2.3 yo suddenly turned from perfect to terrible sleeper - am worried...

[stirlingstar]

My 2.3 DS1 has been an excellent sleeper for ages (since before he was one) - down at seven, rarely waking in night, up between 6:30 - 7:15.

But the last five nights he has suddenly started to make major fuss about going to bed (taken until 8:30 - 9:00 for him to finally fall asleep), and then woken upset two or three times a nighr and again taken ages (an hour...) to settle. Is asking thst we sit with him or that he sleeps in our bed, which we've never done in the past except for occassional early morning wakings.

He doesn't seem ill, and is OK in the day time (though a bit knackered!)

Would really value any advice on getting through this patch and back on track. And should I worry that he's had some awful experience / fear that is causing it? (Have tried gently asking him about this and he hasn't said anything, but his speech isn't yet brilliant so could be that he can't communicate it?)

bump - help - worried about tonight!

do you think he might be afraid of the dark??
or are his back molars coming through?

I wondered about the dark, but seemed to make little difference the past couple of nights whether the hall light was on/off (which makes his room twilighty / dark) - though haven't tried light actually in his room.

What would be the signs of his back molars? I can't see obvious red cheeks. He's quite dribbly still in general, but maybe that is a bit more than usual. I could see if he'd let me put a finger in there I suppose.

He's up having a story with his dad now - am listening in on baby's monitor with fingers crossed!

I have no advice but have exactly the same problem with my dd whos the same age! We think we can see a back molar though (She let us look tonight). Really hoping its just a phase and trying to keep to routine.

I'm sending you good vibes mspotatochip. We've just given DS1 enormous tea, lots of positive attention through bath time, two favourite books, and I've heard one protest on the monitor so far. Oh, and here's the second with DH putting him back in bed again... uh-oh...

I think if you search the MN archives, there are tons of threads about this exact problem at this age - this seems to be SO common between 2 and 2.5 and there seems to be no reason for it.

DS1 was exactly the same - although in his case I think it was a combined thing of his
age/phase, moving to a bed and DS2 arriving.

No advice other than does he still have a nap? Maybe that is too long/not required (particularly if he is not settling in the evening - maybe not tired?)

It is just a phase - 'it will pass'

my dd1 is an amazing sleeper (now 3.9) and went through a similar phase at a similar age. maybe make sure the nap finishes early enough and more physical activity duing the day? is he due to start pre school age 2.5? that might help??? i echo the encouragement that it is just a phase and that it will pass

Thanks - I've just been letting him have as much as he wants for a nap - usually between 45 mins and 1.5hrs, but will think of cutting it back to 1 hr max maybe. He's been playing outside quite a bit the last few days so activity-wise has been pretty good, but again, maybe I'll try a long walk each day coming up.

Stirlingstar i have the exact same problem, but DS is 18 months old. I have no idea why he keeps waking at night.

will they ever go back to sleeping through...?

Hi, my dd is 2.10 and used to be angel child, sleeping from 7 to 7 without fuss. We considered ourselves "lucky". However, 4 weeks ago for no reason has become demon child when put to bed. She is so angry and screams none stop. We are doing CC (5 mins plus 2 etc) but 4 weeks later still not working and she is also waking in night demanding us not to leave her. She cannot verbalise that she is frightened when I ask her, she just whines and cries. She says it is dark, but her light is on. She cries for her toys (she has them in her hand) wants mummy to lie down next to her - and so on.

Why this transformation? and the anger at going to bed. We have tried absolutely everything - calm hour beforehand, she used to natter to herself - now she just screams. Wants door open then doesn't. She doesn't know what she wants - any advice from someone - please help !

This happened with DS too. I think it's probably a normal stage - they just develop more awareness as they grow, and start wondering about things/imagining things and getting scared/wondering if they can try things on - you just have to be consistent, reassuring, try to maintain the same routines and keep calmly taking him back to bed. Appointing a special cuddly toy to look after him and banish anything scary may also help. Also, in the night, whisper don't talk, keep lights low, keep conversation to a minimum (just say "back to bed now, sleepytime" etc) so that being up in the night is not exciting or rewarding IYSWIM.

We've had phases of this on and off but they have always passed.

Thanks muffle
I will try her with a new comforter/toy (although she has 2 already which she clutches all night long even when she was sleeping well), and perhaps a star chart for when she does sleep all night long. I just thought it would last 2 weeks or so, but not 4 going on 5, like you say just a phase - I hope

Plum2mum we used a star chart for DS1 and it has been quite successful. He probably sleeps through 2 or 3 times a week and the other nights, only gets up once and goes straight back to sleep once I put his story CD back on for him. Now just got to get him to stay in his bed past 6am......

Well we ended up putting DS1 in to travel cot last night (instead of bed, which he's been sleeping happily in for a couple of months) - was down settled within 15 mins. He still woke three or four times in the night calling for me, but each time was back asleep 10ish minutes later. And he's gone down again in travel cot tonight with