Help - 20mo change in behaviour after relocating

[sleepcrisis]

We have recently relocated to be nearer family and are in temp accommodation until we move into our new house next week. So totally new surroundings, new people, new (grim) house, another move coming up.... DS is really struggling to settle down and it's exhausting.

He is tired but won't sleep, clingy but won't be held. It's been 2 weeks. Sleep is the worst - night waking and early starts. He used to practically climb into his cot after lunch and send me away - now I have to sit with him for naps as well as bedtime. He seems to love being with his grandparents but is grizzly and grumpy when just with me. Lots of tantrums, throwing things etc. He used to be so good at doing what he was told, would accept a stern 'No' - now he is behaving quite badly but mainly for mummy. Is he blaming me for messing up his comfy life in his lovely home?! Or maybe terrible twos come early and its just a coincidence...

How can I help him settle? I am trying to be with him all the time to reassure him, but grandparents have a tendancy to whisk him off for a walk and so we have had time apart since we got here. Am SAHM and also really struggling with the move - and its half term here so nothing on this week! Trying not to show DS how homesick I am but I guess he can pick up on that.

Anyone been through similar and can offer any tips?

We went through the same thing last April. My DD was 18 months at the time and she was okay during the day, but woke up several times during the night. I actually caved as I needed to sleep a bit myself so kicked DH to the sofa and had DD sleep with me.

It was about two wks of her waking and on about the third or fourth wake up I'd bring her in with me. Eventually she just stopped waking up in the night and slept through to the morning. It was hard and I was worried that I was starting bad habits by having her sleep in bed with me, but she just seemed to figure out for herself when she was ready to sleep in her new room.
I suppose they need to know that even though everything around them is different at least their mummy is always there for when they are feeling insecure. Just be patient and loving and above all calm and he'll soon get used to his new life (as long as mum is there of course).

We had these problems with my 20mo recently. She was perfect it terms of sleeping and then we went away for nearly a month - lots of different bedrooms etc. She was fine during the day and played and was happy. When we got home she was a different child - sleep times were just like you describe. That was about 8 weeks ago - and just this week she is back the way she was (touch wood!).

DS is 20 months and has recently been really hard to settle for naps and bed time and had a week of waking what seemed like 100 times a night.

I think he's had another developmental leap as he seems to have grown about 2 inches in a week and his fine motor skills have really improved too - he's suddenly great with complex shape sorters and jigsaw puzzles.

Carry on as normal. This too shall pass.

Thanks for the replies. He still hasn't cracked the nights, but is now only waking once which is an improvement - naps are still a nightmare and self settling a distant memory. We move into our permanent new home a week today. So no point in trying to change anything just yet - but when we move in I'm going to have to try and do something about sleep as I'm really suffering!

nancerama I also think hes had a bit of a development leap so might all be a coincidence...

the tantrums during the day are also getting me down but I suppose I'd better get used to those!!