Suddenly hating water on head, hair washing, won't lie down, sleep etc

[sleepdodger]

It's been going on for weeks!!
DS is 20mo and gone from being pretty lively to down right tantruming all.the.time
He had an ear & chest infection closely followed by chicken pix but is fine now and 3 weeks on still is behaviorally different- is this normal, a stage, or something o be concerned about?
Every night time is awful and we're on controlled crying now
When he eventually drops off (about 45 mons in) its only ever till another point which may be 11.30 may be 2.30 but then the only way to get him back to sleep is to head to spare bed with him
We never co slept much as a tiny baby so not as though he's used to it and wants to go back to that
I did wonder I it could be nightmares and thus anxiety related, but the suddenly hating water on head thing makes me wonder if it's something else
We're all shattered and I'm not sure what to try clinging to hope for miracle reply with ideas!
Your suggestion would be most appreciated

Our DSs are the same age, and when I read the title of your post the first thing I thought was: ear infection. Then when I read-on and saw he'd had an ear infection as well as various other viral infections leately I do think all the more-so that this could explain things if there is some residual ear infection there.

When my DS has occasional phases of huge tantrum-ing and not wanting to lie down or have his hair washed I always have no clue what's going on, until I find out further down the line that he's had an ear infection all along; it really affects his personality (for the worse). Have you ruled that out completely? My GP kept missing our DS's recurrent infections, but I kept at it until we got a longish course of antibiotics.

I might be completely wrong, so apologies if none of this helps. Easier said than done but try and remember that this phase will definitely at some point pass-over, and usual service will resume (as calm as that can ever get with a DS this age!) .

Thanks- that actually makes alot if sense
Would they prescribe ab without temp etc?
I'm keen to avoid nori virus doctors at the mo as DS licks all the visibly grubby toys !!!
I took him to walk in centre a couple of weeks ago but the Mardy dr said he was fine
I'll have a think!! Thanks

Yes, I don't think they don't have to have a temperature in order to have the AB's - if the Dr can see evidence of infection through the otoscope (redness, bulging ear drum etc) and you tell him/her about how unhappy and unsettled it's making your DS then I think they'd give him the AB's to clear it.

I wonder if the walk-in doc couldn't see any inflammation because it wasn't looking too red/inflamed at the time? Perhaps at that point it was an inner ear infection rather than a middle/outer ear one?

Tbh, I'm not entirely sure what I'm talking about with it all, I just know from experience with myself (went through a phase of repeated painful ear infections) and DS's recent ear infections, that the doc doesn't always pick-up what is there, and they can linger-on for quite a while.

When DS goes through phases of being particularly horrific to deal with, I now always try to think: 'ear infection!" and usually it's the case.

Much appreciated, I'll ask for a phone appt tomorrow so I can take him in post nursery if he'll consider a prescription!