I reluctantly tried controlled crying after I'd tried everything else to get my 20 month old ds to sleep at bedtime. But it didn't work and if anything, made him worse.
He's never been the best sleeper, we coslept when he was a baby which helped, but even when he moved to his own room I still had to sit with him until he was asleep. I never minded as he fell to sleep quickly and only woke once in the night. But over the last few months, his sleep has been awful. Taking nearly two hours to fall asleep at bedtime, waking multiple times in the night.
I've tried everything...sitting with him, leaving him on his own, cuddling, white noise, no noise, pitch black, night lights, different blankets, no blankets, cosleeping, adjusting his daytime naps, snack before bed, drink etc, cuddly toys, music, daddy's tried putting him to bed, tried putting him in the same room as his older sister. But whatever I try, he screams hysterically and keeps his sister awake in the room next door. The only thing that keeps him happy is if I sit next to his cot stroking his head. But I'm tired of doing this for two hours every night and again at each night time wake up. He screams if my husband tries so we can't even take it in turns. I'm exhausted to say the least.
So I tried controlled crying. I've never done it before and I felt awful leaving him to cry but after months of exhaustion, I felt I needed to just try it. But even that didn't work! So what next? Ride it out? It's been going on for months so I doubt it'll end any time soon.
I'll add that he's a healthy 20 month old, incredibly happy, not teething, he has a calm bedtime routine which he enjoys and it clearly relaxes him. But when it's time to get in his cot, the screaming starts. Any advice or words of comfort much appreciated!! X