2 year old - dealing with sudden night wakings

[gigi556]

My son is about to turn two and has had sudden change in sleep habits and I could use some advice.

Previously went to sleep around 8/8:30 with zero assistance apart from dummy. Put down awake. Say good night and leave the room. He would wake about 5:30 either for the day or come in our bed for cuddles/more sleep for about 10-30 mins. Naps for about 2 hours daily easily.

We went on a 2 week holiday to USA to visit family and since returning he wants us in the room with him when he falls asleep. Not a huge deal but he's started waking in the night and wants the same. He will not let us leave the room without a huge fight. I'll sit for a while and he just screams when I finally leave. I was up for an hour with him last night and it's killing me since he's still waking at 5:30am.

I really want to break the habit of bringing him in with us at 5:30 and cut back his naps slightly to try to tackle the early waking but I'm exhausted from the night waking which makes it more difficult.

I don't think there is anything in particular waking him up. I'm thinking this is some kind of separation anxiety? We are also potty training but the waking started prior to that. I also always offer the potty at wake up which sometimes he needs and sometimes he doesn't.

How can I deal with these night wake ups without sleeping on his floor or co-sleeping? I'm not anti-controlled crying but I'm not sure it's the right solution if he's scared of being alone...

We had the exact same thing (DS recently turned two). No trips away or potty training yet but it sounds exactly the same- I think it's developmental.

In our case bedtime also became a big problem, I had to stay with him while he fell asleep and he was taking much longer to fall asleep (used to go to bed at 7.30, now 8.30).

We shortened naps as you suggested- he used to nap for at least 2 hours in his cot, we've shortened to 1.5h (and he refuses to go to sleep in cot now so we let him fall asleep in pram when out). The nap shortening has helped. In terms of night wakings I do have to go in and stay with him while he settles but it's got much better over the last month or so. DH wanted to do sleep training as we have in the past (just gradual retreat, we never did CC) but I felt that it was a developmental stage and that would be difficult. It has got SO much better over the last 6 weeks or so.

Re the 5.30 am waking can you try the gro clock? We had a stage of that too and the gro clock has helped, in that he will often go back to sleep or lie quietly until "get up" time (this morning he called for me at 5.30, I went in, told him it was still sleep time and he went back to sleep, I crept out and he only woke again at 6.45!)

We tried the Gro clock for about 4 weeks before our trip and it did not help at all but I'm willing to try it again!

Hmm. I read a thread on here about gro clocks and it suggested you have to take months for it to really work if they are about 18 months or 2 when you start. So I didn't have any quick expectations. We've probably been using it for three months or so. Maybe start again, be really consistent with it but don't expect anything to really improve for a few months. I figured it was worth it for the long haul, as hopefully when he's older he will stay in his room until a civilised time!

Other than that I think my advice is just hang in there and it will get better- everything is a phase 😐.

Interesting, everything I read seem to imply these genius children understood it within the week! lol You're right though we need to try it again.

My 2 year old is the same. It’s usually when they’re learning a new skill, so for example my 2 year old is learning to talk in full sentences so she’ll wake up practicing them. Sometimes she just screams so could be night terrors. No advice but just know it’s very common and shouldn’t last too long xxxx