ill or cold.
He goes nuts if I pick him up.
I genuinely think he just wants up. How do I let him know he is not getting up to play in the middle of the night?

[WowOoo]

Keep all the lights off if poss or at least low. (Dh will turn all the lights on and this drives me nuts.) Of course if he's ill and we need to change sheets or give med it's ok.

Talk about it being dark outside and that is time for sleep not play. (am dreading putting him to bed when summer comes....Hoorah for winter!)
Perhaps tell him if he wants to play he can play very very quietly with his soft toys in bed. I've tried and heard very very cute whisperings.

Ds will go nuts when we pick him up from landing or our bed too. Normal. Just give him a peck on the cheek when he's back in his room and calmer ??

Does he still have a nap? Perhaps he doesn't need one or needs a later bedtime. ARGH.

Think you're lucky having having ds that at least knows how to sleep through and he will agian soon probs. Am bit jealous!

[Pinkjenny]

I'm having exactly the same problem with my 18mo. Fun, isn't it?

I've watched cbeebies on Sky+ for hours the last seven nights with dd, who thinks the whole thing is marvellous.

[nickytwotimes]

I always appreciated the nights of uninterupted sleep woo. I knew it wasn't forever, lol!
Thanks for the replies guys.
I know I am far from alone with this, but am taking it really hard because I have been so spoiled!

He doesn't nap btw.

[ches]

Sounds like night terrors.

[WowOoo]

Nicky was he better last night?
Ours wasn't!!

Yes, ches nightmares seem to coincide here with growth spurts. Learing about the big, scary real world.

[ches]

No, not nightmares, night terrors. Different animal. A nightmare the child wakes up, remembers the dream, and is upset and can be comforted. A night terror the child is not fully awake, cannot be comforted (can make it worse), and thankfully does not remember the incident, though it's very upsetting for the parents.

[ElenorRigby]

Our 15 month old DD just had a night terror. Woke up after about 2 hours sleep, hysterical, didnt recognise me or DP, couldn't ne comforted, shaking like a leaf.
Bloody horrible it was. She settled back to sleep after 30mins to an hour.