Sleep help

[Noimaginationforaun]

I’m at my wits end.

DS has been home nearly 2 years and is 3.5. Historically, he has always been a great sleeper. Full 12 hours. The odd periods of bad dreams (usually when he’s been sick) which settled down after a week or so.

This has now been going on a month or so and is different from his previous bad dreams. Previously, he’d be half asleep and crying and we’d go in to comfort him. Now, he is waking up and just screaming for us. Top of his lungs. Every night. We’ve tried everything. He now has a night light which he’s never had previously, we’ve cuddled, got a clear bedtime routine, we’ve reassured. Nothing is working. It’s always the same - he doesn’t want to be on his own. We are getting so stressed and patience is wearing very thin. Tonight, he woke up at 1am shouting ‘MUMMY DADDY I NEED YOU’. DH went him, told him we were still here, he needs to go back to sleep and he fell straight back asleep within minutes. However, I am wide awake an hour and a half later.

I don’t know what to do next. For context our routine is the classic tea, bit of TV (CBeebies), bath, story, cuddles and bed for 7pm. We introduced a clock which has a clock with a moon/sun which becomes the sun at 7am.

I would try cosleeping with him,it will pass in time and he will feel safe with you/DH.its so good for attachment too.i coslept with my eldest two till they were about 5/6.or just making a bed next to him to hold his hand when he needs it.it will not be for long but holding him close at this time is a good thing.

I’d co-sleep too - he’s needing you close by. I think there may be a developmental stage where they become aware of being on their own while sleeping which can be quite scary.

In saying that, my two are much older and will come into my bed - I’m used to it and they’ll not being doing it when they’re 18.

I tend to go with whatever gets everyone the most sleep possible.

My son goes through periods of this and I put a small single mattress in his room on the floor… he is now 5 but this has been on and off for a while.

i can’t cope even in a double bed with my son - he kicks me/ends up getting so close I get too hot and end up not sleeping….

3 is the age that they start to become frightened of things. It could be a normal (though exhausting) developmental stage. I sleep on the floor next to my daughter's bed when she's going through a period of night waking. It means I can comfort her before she gets really upset and we can all doze off again more easily. Co.sleeping doesn't work for us.

Another vote for co-sleeping; your small child is literally shouting at you what he needs.