HELP day 34 and no sleep with 2 year old

[Sarahholl87]

Currently on day 34 of a very crap nights sleep. My 2 year old is going through some kind of sleep regression phase.

He screams the house down every few hours from 7am till 5/6 am. He is settled in the day and naps great but for 5 weeks or so he's just started waking all the time, really upset, screaming, kicking, pulling his pjs off. I've now been awake an hour going in every 5 to 10 minutes putting him back down but nothing works.

I've tried white noise, lullabies, night light etc.

I've sometimes given in and let him in my bed but we both don't get much sleep still as he's never been used to it and climbs around everywhere.

Please can anyone help or advise, I'm a single mum who works and I'm really struggling. I'm getting no more than 3 or 4 hours a night.
He's always been fine with sleeping but I am running out of ideas on what to do to try improve both our sleep!

Thanks in advance x

How long is he actually sleeping for? 3 or 4 hour chunks?

Hi @misper
It can vary. For example tonight he went to bed at 7.15pm tonight with a bit of a cry but not much fuss then woke screaming at 11. He's still screaming now. I've gone in every 5 to 10 minutes to say night time and laid him down.

Usually he has 2 or 3 hour blocks then wakes but anything past 5am is lucky to start the day properly.
X

Does he have all his teeth? Second molars can be rough

Or ear infection? Although that does seem unlikely after a month

What’s his nap situation? My DS sleep went crazy when he was dropping his nap. Overtired and waking lots with no nap, but not falling asleep til late if he did nap. It was a rough transition

Pinworms?

Does he complain of an itchy bottom?

If he is waking every two to three hours or so maybe he has a disturbance to his sleep cycle.

Might be worth disturbing him but not to the point of waking just before he normally kicks off, if there is any pattern to the waking. You could try a little light back rub or tucking in of blankets, just enough to hear a deep sigh and see him turn over.

Have you put him in to a bed/lowered cot bars recently? Cos We had sheer hell for 10 months (on and off, some weeks not as bad as others) 1 month after DS went in to a bed. Before he'd slept straight through 12 hours, it was like having a newborn again with the waking every 2 or so hours! It was just a very long! phase unfortunately he's back to normal other than waking for a wee occasionally, it was really hard at the time though. We used to let him in our bed occasionally or make a bed up on the floor for him just so we could get some sleep... eventually I found the only thing that worked was bribery, with Xmas coming up we told him Santa was watching him & if he got up from bed he'd know about it & send 1 toy back each time... cruel I know but it worked. Also reward reward reward when he did have a good night...

I’d be thinking teeth. My 2 year old REALLY suffered with her teeth (and we still have molars to come - I’m dreading them!)

Also, what’s he sleeping in? We just moved DD into a bed and she’s waking much less. She’s a really active sleeper and, in the cot, she was bashing off the bars. She has more room to move in the bed (she mostly sleeps horizontally!)

Thanks for all your replies! He has most teeth and did suffer with them but this is another level. He had an ear infection 6 or 7 weeks ago and this is where it started. He's also recently moved nurseries so has been through a big change and illness.

He's in a cot still as I don't feel he's ready for a bed, he is very small and petite so still has plenty of room.

I gave in last night come 3am and put him in bed with me. He actually slept till 5 but then wanted to eat so we got up. He must have had 7 hours sleep on and off and I had 4.

Same pattern tonight, he's gone off fine but woke at 12.30am and I've been in every 5 or ten mins and it's now 1.20 and he's just gone quiet. He was sreaming, throwing his cup & dummies across the room.

I've put him his night light on and white noise so hopefully it works:)

Also to add his naps are good. He usually has 1hr 30 to 2 hours. He can go longer if he's had a bad night. He's always been a good nappeer and it's never affected his night sleep, if anything made it better.

I would wonder about the nursery - how many children are in his section, how many carers, any major differences from his previous nursery?
Is he very tired when he comes home? Does he have a chance to have a good nap there?
Any new foods or drinks?

Maybe take him back to the GP to check for further ear problems?