I am going to have to burn down the shed or something.

[blackcurrants]

As I live in a 2nd floor flat and don't have a shed, I don't know what that 'or something' might be.

DS is 2 and a month old. He's had the routine of bathtime, teeth, 2 stories, bed for over 18 months now. He sleeps in a toddler bed which he can get himself in and out of (has done for about 4 months, was in cot w/side off for 4 months before that. He's not got a lot of outstanding skills but he's a great climber.)

I have NO IDEA why the last 2 weeks have been so hard but he now stands by his bedroom door pounding on it and screaming, then just screams, then lies by the bedroom door moaning....

it's 9pm and he's been doing something like this for the last 30 minutes. For an hour and fifteen minutes before then, I was sat by the door doing 'rapid return' every time he opened it, not talking, just putting him straight back into his bed and leaving the room.

Rapid return isn't working - it's a huge game to him, he laughs with delight when he opens the door and finds me there. It's like a reason for him to get out of his bed.

I ended up wedging his door shut and walking into my study (4 paces away in our tiny flat) so I could take a breath. It's 9pm and I wanted to be in bed half an hour ago myself. I'm 25 weeks pg and soooo bloody tired. DH is bloody out for the bloody evening, (general for fridays) which is usually not a big deal as DS and I do a cosy bedtime then I watch the telly he doesn't enjoy ... but oh god tonight has driven me up the wall. I want to smash, trash and bash things. Then perhaps run away with the dogs, change my name, and move to Tahiti.

I could cry.

DS is now asleep, I think. No noise for about the last 10 minutes. I'm going to brush my teeth, put my PJs on, then sneak in and cover him with the duvet. I hope to god he's in bed, as lifting him off the floor into bed has done my back in more than once this pregnancy.

Clearly I should have just shut him in his bedroom from 8pm and let him scream blue murder and pound on the door, but it feels so completely evil to do that. The thing is, he's tired and rubbing his eyes at 7.30 - he's just not going to bed (either dicking around or screaming ) till about 9pm.
We have a calm bedtime routine that never wavers.
I think he might be teething but I've given him painkillers with his dinner at 6.30pm so that shouldn't be getting in the way of him settling.

I am absolutely out of ideas.
HELP ME, MUMSNET!

When ds was doing this, we managed to, for a while, compromise with him by making a little snuggly bed in the doorway of his room. This did work for a while but now, I hasten to add, we have given.up on any attempts to keep him in his own bed and he ends up sleeping in with me or his sister or my stbexh.
I know the hell you are going through, I have been there and I sympathise, I don't envy you doing it at x number of weeks pregnant either.
If he is on the floor and you have not moved him already, then for tonight, just cover him over and leave him be. It won't hurt him. xx

did the let him scream blue murder thing myself. yes felt like a knackered bitch but only did it for about 3 days and it worked.
(had 4 little ones and was wrecked and fed up)

Could he be over tired? 6.30 is quite late for a 2 year old to be having tea, so I'd imagine he'd still be quite stimulated by then, which might mean he's struggling to calm down properly before getting to the ratty stage. Can you bring his routine forward a bit?

My 2 yo is going through a seriously grumpy stage as he's also trying to drop his daytime nap altogether now, so we've had to move his routine up a bit. I hope things improve for you, and you manage to get some rest

I have one like that. For the 4 months of my pg I struggled to instil a bed time go to bed, stay in bed, sleep routine. I was knackered, still had morning sickness, struggled to lift the 16,5kg of uncooperative 2 yr old (went into single bed at 2) into bed. DH did nothing apart from laugh at my attempts and tell me to leave him alone and ignore him. Which resulted in a trashed flat every single night. Toys everywhere, kitchen cupboards etc. DH's idea of ignoring him meant he would let him do things he was not allowed to do during the day so he quickly learnt he could o what he wanted. (until of course I ignored him playing with DH's computer...). My evenings started at 10. it drove me crazy and to tears many times, I feel for you.

In my last month of pg, I gave up, I couldn't cope any more. I now insist he stays in his room, but he can play if he wants. He has to be quiet and not trash the room. He gets one chance for story, cuddles, bed. If he hits, kicks or gets out of bed, he's on his own until he calls for me to go again. If it happens a second time, he's on his own completely. It does mean he's often up til 10, he still gets up at 6, but I get an hour or so for me in the evening.

We also eat at 630 (DS won't eat unless DH is there) then start bath time bed at 730. He is often falling asleep, so tired he can't walk straight. But show him abed and it revitalises him. So no suggestions, just sympathy!

It's nice to know we're not alone! :)

I honestly have no clue what's doing it, but it seems from friends with children the same age that everyone's previously-respectable bedtime routine is currently shot to shit.

Some days DS and DH don't get back until 5pm, and I don't get in till 5.30 so eating a lot earlier is hard - he eats much more/better if he's eating with us on his big boy chair, etc. I will ponder overtiredness - it might be that, but I'm not sure. I think I will kill all telly for half an hour before bathtime, we've let that slide recently and it's been wiggles all the way to 7pm, which may be sparking some overexcitement. I dunno....

He's going to have to scream for a night or two I think. GAH! I might go out and leave DH to it tonight. [evil]