28 month old suddenly not sleeping

[PressedPetal]

Hi I’m exhausted and pretty desperate. Please no judging, I’m after some advice.

Our daughter has always been a great sleeper. She’s never really been an issue unless she’s unwell. She’s slept through the night as long as I can remember. About a week ago out of nowhere, she started screaming for me at bedtime (in the day for some reason wants her dad…not me) and will not sleep unless I’m with her. She’s always exhausted by 6pm so we do usually bath bed teeth and book. In bed for 7pm but I never rush a book as I like that time with her.

The last week it’s been nearly 10pm and she’s still screaming, and has screamed from 6pm. She wakes every 2 hours then at night unless I sleep with her, screaming on the top of her lungs.

I don’t know what to do. Here’s what’s been going on lately and things I’ve tried:

• Shes been potty trained about 6 weeks, took to it brilliantly.
• She’s just moved up a class in nursery about 4 weeks ago.
• Assumed molars but can’t see any cutting and Calpol does nothing to calm her.
• Husband tried to put her to bed but it’s just ten times worse. She gets so hysterical she’s wretching so I take over as I don’t want her that hysterical.

I can’t do controlled crying as she opens the door, we have a baby gate but I don’t like the idea of her wandering around upstairs. I went to bed with her at 7pm tonight and she fell asleep, I left the room and she awoke screaming again.

I managed dinner with her tonight but we’re not eating because by 10pm we’re drained and not hungry. I hate seeing her so upset. She’s too tired in the mornings to wake but I need to work so can’t let her lie in. So it’s like a vicious circle.

This is so hard.
My second was a great sleeper as after dreadful sleep experience with our first we always put him down awake (from birth). Then around 2 1/2 he became unsettled and my husband started bringing him into the bed. The only thing that resolved it was him being in a travel cot and me sitting on the floor for 3 hours beside him while he sobbed. He did finally fall asleep and literally did not wake in the night again for months. It was a really horrible 3 hours though! I couldn't cope with the idea of sleep training my first but the sleep deprivation had such an awful impact on me that I couldn't go through that much broken sleep again.
Good luck hope it resolves soon.

The only other thing I can think of is worms (unfortunately it's fresh in mind as we've had them in the house!). The itching can make them really agitated at night. But I assume she'd be grabbing at her bum if she had them.