My toddler is 16 months old and is going through a terrible sleep phase. He just won’t go to sleep for ages for his nap or at night, even though he’s obviously tired and I’m finding it mentally completely exhausting.
For the last two nights I’ve just not been able to cope any more and have walked out of his room leaving him crying.
He’s then cried for about 10 minutes, before making moaning type sounds for 5 minutes and then finally going quiet and falling asleep.
I feel absolutely appalling that I’ve walked out on him crying but honestly feel I can’t take this any more.
Previously I had been leaving him for 2-5 minutes crying then going in and comforting him, putting back down and repeating for at least an hour. Or I’ve sat next to him silently in his room for 1-1.5 hours whilst he’s slowly fallen asleep. He doesn’t go to bed till 7.45 which means I haven’t had dinner until 9/9.30 a lot of nights.
I’m rambling I know - I just feel completely shattered and horribly guilty that I walked out on him crying. Am I a terrible mum and could I have caused him long lasting mental health issues by doing what I did?