DS 20 months has started kicking off at bed time

[fruityb]

My ds has all of a sudden become really difficult at bedtime. For the longest time (were talking at least nine months) he’s had his pjs on, bottle, story, bed. No arguments ever and went to bed quiet as anything and we’d hear nothing.

The last few nights he’s starting crying before he’s even gone up. Putting his gro bag on has lead to him crying! He goes to bed and cries now - sometimes just for two minutes and others for him five or ten.

I don’t know why he’s doing it - he’s fine and happy and dry up there. It’s dark in there and he’s always gone to bed like that. He was awake in the night two or three times last night - he only needed a dummy and a quick pat and he went back to sleep - but again it’s completely out of character.

I’m being very firm with dh as he’d just get him back down again! But I need him to settle better as having this time in the evenings is vital sometimes as I’m a teacher and have to get some things done. It’s also a couple of hours just to myself or with dh which can be difficult to come by sometimes! Hes never been a cryer at bedtime but it’s becoming a worry for me and he’s also due some sleepovers soon which I’m also considering not doing as if he’s like this for us what will he be like for them.

Any advice on this? He’s got a clean bum, his teddies, spare dummies...

Back teeth coming in maybe? X

He’s not showing any signs of it before bed time though? And it’s as if he sees his gro bag and kicks off - he knows that means bedtime and before his little eyes used to roll back and he’s just be all cuddly. Now I almost have to wrestle him in to it!

There’s a common sleep regression around 18 months due to separation anxiety? Could it be that just a little bit late?

Maybe - I did wonder about that. We did go through an unsettled patch just before 18 months but it’s possible.

He’s asleep now - he had four dummies in his hands lol. I put spares in and it’s like he hoards them!

If it’s only been a few nights I wouldn’t worry. I could be any number of things causing temporary problems

I came on for tips but I don't think I am going to find what I am lookng for. My 2.5yo is raging for hours at a time at any time of day of night?

We had this too, spent about 5 weeks having to take turns sitting by the cot until he fell asleep - stopped as soon as it started. Definitely think was separation/regression related. Ds was 2 in March and back to normal again

I can’t be in the room and neither can dh - he has his arms out to be lifted out as soon as he sees us! I always lay him straight down, pass his dummy and ted, pat him and say it’s bedtime and then I go. I don’t want him to get used to us in there.

I did leave him to cry for progressively longer intervals tonight- I say cry were talking whinging for someone to get him - and he settled after about fifteen minutes.

I know it might seem like I’m worrying over nothing but ds is a brilliant sleeper and it’s a total shock to get any of this! It’s like he’s swapped over sleeping at night like this for napping beautifully now. He takes a lunchtime nap soundly now without any issues which is a complete 180 from previous where it sounded like someone had set the bed on fire if you put him down for a nap.

I’ll see what happens in the next few days...

My dd is 21 months and her bedtime/sleep has changed over the last few weeks too. She's always gone to bed sweet as a nut but now she will cry, shout, stand in her cot etc. Eventually goes down but she's also waking a couple of times in the night screaming for cuddles (which she gets) and I put her night light on. I hope it's just a phase and we will go back to normal soon especially as baby no two is due next month