17m old hysterical for hours at night

[LadyH1986]

Hello!! Reaching out as at a complete loss for second day…

My previously good sleeper (now 17m) has suddenly started waking for HOURS in the night, crying and sitting up in cot. We have tried to comfort her but it almost makes it worse.

She’s had various colds and teething and covid since November so sleep has been quite broken, but usually a bit of milk or dummy or calpol worked, but not now! This doesn’t seem to be illness related

Has anyone else experienced anything like it?! Literally have no idea how to stop the wimpering/crying other than when we put In the Night Garden briefly last night but as soon as it finished and tried to put her back it started again. And lasted 3 hours

Help! Poor babe sounds terrified but absolutely nothing seems to help

I think there's a sleep regression around 18 months so could be that? My LO was awful for waking up at 17/18 months but it lasted about 3 weeks then all back to sleeping through

Apart from tonight it seems! Haha

Ear infection?

Night terrors are quite common at that age I think. I remember my DS did this on and off - and it was as if he was asleep hey with eyes open and in a kind of trance like state but having a nightmare. Very unsettling.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/night-terrors/

We used to just have him in our bed until it passed - it did just seem to be a phase.

We’ve done this twice now, just to calm her down then taken back to her cot. BUT everything I read, and Everything I know suggests that will create a bad habit: but literally NOTHING else will stop the crying. Did you find it a bad habit to break or not??

I’ve even tried controlled cry it out but nothing.

Might be worth checking for worms.

@LadyH1986 - it is a very hard habit to break. Mine is now 8 years and will still angle to sleep with us if he gets a chance (we are terrible softies..).

But this "hard no" on Co sleeping is a very British thing... both historically - and now but in other cultures - it is much more common.

We had DS in his own cot but in our room for at least first year. And he'd then often come back and sleep with us if he was unsettled for some reason.

But I think it's v personal what works for you on this.

It is a hard habit to break though 😆

My DS was a terror for not sleeping but when he was very upset I would completely cuddle him with a blanket which helped soothe him.

17 months is still a baby. If it means you all get some rest then being in your bed it is.

As pps said take her to the doctor to rule out an ear infection. Check for worms and honestly if taking her into your bed works just do it. The poor soul crying for hours during the night is doing no one any good.