Two year old screaming for hours at night time. I’m on my knees

[sendchocolateplease]

Fourth night in a row. Screaming and screaming for hours only at night. I haven’t slept properly in four nights now. I feel like I have a newborn baby except she’s two and I have work in the morning. She wants to walk around the house and then cries. I can’t cope with this. I’m worried about disrupting the neighbours. I’m filled with anxiety. It’s too hard.
my husband works long shifts so I’m alone right now. There is no break. No downtime. I have no help. Me and my husband play the who is more tired “game” and he always wins because he’s the one who does 14 hour days. But I’m full time too and I don’t have any time either but it counts for nothing. We are both shattered.

Why won’t she sleep. why is this happening? I want to scream and cry and I’m so absolutely fed up with this and feel like an utter utter failure

Had something similar happen with my wee one. Turned out she had an ear infection. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon. X

Can you have her sleep in your bed tomorrow night? That way when she wakes up you're there to comfort her immediately and she doesn't have time to get into a state.

No big changes. She’s two years two months. She doesn’t seem to remember in morning and the day is normal otherwise

Yes I think I’ll try this tomo

It does sound like night terrors.

Have you done a “Calpol test” though? Regular doses (up to the max) for 24-48hrs to see if any improvement?

We always did a Calpol test with any sudden change in sleep or behaviour to rule out pain/illness when they can’t communicate what’s wrong.

My husband has been working for 16 hours and says he still can’t leave. I feel like a single mum sometimes

I haven’t tried calpol, that’s a good shout.

This is a good suggestion - I can't remember the exact age but worms caused horrible pain and crying in mine when toddlers - they come out at night. At 2 she may not be able to explain what's happening. You can see them with a torch (!) and if that's the case easy to treat bit while waiting for treatment to work, apply thick sudocreme after washing and give antihistamines.

It could also be growing pains - my daughter can explain what they’re like now she’s a bit older but at 2 struggled but she seemed to be in pain & just screamed . Try calpol and or massage .
www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/media/33cnyt0q/growing-pains_feb23.pdf

This is a whole different problem - can he really not leave (national security?) or is he hiding? But maybe try and resolve the sleep problem before discussing it (but YANBU to discuss it and agree a better balance for the future)

Oh do they. So many things it coukd be. I didn’t realise they came out at night either. I’ll be checking this too

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions and speaking to me. Hopefully find out soon what’s going on

Maybe second molars coming through too at that age. Have a look in her mouth if she’ll let you. Calpol and nurofen for it.

Have you taken her swimming recently? My son did same just screamed nonstop and it was an ear infection. Antiobiotics cleared it up

edited to add: doctor asked if I’ve taken him swimming then checked his ear and said there’s an infection. No idea if swimming caused it as I was too sleep deprived to further question doctor

My son did this at around the same age. It was teething in the end. It wasn't bothering him in the day, but once he was asleep without any distractions he felt it full force. Some teething gel (the stuff with lidocaine in it) and some painkillers calmed him down quickly and allowed him to go back to sleep.

When it's screaming I always assume something is hurting, and give painkillers. Poor things just don't have the language yet to say it does or even where it hurts. All they know is it hurts, and therefore they must scream.

Poor mite, and poor you. Hopefully you get down to the bottom of what's wrong and you both get some well deserved sleep.

I used to take the lazy option and bring them in with me, with no lights and absolutely no talking or responding. They slept quite quickly then.

Does she have threadworms? They can crawl into the vagina at night and it is excruciatingly painful for pre-pubertal girls

I’d always presume pain and give a precautionary dose of Calpol if the child is distressed and unable to settle even with parent comfort and basic needs taken care of (ie not hungry/thirsty, not hot/cold, clean bum).

Hope you managed to get some sleep OP and the GP can fit her in today.

Does she have much screen time, especially close to bed? If so, I'd stop that

GP good idea to check ears.Op mine used to do this and only after months of distressed screaming , throwing herself around did I think to put her on the toilet ( thrashing and screaming).She would do a massive wee whilst screaming then immediately go back to sleep!Honestly it could be anything as they can't communicate what they need when half asleep a d so little. Definitely check for worms as mentioned upthread too.

Bless you it's so hard to focus when you are sleep deprived. Hope you get a doctors appt today. Definitely take the day off and both try to catch up on some sleep.

With worms you can apply some vaseline around the area at night, they get trapped in it and stop wriggling around which helps with any discomfort. Change the bedsheets and towels and apply scrupulous hand washing etc.

I'd pop round to the neighbour quickly today if I could, and explain that your dd isn't well and you are doing all you can to manage the situation, and sorry for any disturbance.

Sorry about your DHs attitude. That's a whole kettle of fish that needs to be sorted.