Sudden bedtime problems

[LHP]

Hallo All. I'm new to this, well been lurking for a while,wondered whether to join in with the for sale babies, but i think ds is a bit old (he's 2, just.) Anyway,i hope you don't mind me asking for help but i'm totally confused. Never had bedtime/naptime probs until this week, normally he climbs in his cot after a couple of stories no bother, but this week, blimey!!! He's been screaming "muuummmeeee!!!!nnnnnooooooooo!!!!!!" at the top of his voice and getting generally hysterical. Havent done anything different to usual, have fixed routine of dinner, bath,story, bed. Have tried leaving him but i'm too much of a wuss to see it through. He's not ill, he's totally himself in every other way. DH has just taken him off round the block in the car for the third night running, but I can't be doing that at naptime so need another solution. Please please please have you got any suggestions/explanations. Do you think i might have to do cc? Is he too old? Has anyone else done CC at this age? How does it work? Thanks in advance. Sorry for ramble.

Haven't got any useful advice for you.. sorry, but just wanted to wish you luck and hope things improve. I'm sure someone will come along with some good advice soon.

I think it is worth trying to get him to sleep in his cot. Or even try to put him in a bed. DD was 22 months when she went into a bed, and things seemed much better. He may have had some scarey dreams, or just be more aware of his surroundings. If you think that cc is the route for you, then I wouldn't have thought that he is too old. We often leave dd to have a cry and a grumble when she goes to bed, and it doesn't seem to bother her. If you know that he is safe, and cannot hurt himself, and that he isn't ill, then it won't hurt him to cry for a while, IMO. Hope this helps!!

I've done CC later than this and it worked ( after I had "educated" DH )
General rules are .....

1. Walk in and make sure child is safe.
2. DOn't go all goooey!
3. Be very matter-of-fact
4. Walk out after "settling" child
5. Wait ( they say 5 mins ... but it seems very long !! ) 3 mins ...

Repeat steps 1-4 but next time leave it a couple ( 5 ?? ) of minutes longer ..... for point 5.

Repeat until mother or baby collapses in a stupor

Just a word or warning ... it's been 5 years since I've had to do this .... others might have better / more up to date information.

Be prepared for this to last 3-5 days tops ... ( if you stick to the rules ... )

Make sure that DH/DP agrees to the routine .... otherwise you'll feel guilty and have no support.

MAKE SURE THAT DS is fit and healthy .... nsymptoms that could be causing probs !
HTH

Thanks everyone. He woke up again when they got out of the car. He has been sitting watching "The dirty dozen" with dh ever since. Probably not very helpful!! I,ve just put him in cot again and he is SCREAMING, in fact he is now hoarse. Am supposed to be going on an EXTREMELY rare night out tomorrow as its dh's b/day, and leaving him with my dad, but can't see that happening now . He's got grey "Samsonite" effect under his eyes. How long can he keep it up for????

LHP DD is still come calling me. I picked her from Preschool 2.30pm, they said she had a busy day very tired, well look at the time and she is still up. I don't know if you got the mums net newsletter resently but they say in there it's a two thing, coz DD would ask to go to bed three books sleep, hang in there it will get better i keep telling myself that good luck.xx

He's just gone off!!!!!! Been wheeling round streets in pushchair for last hour. Why didn't i do that 4 hours ago???? Have I set a precedent and now will need to do the wheeling thing every night for the next fifteen years????? Why is it dh was asleep and snoring when i came in so have no-one to formulate new "get tough" plan with for tomorrow night????

My 2 and 4 months old has recently got a lot more sensitive. Demanding that we left the light on, we got a night light and then turned it off when he was asleep . Now we have to leave it on, he has started to see scary things in the shadows !!. DS1 is very articulate for his ages so has been able to express his fear.

Could you 2 year old be getting scared by the dark ?

I can sympathise with this one. ds is 3 next March and has always gone to bed easily after milk and teletubbies but the last three nights he has turned into thechild from hell - I suppose I had it coming - he refuses to drink his milk so afte a lot of arguing we take him upstairs at which point he begs for milk and we start again downstairs so he has achieved delaying bedtime by and hour - the joys of assertive toddlers.