I am after some advice regarding my 20 m.o. DS who started refusing both day and night sleeps in his cot approx 5 days ago.
He screams as though Jack the Ripper is in there with him and we have tried music and night lights, all to no avail. He has screamed for up to 2 hrs at a time on some occassions (with DH and I doing walk ins and comforting and reassuring him verbally every 10 mins or so - he screams louder). We also have tried doing it from the door. I have also taken a chair in to sit with him and he is already hysterical by the time we are nearing the cot.
He has been a brilliant sleeper from a young age. He always goes down happily and without a fuss after a predictable routine that consists of dinner, bath, quiet time, bottle, cuddles and story. He sleeps with a dummy but this hasn't been a problem as he spits it after 5 mins and can always find it. He also has a comforter, "bear", which he is very attached to and carries everywhere lately.
I am having #2 in just under 4 weeks and he has been particularly clingy lately, esp when I take him to Family daycare where he clings to me like a koala (no crying) but then plays happily and has a great day.
So to my way of thinking, there are a few things going on for him - he can sense something is going on with me as I can't pick him up as much and I am massive!, he is going through some major developmental leaps where he is showing increasing desires for independence in dressing himself, putting shoes on etc, he has also started hitting me alot and now has started it with DS. We handle this by showing gentle hands, saying it makes mummy sad etc and sometimes sitting him down for 30 seconds if it's been really bad.
Last night DH put him down on single bed and he went straight to sleep. He then transferred to cot where he slept for 3.5 hrs before screaming and I relented and brought him in with me so now I am wondering if it is as straightforward as he is suddenly feeling trapped/claustrophobic in his cot. Has this happened to anyone else? I am obviously v keen to get this sorted before #2 comes along! (I can only hope).
Thanks for reading!