problems getting my 2 year old DS to sleep and eat.

[HomeintheSun]

My DS was (up until July) a really good sleeper, even sometimes taking himself off to bed, then DH went back to the UK for a course and from the evening he went back DS stopped going to bed nicely and was up until 9.30 every night, was up during the night and then up again at 6.30ish. He stopped taking regular naps at 14 months. More recently he's stopped eating the amount he usually eats, for example today he's only eaten breakfast, then a sausage for lunch, a packet of chocolate buttons, two little bits of chicken and a little pot of yoghurt. Please help, mil thinks "it's just a phase"

Sleeping aounds like he is waking to check you and DH are both home.

Eating is part a phase and part attention, cut out all sweets/biscuits until he is eating more proper amounts.

Deep breath. This too shall pass.....

He might be coming down with something?

Hate to say it but your MIL is probably right and that it is just a phase. Try to downplay it because if you make a big deal about it your DS will only do it more and more.

Since DH came back DS will sleep through some night, but it's the getting him to sleep that's started to be a battle. Have any of you used the return to bed method? if so how long did it take you?
as for the not eating thing should I just continue to try and get him to eat or just put it in front of him and leave him too it? this morning when he got up he asked for breakfast (he doesn't usually) but when I gave it to him he just sat there looking at it, I had to spoon half of it into his mouth and then he ate the rest by himself. When he doesn't eat properly he then asks for milkshake and we give in to him because we don't like the idea of him going hungry, which I know is part of the problem. I just don't know what to do for the best.