2.5 year old waking during night

[MissJade27]

Hi all, hoping to get some advice.

My 2.5 year old has been a reasonably good sleeper since birth apart from the odd regression, and has generally slept through the night. But for the past few weeks he is waking during the night screaming for us the second his eyes open. As we both work we have generally been going into him and laying next to him on sofa bed until her falls back to sleep then creeping out, but it's happening 2/3 times per night now and I'm worried it's creating bad habits. Bed time is usually book and bed around 7pm, and although we stay with him until he falls asleep it usually doesn't take long. We don't mind doing that, but it's the nightly wake ups when we have been used to him sleeping through!

We converted his cot to his cot bed a couple of weeks ago as we felt he kept waking himself up hitting the bars, but sleep hasn't improved since then. We have tried a night light as I worried he's scared of the dark but that just seems to wake him more. He also seems to be dreaming more, and loves halloween currently, although he has said 'bit scary' a couple of times. His speech and understanding is great so I have tried talking to him and asking why he keeps waking but he doesn't seem to know. We do keep trying to tuck him back in and explain it's night time and to go back to sleep, he still have a dummy for comfort at night and loves a muslin for comfort too, so we make sure he has those. But he's quiet for a couple of minutes and then shouting again. We need sleep too so end up having to lay with him.

I'm at a loss what to try. Or am I being too harsh expecting him to settle himself and should I be continuing to stay with him until he decides he's ok? As a first time mom it's hard to know what to do for the best! I would just love him to feel safe enough to go back to sleep knowing we are just in the other room.

I should also note he's been waking earlier too, unsure why. He has a nap most days, but I never let him go past 2pm, and generally he has between 30 mins - 1hr.

Any advise would be appreciated

Thank you! 😚

Hello, I'm afraid I've no advice but just wanted to say that we are currently going through the same with our DS who was 2 in August. I have wondered whether it's all the Halloween stuff as it does seem like he might be a bit scared. I've just been going in and sitting with him until he calms and falls asleep again but it's so tiring doing this 2 or 3 times a night. He's then up before 5 everyday!

He's still in his cot at the moment so we are going to move him to a bed and see what effect that has. It will probably make things worse knowing our luck!

Anyway, solidarity! I'll be interested if you get any further replies!

Another Mum in solidarity here. My perfect sleeper has started to wake recently. One night he woke 6-8 times, I caved and got him in bed with me but he still kept waking up crying.

I think he was teething/poorly so that was an exceptionally bad night. He keeps randomly waking and I have to pick him up and cuddle before he settles again.

No advice really but think it's maybe a phase at this age sadly.

Another message of solidarity from another first time mum, here… how did things go in the end OP / the earlier posters?

My son is 2.5 and has started sleeping badly for the past couple of months. He’s slept through the night since 3 months old and self-soothed by sucking his thumb. He’s always had wakings here and there, like when he’s ill, but it’s never lasted more than 5 days at a time. We’ve always kept bedtime routine consistent - although, my husband is not as strict and I think my son plays on that. He’s been sleeping through here and there but just for one night and then wakes again the next night. Most of the time it’s just a quick cuddle and kiss and he goes back to sleep but last night was worse - 3 times waking and then fully awake from 6:30 (he’s currently waking early too). For the past week or so, apart from one sleep-through, he’s only been getting about 9 hours when he normally has 10.5-11. And bedtimes have become a real nightmare too - he fights getting out of the bath, getting his PJs on, and going to sleep; we have to go back into his room loads until he finally drops off. He’ll lie down and appear to be going asleep but is then just up again a few minutes later, it’s infuriating. In all cases - bedtime, night wakings, early wakings - he immediately stands up in his cot and yells for us.

God I hope it’s just a phase, I really don’t know what to do. I was planning to ‘blitz’ potty training in a few week and the possible effect of that concerns me (although, I may as well do it while he’s night-waking anyway 🙄).

Just as I was thinking I wanted another one…

Another message of solidarity. Ours got out of bed every minute after being put back from 7 to 930 last night. They then started again 11 - 1 and 4 - 6 (and now we're up).

I am a medical student on placement and my partner is a teacher. Both of us are already at burnout, and we rely on the 2 hours of evening peace to do a whole day's worth of work, which we cannot do right now due to the practical aspect of putting our 2 yesr old back to bed, and the literal burnout.

Really struggling.

I’m so sorry. Hugs.

Has this started recently - did they sleep better before like mine did?