Pls help! 2yr old driving me crazy at night......?

Question

My 2 year old, he's been doing this on and off for the past few months, but now it's been happening about 4 weeks in a row. At night, he goes to bed around 6.30pm. As soon as I go to bed, around 10pm to midnight, 10mins later, he'll scream like some one has stabbed him. I run in there, and he's sitting up in his bed, smiling, and says 'Hey!' then points to something in his room e.g. a horse on his curtain, and says 'horse' very proudly.

Anyway, this has been happening like clockwork (almost) at midnight, then 3am, then 5am. It's not just once at these times, it's probably 4 or 5, with about 10mins in between.

It's definetly not pain, teething, anything like that, I am 100% sure. And generally I'm quite firm with parenting, I have my rules, but I am quite flexible to allow for various things, especially fun!

My partner works long hours, so I don't like to use 'controlled crying' as much as I have found it to work in the past with him. The trouble I have tho....

is that the screaming is really intense. But like I said, as soon as I go in there, it's all cool. I'm really starting to get desperate and have asked alot of different mums, and parenting lines, all that, and no one has any idea. Do I just have to do the controlled crying, and maybe make my partner wear ear plugs or something, for a week or whatever it takes?

Is he just being a little brat? I make sure he has plenty of attention during the say, but then he also has plenty of time playing by himself.

Please, any ideas!

Ok i lied a little... his bedtime is 6.30pm to 7.30pm. It's only 6.30 if he's had a big day (usually after daycare), and he's exhausted and cranky. And yes, trust me, I wear him out! LOTS of playing. But thanks!!

His rountine is wake up around 7am - 7.30pm. Sleep at 12.30pm to 1pm (same as daycare) and bed time like I said around 6.30pm to 7.30pm. seroiusy tho, I know where you are going, but he's really REALLY tired by this time. I've kept him up longer before, but he gets rather cranky. He's one of these kids, even my daycare lady or anyone else that looks after him, says that's once he's tired, he's TIRED, and nothing else matters!

Answer 1

i would recommend a night light and before your little one goes to bed i would burn some lavender oil in his room this helps to relax hope this helps you good luck

Vicky

Answer 2

Ok it sounds like to me that when he is going to sleep at 6:30 it is like an after noon nap to him so after his nap he wants to get up to play. Just like any child. First find out from daycare when nap time is and how long he is sleeping. As for the horse take down the curtin maybe in the dark it scares him (is there any light that shines through the window to make a shadow on the wall of the horse?) I know it may be rough on you and him but for the rest of the week do not allow him to go to bed until at least 8pm this is the same time both my children go to bed and they sleep till about 8 in the morning. You have to remain constant for this to work. He may need a morning nap and a afternoon nap, But don't let him take one at 6:30 this is most likely the reason he is waking up a night.

Answer 3

He may be doing it simply for your reaction. If he does scream again, as scheduled, then try waiting 15 minutes or so and see if he stops. You don't want to sleep in the same room as him, because then if he wakes up and finds you aren't there he'll get upset. If he has an established bedtime routine he's more likely to sleep thoroughly (eg - bath, story, bedtime). Because this is happening every night at routine hours I don't believe he's scared of anything, I think he just wants attention. It's also possible that he simply doesn't require that much sleep, and he desires your company when he wakes up. You could try putting him to bed an hour later and see if that helps him sleep through the night. Also, because he's 2, you don't really need to worry about SIDs anymore, so you could put a blanket or a stuffed toy in the bed/crib with him so that he can amuse himself when he wakes up.

Answer 4

how many hours do you expect this child to sleep or stay in bed??/ that is way too early to go to bed!!!! put him down at either 8 or 9 pm.make sure he is tired that he has eaten a good supper washed up and brushed his teeth,read him a story or say prayers and put him to bed.make sure he has a night light and if he continues the screaming for attention i would spank him why is he going to quit if you do not punish him! also have a set time for him to get up and you feed him breakfast and a normal routine also for exercise and play and lunch time .a nap if he needs one but no more than 1 or 2 hours otherwise he will want to be up all night.i would get him up each morning between 7 and 8 am .he does not need to spend his life in a baby bed!good luck.

Answer 5

First of all, 6:30pm for bedtime is TOOO EARLY.
When the baby grow up, they need less sleep and more activities. He is having fun, because he doesn't get much attention from you. Adjust his bedtime to later. Play with him in the tub, to wear him out a little bit.
And when he does that screaming, tell him NO, it is not nice. Don't have any reation (laugh or cry), just say go to bed. And you will stay in the room, and no reaction to him. Let him feel comfortable with you around, but no interaction no matter he cries or scream. You got tough it out.

Change the bedtime.....

Answer 6

too early for bed...try a different bedtime routine and he knows your going to come in at night try giving a special toy to go to bed with and tell him it will keep him safe, needs to go to bed later....

Answer 7

wow!! maybe he sees something, you do know small chidren see things that grown ups dont, but next time stay in his room and see for your self or put a video