Hi, we're currently in the midst of the '2 year sleep regression' and looking for some tips and advice on how to handle it. Sorry if this is long but I want to set the scene.
He's just turned two a couple of weeks ago, a few weeks ago he started fighting bedtime, crying when I put him in his cot, asking to go back downstairs etc. Prior to this our routine was; bath, pyjamas, stories in his room and then I'd put him in his cot and sit quietly in his room until he fell asleep. Normally he'd drift off quite quickly, sometimes took a bit longer, but overall no major issues. He'd usually be asleep by 7.30-8pm.
A few weeks ago he started getting really upset and crying, sometimes for over an hour (I'd always stay in the room with him), when I put him in his cot. He also started climbing over the side so we've had to convert in into a cot bed, which he seemed fine with.
Now, as soon as I mention bedtime, going upstairs, bath etc he cries and screams. Once I've got him upstairs/bathed he then wont sit for stories. I tried keeping him in his room and letting him play quietly in the hopes he would gradually settle, but he bangs on his door and asks to go downstairs and gets really upset, almost screaming (again, I always stay in the room with him). I've ended up taking him downstairs and letting him play until we're ready to go to bed, he then ends up in with us for stories and falls asleep in our bed. I know we've gotten into bad habits but we're both so exhausted its hard to fight it.
We've asked nursery to limit his naps to 1 hour, but that hasn't made any difference so far.
Has anyone been through this and have any advice?
Is it better to persevere with keeping him in his room, with me there, playing (and just let him scream it out) until he realises we're not going back down stairs?
Should I limit his nap even further?
He's always exhausted in the morning, and I have to wake him up, but is it better to keep to an early wake up during the weekend so it's consistent with week day, or let him sleep for longer as he's obviously exhausted. Our normal wake-up time during the week is 6-6.30am.
Any other advice for very stressed out and exhausted first time parents?
Thank you so much if you've read this far!