2-3 hour middle of the night meltdowns! 14 month old...

[LovelyWeatherForDucks]

My Ds has always been a difficult sleeper, but recently has been waking at night and full on screaming, thrashing and throwing himself around the cot for literally hours...not much better if we hold him. There's no apparent reason for it as he is perfectly happy the rest of the time.

We did some sleep training a few months ago and he mostly slept through for a few months, and we still generally stick to the same tactics of a quick cuddle/water then lying back in cot repeatedly, unless unwell etc.

However he's got so hysterical now, he stands up and then flings himself backwards as soon as he sees us walk back into the room, and I'm worried he'll hurt himself.

We've tried cuddling him to sleep (takes just as long, but a bit less screamy and I know it's not a great habit as he wakes early when we do this - he'll cry as soon as he's put down unless fast asleep), lying him back down (stressful, as above!) and walking out, and lying him back down and lying on his bedroom floor next to him, but he screams just as much.

He'll sometimes go quiet/asleep for a few minutes, but within 5/10 mins he's yelling again...until he finally go to sleep after 2 or 3 hours, either on his own or cuddled back to sleep.

I'm at a loss of what to do! He basically has a meltdown as soon as he's in his cot so no chance of soothing him in the cot, and he's so cross I am worried about leaving him in there. I work three days a week, and last night I was up with him from 12am to 3am - not ideal before a busy day!

Any thoughts / ideas gratefully received!

DS is the same age and is doing similar

Not quite as physical as your DS but loud shouting crying, waking and refusing bed as soon as he's horizontal and will push away from cuddles quite forcefully. He's also quite rough when BFing in the night. l suspect teeth might be coming through but have no idea really. Trying to ride it out.

Another one in exactly the same boat here

We're stuck with the cuddling technique though as she wakes 3yo sister if we leave her in the bunk bed to scream it out.

It was this behaviour that started our habit of sleeping in his room. Make up a bed and just lie there. He may still shout and cry but as cuddling has no impact at least you can be comfortable. We slept there for quite a while and now only have to go in to sleep with him about once a week.

To explain briefly - ds was the worst sleeper of anyone we know in real life. As a result we have employed whatever tactics necessary to remain sane. This was slow in that it took a while before one of us wasn't there every night but it did help.

My 16 month old has been like this.

She was never a great napper during the day, so over the past week I stopped her nap. She barely noticed and now goes to bed very easily at night and doesn't wake as much or as long during night.

No naps at 16 months?

I'm still clinging onto dd's naps for dear life and she's 3yo!

I've been through a big regression recently and it seems to be improving (DS is nearly 18 months). I think it was teething and developmental (talking I think).

I let him CIO when I felt as though the teething had passed. Not too much of a fight, only 10 minutes a few times. I appreciate that some babies have a lot more of a fight in them though!

is he waking up screaming? as could be night terrors they can start at this age. Have a read up and see if it fits. if it is it can be very hard to charm them down from this.

You could ditch the cot a mattress on the floor in your room or his which ever way round you want to do it may help. He could just be really scared about being on his own as this is another peek age for separation anxiety, they also hit one art 18months and sometimes 2years as well.

DS2 is 12 months, and a big shock after DS1 who was never any trouble. After water, a just-in-case dose if calpol and a cuddle and a nappy check, I put in my ear plugs and go back to bed. Whatever I do makes no difference, he won't even be cuddled or rocked to sleep. Luckily it doesn't happen often, every few weeks. I suspect it would happen more if we did nice stuff for him to try to help, like put him in our bed. Sorry, not helpful perhaps.

I know elle IMO 16 seems a bit early for her to drop her nap, but if it helps then I'll roll with it. It's much earlier than my older DC dropped nap, but I suppose each child is different.

According to my HV anytime from 12 months is 'normal' to drop a nap.