Hey all
Looking for some perspective and experiences please.
DS1 will be 4 in March and has recently started having really disrupted sleep. He goes to bed fine, but wakes frequently in the night calling for me, very anxious and scared, and struggles to settle. On these cold nights where I am knackered, I end up bringing him into our bed, frustrated with him, myself and the sleep gods.
I wanna mention his sleep has been solid for the past year- between 0-2 nightwakes where id go into his room, retuck and leave. Worked a charm and we worked hard to get to that stage so this is frustrating but I know he has potential in him to sleep as before
What’s made me wonder if this is separation anxiety is that since mid December, he has been crying and upset at nursery drop offs. One day when DH dropped him off, he cried so much tbat DH bought him straight back home! He’s been going to nursery since age 1 and we have never had tears! Also, the staff have said he is upset up and down throughout the day which is unlike him.
Nothing major has changed at home, but he is very attached to me generally and seems more emotionally sensitive at the moment. Nights feel especially hard for him, almost like he needs to know I’m close.
Has anyone experienced a phase like this around this age?
Did it turn out to be separation anxiety, developmental, or something else?
And if so, did anything help – or was it just time?
Would really appreciate hearing others’ experiences. Thank you.