2 y o son won’t go to sleep on his own - please help!

[DelilahBea]

Hi!

My son (almost 2) has recently started being very needy and will scream for hours unless one of us sits with him until he falls asleep. He’s displaying serious separation anxiety.

We have let him cry and then gone back in to comfort periodically but he still screams and screams for ages. He has stamina!

Any advice? Thinking of putting him in his sister’s room (5) so he has her for company….

He’s a very sensitive boy and gets scared easily.

Would really appreciate tips!

Thank you.

My 2 year old would cry if we left him to fall asleep alone too. He wants us to hold his hand until hes asleep so we do and then sneak out. I don't see what the problem is with it, hes only 2!!

Same with my almost 2 yo. I just lie with him until he falls asleep which is usually between 10 mins and 30mins. He’s my second and last baby; I reframe it to think; I get some down time, rest, spend time with my boy and comfort him. Granted if it took more than 30mins I’d probably be also wanting other alternatives too!

I'm lying here scrolling as I hold my 4yr old hand whilst he falls asleep!

Stay with him!

It's a phase, it will pass, he needs you right now. He's only 2 - don't leave him to scream, you've said yourself he's an anxious, scared boy and has separation anxiety. You can't ignore him out of anxiety. You'll just make it worse.

Take it in turns, take a book and a cup of tea/glass of wine, this too shall pass.

I didn't have the option of staying with 2yo as I had an EBF newborn and partner works all hours of the day.

We bought the astronaut star projector for him, it's really soothing and he loves the colours. We bought him a special blanket, the throw overs you can get personalised with photos? We put all of us on there and he worships that thing. He is allowed 1 special toy in bed with him, I made up a small basket that sits beside his bed. It has his favourite toys in it (as long as they don't make a noise or light up 😅), and he gets to choose one every night. We changed him from a cot to a bed and made it really special, big boy bed time. It took a few nights of going back in (super nanny style), till he eventually soothed on his own. He's 2.5 now, we still do the same routine, but it's door closed at 7pm and he goes to sleep himself, never hear from him x

Think of the people on here who can’t sleep until their dps are home! Just hold his hand. Let yourself rest while you do it.

Just stay with him! He’s only tiny, he need support. Surely just stay there, he’ll go to sleep quicker.

As others have said stay with him. He might fall asleep quicker if you’re laying next to him or quicker if you’re sat next to the bed holding his hand. I’ve got one that took longer if I lay on the bed with her so I hold her hand.
Cbeebies radio has brilliant stories to fall asleep to

I remember when my son did that. Then one day I watched the movie "monsters Inc" with him. Not long after, I came across a comic with a pull out poster of the main character. I put the poster up in his room beside his bedroom door. I told him he's completely safe now because if any monsters try to come in, they will say 'oh I can't go in there, there's a monster already scaring in there!' and they'll go off again. I don't know if it would be recommend by parenting experts but it worked like a charm!