2.5 year old crying for mummy at bedtime?

[fieldmouse83]

My 2.5 year old has started crying for me anytime his Dad puts him down to bed. I'm having to go in there and sit with him holding his hand and singing otherwise he cries out for ages. He used to be fine letting his Dad put him down sometimes.

Has anyone experienced this and do you have any tips? Am I making it worse by going in there and swapping with his Dad?

I think he’s just going through a clingy phase and I think it’s fine to roll with it. It’s more likely to pass if you just let it happen.

I agree. Just follow your instinct, go to him or her, your child will get the reassurance they need, and the phase will pass.

Sorry, him

It will be made worse by you going in and taking over. He shouldn't be left to cry it out, but his Dad should be left to comfort him. Your DS needs to know that you're both capable of comforting him, he needs his Dad to succeed, which he will eventually! Realistically he's not going to cry endlessly, eventually his dad will find a way to comfort him.

It might help if you go out (or at least pretend to).

Is your DH loving, soothing and reassuring with him? If so, I think you are making it worse by going in. Once he knows there are firm boundaries he’ll stop. You can’t give into toddlers that age when they’re tired and whingey - you just need to be calm, kind but firm. Plus it’s only fair that DH does some of the nighttime routine to give you a breather otherwise you’re just going to make a rod for your own back.

I would let his dad carry on if you can. My 5 year old does the same some days. It’s normal. But you are both (hopefully!) loving, nurturing parents, so I’d let him get on with it. The only time we switch out is when we lose patience or one of us needs to go do something else.

I'm currently sat next the DS 2.5 years old holding his hand waiting for him to fall asleep. He used to happily to go sleep himself and sleep all night. He now wakes crying 2/3 times a night and only wants me, his dad makes him worse. I'm shattered and my evening is reduced. I'm really hoping it's a phase but it's been going on for a few months now. No advice, I have no idea what to do. (And if I have to sing wheels on the bus one more time tonight, I'm going to crack).

Oh @LillyLeaf that's my life too! I've just sat down now after he's finally gone to sleep. I've sung every song I know! Am exhausted now and ready for bed myself.

Mixed views here it seems - let Dad find a way vs follow your instincts and comfort my son.

I read some advice from heysleepybaby on Instagram saying to have a morning ritual to help them get down at night.

So maybe have something that you and your son do in the morning that's just the two of you, so that he looks forward to it every night and hopefully he'll go down easier with your partner.

My DD used to be the same. We have breakfast together just the two of us whilst reading her favourite books.

There's no right or wrong really - leaving him with a calm, comforting dad is fine. You going in and comforting is also fine. Follow your own gut on it.
My DS is 2.5 too and always wants me at night time despite being close with dad. I'm due our second soon so we've started dad putting him to bed at night, and I pretend to "leave'' for the hospital to practice. I could hear him crying for me from the stairway but dad did manage to calm him and he went off to sleep pretty quickly. But when I'm in the flat, I can't bring myself to ignore it and let dad so I just do it. I just follow my feeling on it.