2 year old sleep advice please

[TheCutter]

Evening everyone,

My 2year 1 month old DS has started getting very upset at bed time. It started about a week ago. We haven't changed anything, I lie with him on a double mattress floor bed, we talk / sing and he goes off to sleep. The last week he just screams. I think he's realising when he goes to sleep that now equals no more play time and books with mum and dad.

He has the same routine, he has his dinner, has his bath, plays a little, then milk and stories on sofa with low lighting, then last story in bed.

I'm just wondering if this is a wait-it-out-it-will-pass phase and there's nothing I can do, or if I could do anything to help him as I find it sad seeing him get so upset (proper tears flow and he wails from sadness!). I don't want to leave him to CIO or do controlled crying. He's going in his own toddler bed next month so I'm hoping that change won't affect him even more?

Not sure if it's relevant but he has been on and off dropping his nap since March.
He takes ages to switch off but when he does, he sleeps well.

Nap days go like this...
9-10 hours at night
90 mins - 2 hours during the day
Up at 7am
Sleeping between 9-9:30pm (if he naps he cannot sleep until around 2ish hence late bed time).

Non-nap days
12-13 hours at night
Sleeping by 7:15
Up between 7-8am.

Thanks for any advice!

This was my LO. No advice, I'm still extremely tired, although her nap needed to be shortened and she only sleeps for 40nintes to a hour now, and wakes at 6! Before it used to be around 8-9!

Maybe shorten the nap? Try waking after 45 min? If it’s only been going on a week is it because of the heat? My DD (19m) has been taking longer to settle at bedtime but I think it’s because the room is so hot! She’s gone down easily enough this eve now it’s cooler.

I found the Gentle Sleep Book really helpful for my two year old. Little nudges for maximising sleep.

Thanks for your answers so far. He cried very loudly and intense tonight but in the end it only lasted 15 minutes before he quietened down, cuddled into me and when to sleep within five minutes so manageable!

@MotherHaryy it's so difficult with sleep isn't it! Such a guessing game. 6 is a huge difference from 8! I hope it gets better for you too soon.

@jamsandwich1 on nap days, I should definitely try this as I've never really woken him in the past. That being said, he hasn't napped since Friday and he is still very upset before bed regardless. The room temp might be a reason too!

@Okeydoky ah I've read this and loved it but it's been a year so I might get this back out again and read through it again, or at least the pages for his age range.

I'm still going strong on the shushing game sitting by the door so enjoy your evening and have a cuppa in peice for me!😂

Your bedtime routine sounds looong! Haven't you had enough of parenting by 7pm 😂

If he's having a bath and milk I wouldn't go back downstairs. And consider just one book. Plenty of opportunities to read more during the day but if he can have say 3 books before bed, why can't he have 4 or 5? One is totally clear to a little brain. Then kiss, cuddle, and any further 'announcements' ("mummy yesterday there was a bee in the garden and it didn't have any friends"). Playing for time bollocks really!

Then leave. Return when he cries for silent cuddle. Then leave. Cries again, return for cuddle til quiet.

Massive rigmarole for 3 nights but probs shorter than your current routine.