I have a two and a half year old child, me and there father(ex) have been separated for a year. He is a brilliant father and spends all his free time with our child. We split due to his anxiety and my pnd causing arguments which I knew would affect our child if we stayed together.
Anyway about 4 weeks ago our child started doing overnights- spending two nights a week at ex’s house (ex living with his parents for now) child adores them all and is settled there ,I’m told most of the time sleeps through in own bed or will get up in the early hours and get in bed with dad. Child has been an amazing sleeper since age 1 -going to sleep alone and even laying in. For some reason the past few weeks have been awful, bedtime routine (which used to work) I put them in bed do a story ,kiss goodnight and leave but now the shouting starts for “cuddle me to sleep, cuddle in my bed please” at ex’s house this doesn’t happen, just goes straight to sleep alone in the room. Don’t get me wrong I love cuddling but its just out of character and night wakings have also been happening 2-3 times a night untill they start asking to get into my bed and I just give in due to tiredness.
Child doesn’t seem unwell and I can’t think of any other changes than the overnight stays are unsettling ?
I’m feeling incredibly guilty and just feel like crying tonight as I thought it wouldn’t effect a child at this age ? Is two nights a week too much ? They absolutely love going there which is why I just can’t figure out what’s wrong.