12 month old suddenly screaming at bed time and through the night - help!

[NoNoCharlieRascal]

For the last week my ds has suddenly really regressed in sleep. He was settling really well and sleeping through with only a bottle at 5/6 am then back to sleep until 8am.

All of a sudden he screams when we put him to bed and then wakes screaming several times in the night. Last night I ended up walking the streets with him in the sling to get him off. I couldn't settle him in the room, as soon as I took him in there he would start and get increasingly distressed until he was doing that gulping sob. He's fine napping in the day and has no issue taking himself off for a lie down with a dummy.

In the night I have to cuddle and walk the floor until he goes off again which he will do relatively quickly. He was up every hour until 4am where then he would settle with a shush and pat.

Is this a general regression? Tell me it ends!

My 13 month old is the same. It's taking 3 hours to get him to sleep then up again every couple of hours through the night. I hope it passes soon because it's driving me to exhaustion!

I think it's them learning how to dream, and noticing the difference between dream time and awake time. We had a similar thing, happened on and off for a few weeks.

Sorry to hear that @gingerfoxcub.

I'm racking my brain trying to work out what has suddenly thrown him off but nothing has changed. Really hoping it's just another sucky phase.

@JohnLapsleyParlabane but do you think that would lead him to be so upset at the actual bedroom?

I'm wondering if I should get a light or something to leave on. We don't have black out blinds and he is fine in the day sleeping in the light.

Maybe it could. Association can be strong, in ways that don't make total sense to adults.