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Original poster

2 year old waking up and screaming at night

10 replies

Violettas · 07/06/2017 13:10

Apologies for a long post but I need advice from anybody that experienced similar behaviour of a 2 yo. My DD is 25 months old and since very early (I think from 5 months) she had been a great sleeper and slept through the night. Me and my husband used to cuddle her to sleep until she was around 18 months but since I fell pregnant again my husband trained my DD to fall asleep independently. We follow the same routine every night 6pm: bath, milk and story, cuddles and then we put her to bed and leave the room around 7pm (room is dark and always good temperature for her). She used to fall asleep perfect and would sleep till 7am (she would occasionally wake up if she lost her dummy, but giving it back to her would solve the issue. To add - she also naps during the day from around 1pm -3pm
For last week my daughter turned into a nightmare when it comes to sleeping. She demands for her daddy to sit in the room until she falls asleep and it sometimes takes her 3 hours to actually fall asleep. If he leaves the room she screams as if somebody was torturing her, she even climbs out of her cot over the rails shock and screams until my husband goes in the room and sits in the chair (she doesn't want me, just daddy).

Question is - why she started behaving like this? Is there anything we need to do or is it just a phase in toddlers development. We can't let her cry it out as she wakes up her baby sister (3m) which is not a great sleeper at the moment and doesn't sleep during the day, so I'm trying to make sure she doesn't get her evening sleep disrupted.

I really don't know what to do, every evening is so stressful for me as I know my husband doesn't get much rest and I can't do much because I wake up at night to feed the baby plus my toddler just wants her daddy.

PS. My husband had to go away for a week to attend a funeral and I was at home alone with both girls and one night my older daughter behaved the same way but I had to let her cry herself to sleep as I was dealing with the baby. She feel asleep after crying for 5 min. After that episode (a month ago) she was back to normal, but now for last few days it's every evening story.

Please Help

OP posts:
Chloris33 · 08/06/2017 12:05

I'm in a similar position with my 2.5 yr old who previously slept fine, except it's me he cries for, refusing Daddy. I think we're going to try sleep training again, as I've been sitting with him while he goes to sleep since this has been happening, and I think he needs to learn to settle himself to sleep again - maybe the same with your DD? I don't like doing it, but am pregnant & exhausted!

Original poster
Violettas · 08/06/2017 12:58

I'm running out of ideas as to what it could be. We are in our second week of not sleeping, it's been happening every night. I booked my DD to see the GP but the appointment is in 2 weeks. I guess we need to manage through it as it can be anything. Good luck to you...

OP posts:
dabbitydibbity · 08/06/2017 14:47

This sounds exactly like my son who has just turned two. Always a brilliant sleeper at night for 12 hours at least and a 2 or 3 hour nap each afternoon.
For about three or four weeks he would cry when we finished his story and tried to leave the room. He's in a toddler bed as we have a newborn now so he would get out and run to the door. We had to keep putting him back to bed and resettling each time. Sometimes it would last an hour so it was really tiring! The key was consistency. We didn't change anything and he finally got the message after a few weeks. I've been told they all reach this stage around two years as their imaginations take over and make them think there are scary monsters etc in the room when you leave. They just require more comfort. As hard as it may be, I would avoid staying in the room or you will develop a dependency. Leave the room saying night night it's bed time and then close the door. Go back in to resettle, each time leaving an extra minute to allow her to settle. The other thing that might be useful is the gro clock. It is great for teaching them that it is nighttime and time to sleep. It acts as a nightlight and comforts as the stars are watching over them as they sleep.
Like everything else in their lives, this is a phase and it will pass but don't start anything new that means you are tied to the room xx

Original poster
Violettas · 08/06/2017 19:21

Thanks for Your tips. The problem with leaving the room is that couple of times she climbed over the cot rails, so leaving her unattended is a bit risky that she may hurt herself. The only solution would be converting her cot into a bed but that may just confuse her more....I guess we can give it a try, anything to get my baby sleeping again...

OP posts:
RiseToday · 08/06/2017 19:25

Could you try and drop her nap?

VocalCat · 08/06/2017 19:28

My DD did this (she is just over two by a couple of weeks) but just seems to be coming through the other side now. I blamed molars combined with a separation anxiety and leap. Hate to say it, but it lasted about six weeks. Sorry.

Original poster
Violettas · 08/06/2017 19:57

I read that the toddlers should nap until they are closer to 3 yo. If she doesn't nap she starts being grumpy very early in the evening. She refused to sleep one afternoon but the night was still the same, waking up every 2 hrs.

I spoke to few people at the children centre and they suggested it might be night terrors, but I'm no longer convinced. I checked her teeth and all are out, so I think it may be leap and/or separation anxiety. I guess will have to manage it until it ends, I wish there was an answer as to how long it may last....

OP posts:
highneeds · 08/06/2017 20:09

Sorry to hear you're going through this. Just to mention I think once they're able to climb over the cot you're meant to drop the sides, as the risk of a dangerous fall is increased. That can open up a whole new can of worms when they realise the my can just get out of the bed, lots of continually putting them back in until they get the message. Sorry I can't really help with your problem but thought you might want to know above the cot sides. Good luck x

dabbitydibbity · 08/06/2017 20:52

Ahh if she's climbing out the cot then I understand why you had to stay in the room. Bit of a pickle there though as I'm not sure changing to a toddler bed would be a good thing for your consistent approach. Mind you, it could make bedtime more appealing and exciting. My wee boy was over the moon when his changed to a bed and he was desperate to go to bed that night. If you gave it a try and it didn't work then you can always change it back. If she's anything like my little one, she won't realise she is free to leave the bed because they are so used to being stuck until you get them. It took my DS a couple of weeks before he tried the getting out of bed game and even then, it was only at nap time. Anything is worth a try when you are sleep deprived xx

Sparrowlegs248 · 10/06/2017 03:54

I'm pleased read these stories, I've just posted a lengthy diatribe about ds1, who is currently downstairs awake with daddy. I've been worried that the difficulties between me and husband (relationship issues) have been affecting ds but it seems it may be a common problem.

He's started crying sometimes once stories are over, but the worst thing is the screamy night waking.

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