Help! My 18mo was sick and is now scared of his cot!

[8rubberduckies]

My 18mo woke up in the night on Saturday and was violently sick in his cot. He has slept in with us for the last 3 nights as he has been so unwell with a temperature, but now he's better he will not go down for a nap or night-time sleep in his own room. Every time we go into his room he points at his cot and starts crying and freaking out.

We left him to cry it out for a while earlier and he fell asleep eventually, but woke again an hour later in hysterics.

Help! 4th night of him falling asleep on sofa now through exhaustion and we don't want him to get out of the habit of sleeping in his own room, he was a really good sleeper before. We have tried to make it inviting by putting some of his favourite toys in but he just throws them out. We are also keeping his fairylights on to make it as nice as possible in there - any other ideas?

ok..poor guy!Possibly put the room back to how it used to be...lights and toys and such may look really nice but are probably too overstimulating when he re awakes and it doesn't look like his room anymore.
You've done the right thing wanting to nip this in the bud before you create a problem.
Play in his room...make some new memories around his cot...put in his teddies and give them a story or have a picnic in there for lunch.
Stick to your guns and get him back to his normal sleeping pattern asap.
I am a believer in controlled crying. Not all are so if you are ok, then go for it and that includes when he re awakes.
Hope it turns around soon. xx

Also check no sick smell still lingering low down...lol

Ended up at 4am giving in and letting him sleep in with us again! We put him to bed after he fell asleep on the sofa last night, but then he woke up again at 1.30am and got so hysterical controlled crying was an impossibility, and was breaking my heart!

I am a believer in controlled crying too, but he has been getting too distressed to use it.

We have been doing some playing in his room this morning though, so fingers crossed for nap time this afternoon!

Oh yes, and all traces of sick have gone, after some major scrubbing

Poor you but, hey, it is whatever you can cope with...one thought though is that little ones should fall asleep where they are to go to sleep. It is very disorientating when they wake to be somewhere else and not have you nearby.

I would definitely try knocking falling asleep on the sofa on the head...When he gets really tired, pop him in his room for a story time and then in to his cot and start the controlled crying from there.

You will know this anyhow so apologies if I am irritating but don't even start trying to fix this until you really want to and can persevere as every night you eventually succumb, is another night's effort wasted and you will be utterly drained and he will be even more fixed in the idea that you will eventually be there...he justs need to keep going.

He will love you no less for doing this...wishing you luck for the next few nights. xx

Mrspoppins, sorry for late reply! Your advice has been useful and not annoying.. I need reminding of stuff that I know all too well sometimes! DS has been ill all this week, and so have I, so not had time to Mumsnet.

We have already stopped letting him fall asleep on the sofa, but now he has such a bad cough he wakes up crying every time he coughs, so not getting much sleep. We are trying to stick to our guns though, but it's difficult when I'm ill and DP has a knack for being able to sleep through any amount of screaming , so he's been in bed with us some nights.

poor lad...not sure if age appropriate but tixylix cough and cold is a great cough helper especially at night.xx

meant to say also, when I have weeks where I can't do what I'd prefer to do due to whatever reason, I don't worry about it and wait till I can again and then really go for it!
Kids in beds when ill is normal...that's the only time I have ever slept with mine but when they reach 10plus they wake you up to tellyou to stop snoring...I tell them they have their own bed they can go back to!!

Thanks!