Why won't my toddler sleep properly??? (Help please!)

[ernjas]

I posted a few days ago about my DS (2 in March) waking up a couple of hours after going to sleep and inconsolably crying for a while.

This has now gotten worse - he is waking up every 30 mins or so and inconsolably screaming for about 10 mins, nothing soothes him at all. He will do this all through the night and won't really sleep in his own bed now.

I've just gone back to work today and DS was supposed to be going for his first day of nursery but DP is having to take time off as I'm not comfortable with sending him to his first day of nursery when he's so exhausted and not feeling 100%.

I'm trying really hard to be patient and understanding but guiltily failing

Does anyone know what this could be because I feel at a loss?

Is he definitely awake or could he still be asleep? My DS2 had night terrors at about that age, he'd be screaming inconsolably but he wasn't awake. We just cuddled him til he settled again but he only had one or two a night, not every half an hour.

@TooMinty I originally did think it was night terrors when it was just 2 hours after he was going to sleep but I've kind of ruled it out now that it is every half an hour. He's definitely awake, he just gets really distressed. I feel awful that I can't pinpoint what's actually wrong

@TooMinty I originally did think it was night terrors when it was 2 hours after he was going to bed and then he was fine for the rest of the night, but I've kind of ruled it out now it's every 30 mins approx. He's awake he's just very distressed. I feel awful not knowing exactly what it is causing it

@TooMinty sorry I didn't think the first one posted so posted the second! You get the gist 😂

We went through this at around the same age. I read that children’s dreams become more vivid around this time as there is, yet another, developmental leap.
My Dd would oftensay that she was ‘sad’ when she woke up. I wondered whether she was having nightmares and meant scared.

It lasted a couple of months but her sleep is back to normal now.

@WinkyisbackontheButterBeer
That's interesting to know!
It's obviously just a worry, not only because of the lack of sleep we are getting but the lack of sleep he's getting too!

What happens if you let him sleep in with you? Or have you tried a night light in his room (or just leave landing light on and door open)? Mine both have bears and comfort blankets to take to bed.

@TooMinty he's always been a good sleeper in his own bed and then got into our bed at about 2am and been a good sleeper there too.

Since he's been getting distressed I've kept him in my bed permanently thinking he might improve but it's still just the same!

Fingers crossed it's a short phase then! Maybe you could try explaining during the day that dreams aren't real? Perhaps there's an age appropriate book? My older DS has a dream catcher but that might be too difficult for a 2 year old to understand.

@TooMinty fingers crossed! I don't think he'd understand at all anyway. He's not 2 for a few months and doesn't understand conversations yet. He's just about managed 'yes' and 'no' and that's usually only in reply to anything about chocolate 😂

😊 sounds like you need chocolate too to make up for lack of sleep 🍫

Dd2 was like this, we ended up with her in our bed so we could get some sleep

@anniehm yes, we have had him in our bed the last couple of nights with no improvement unfortunately

Watching with interest as we've had the same issue (DS is 20 months). It seems to be a mix of night terrors and random wakings. We are all so tired.