22 month old, waking in night, refusing to go back to sleep - at wits end

[time4tea]

DS2 has normally been a good sleeper. the last 2 months he will wake up quite often around 3 and scream for me, want to go downstairs, into our bed. is then wide awake, wants to play etc. might cuddle up with me on the sofa and sleep, not without an hour or so twisting my hair in his hands, chatting, etc.

trying to settle him back to sleep in his own bed leads to more screaming.

I have been thinking of just getting a mattress to sleep on in his room and just putting up with it... unless any of you have better ideas on how to deal with it...

he naps for about an hour over lunch, very crabby if he doesnt get the nap and just crashes out around 5.

would be grateful for tips...

T4T

watch with intrest with exactly same problem same age but no daytime sleeps!

DS occasionally has phases like this. I would never get him out of his cot though -- I have learned with him that the more faffing around I do at night, the worse he sleeps.