Nearly 3 year old sleep regression?

[charley39]

Currently lying next to my DS trying to get him back to sleep. Looking for some similar stories or advice? DS had always been difficult to get to bed needing to be held etc until the start of lockdown in March we finally cracked it and got into a great routine of putting him in his cot and being able to walk away straight after whilst he fell asleep happily. However since the clocks have gone back I don’t know what on earth has gone wrong. He is teething atm so this could potentially be all it is but it’s never been such an extreme effect on bedtime before. Every night he now needs me to sit next to him and stroke his head in order to fall asleep which I don’t mind doing however I now feel it is affecting him at night as he’s now up most of the night needing me back by his side. He’s happy if I’m just sat next to him or laying on the floor next to him but he can be fast asleep I’ll leave the room and 20mins to an hour later he’s awake crying and we start the process again. The other night in fact I was up doing this for 6 hours straight until he finally gave in and had a 2 hour sleep. I have tried just saying I need to go to the toilet quick etc to try and leave him but nothing works. It’s really affecting him during the day now as he’s so tired and will refuse all naps aswell even if he’s been up half the night. Just wondering if anyone else has been through the same and has some advice??

Hi

We are up right now doing the same with our DS..... didn't want to read and run. It's hard isn't it xx

I know it seems like a step back but I moved my sons cot back and side carred it. He may have separation anxiety. I was able to move my son back into his own room at 16 months and he went to bed independently and slept through so it doesn't necessarily mean you're doomed!

He is being a completely normal baby. He will start becoming more wakeful and difficult to settle for many months to come. Do whatever you can to survive this time, and don't expect him to sleep without you. We wouldn't have survived as a species if our babies didn't cling to us and demand to be held all the time.

@Tilpop it really is! I got so used to him sleeping 7-7 with hardly any wake ups, definitely took that for granted. Hope you get some sleep soon!

@MsChatterbox I just worry he’s a bit older now. I was nearly at the point of bringing him into bed with me the other night as I was desperate but it’s really something I don’t want start.

Sorry everyone in my tired state I’ve said he’s 3 months, meant to say 3 years

Ok different if he is 3 years old. Have you sleep trained him at all? Thats basically your only real option, or it will just carry on.

@WellQualifiedToRepresentTheLBC back in March we worked solidly for three weeks to get him falling asleep on his own in the cot etc and this was working well up until two weeks ago. He has tried asking us for all the old things we used to do to get him to sleep which we have stuck firm and said no to but I’m at a loss as to what else to do for overnight waking other than let him cry which I won’t do.

I get you op.

I had similar with my DS at 3.5 yo.... I actually sat him down one day and explained I needed to sleep and therefore was going to leave him to fall asleep, that I expected him to stay in bed all night, etc. And then did as I said i would. He was furious at the time, cried and shrieked for an hour or so, but next morning he got a sweetie reward and realized it wasn't so bad. It got a lot better from there.

It is hard, the crying bit. Eventually though it's sort of a question of keeping your sanity, sleeping enough that you can safely drive, etc. I was a single mum and had to get on with it, so my motivation was a bit different I suppose.

@WellQualifiedToRepresentTheLBC wow well done to you for staying strong!
I guess I was hoping this was just a quick couple of nights phase with his teeth and we would be over it by now. My DH works two nights a week, one of which is tonight so finding it harder on my own. He always seems to play up more when it’s just me aswell as last night he got through till 4am before waking, DH went in quickly and he went back to sleep.

Oh sorry, I saw the typo and thought the mistake was 13 months! My son regressed at 2.5 years as well, we got him a night light does your son have one?

I also let him choose a toy to sleep with. If he keeps asking me to stay I just say if you want to sleep with your toy you need to close your eyes and sleep and he does usually!

@MsChatterbox yes I realised after some of the responses that something must be wrong
Yes he often picks a toy to go to sleep with, and interesting about the night light! That was the next thing on my list to try. When I asked him yesterday why he was up I asked if it was because it was too dark and he nodded and spoke of the gruffalo so I made an effort of telling him last night how it wasn’t scary, left my bedroom light on to shine through etc. Need to look at buying a night light maybe then and try that, did you get a specific one?

So he fell asleep at 3am again and I used a big cuddly toy to make it look like I was laying down next to him still which has got him through till 7.30 and he’s just now woken up and realised what’s happened so whether my trick will work again tonight I have no idea or I could be rumbled now!

You can report the op to get the title corrected

@MiddlesexGirl ah thank you, wasn’t sure how to do it!

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CS3C8HN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fgMOFb90BB0M0?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

This one it's great. When he says it's scary tell him the light will keep him safe and that the grufallo can't come in his room with the light on. I read not to say its not scary as in their mind it's very real!

@MsChatterbox perfect thank you will take a look!
Okay note to stop saying it’s not scary then. Just got him out of bed and first thing he did was point to the side of his cot by the wall and say gruffalo etc so I’m definitely thinking it could be more fear now. Will try the night light x

I think it's just that age where their imagination starts working! It was deffo it with my son cos he went from running through 5 times a night saying he's scared to sleeping through!

OMG I am going through the exact same thing right now. DS is 2yr10m and ever since we started toilet training 2 months ago he has been a complete nightmare at night. He refuses to go to sleep unless I hold his hand, and I can spend hours in the middle of the night holding his hand and then crawling out when he drops off only to be called back in again 5 minutes later...

We already have a gro clock and a gro egg, both of which give off quite a lot of light so I tried turning them both right down last night but no difference. I have also bought him a new soft bunny and told him that will protect him in the night if he's scared... not sure if that has sunk in yet. It's so hard isn't it.

@ineedsleepineedsleep yes DS is 2years 9 months so so similar!
We haven’t had the joy of potty training to deal with yet but yes we’ve tried new cuddly toys, promise a new toy if he sleeps through, tried a night light but nothing . Don’t know whether we’ll just have to ride through it

I'm doing the whole sit on the landing thing at the moment. 2 year old son starts crying and shouting "Mommy!" If I move away. It's been like this a week or so now. You're not alone guys. Currently sat drinking coffee wondering when he's going to give in

@swipex341
We are well into our second week now with no sign of him letting up

At least you have progressed to sitting on the landing! I am still at the hand holding stage - my progression is that I leave him for 5 minutes (and he whinges and calls for me) then go back to sitting by his bed...

Exact same age and situation here. How weird! Kind of glad I have others to share this with but hoping it improves for us all soon!

For mine it's definitely fear and it started with fireworks last week. Had zero issue before, he always fell asleep independently within minutes and loved his bed.

Now he just stands in his cot at bedtime exhausted but refusing to lie down. He is screaming and crying so much I am crying myself and keep going back in every 30 seconds. It definitely doesnt help but I can't bear to leave him :(. Last night we went back and forth from 2am to 4.30am too and I am dreading it happening again..

@Ontheroad18 it’s heartbreaking isn’t it! Yes the fireworks didn’t go down well in our house either hoping you have a better night tonight!