Almost 2 year old (and parents) with major sleep problem

So our DS will be turning two in two days. For the last 3 weeks he has been having difficulties getting to sleep and staying asleep. It happened all of a sudden - one day dropping his usual 2 hour day time nap & the following day not wanting to sleep day or night. He would normally sleep 11 hours through without waking up. He doesnt want to do anything related to bed either ... for example he refuses to bath, read books, drink his sippy cup with warm milk or sing a bed time song. He screams and screams and screams when I put him bed. I have to wait with him until he falls asleep. When asleep he normally wakes by midnight then again at 4am. The 4am wake up ... I let him come in bed with us. He doesnt really sleep.

DH & I are completely exhausted. Our DS is also exhausted. Has anyone any tips or advice as to what could be causing such sleep problems ...

Does he have his 2 year old molars yet? Teeth or illness were always the cause of sudden sleep changes here. :hug:

DD went through this not long ago. though she was still happy to have her day nap, as soon as we went to put her to bed at night, she would start SCREAMING and crying and chucking huge tantrums and refusing to sleep. I had no idea what caused it, and still dont! I basically just let her fall asleep in our bed with us, and then transferred her to her bed or we would put her in her cot, and sit next to it so she could see us, then try and calm her and hold her hand/stroke her/pat her/etc. until she calmed down.
for a few nights we were lying down next to her cot while she fell asleep.
I think all in all it lasted about a week? I've never been so tired and stressed in my life! so i can sympethize :( :hug:

Sounds like he just needs you guys a bit more right now. It could well be teeth. I may pass soon - Hope you get some rest soon!

If it's not illness or teeth I'd try and talk through the bedtime process, explainging what's happening, being comforting and gentle but not necessarily changing any of what your routine has been. Calmly and quieting say things such as... it's ok it's bedtime, we've had a big day, we need sleep to get some energy for tomorrow, recap the day. All along though making him understand that it's bedtime and there's no negotiating :) If you can get him to calmly lay in bed maybe try and stay with him for as long as you feel he needs and then start coming and going reassuring him you'll be back, give him a few mintues or so and go back and hopefully bedtimes will settle again. I'd do lots of reassurance during the night time wakes too while all along explaining it's bedtime and it's not time to get up. It's extreamly exhausting i know, DD has only now in the last 6 months finally settled into a great sleep routine.