18 month old screaming several times a night HELP!!!!

[Deana]

Hey

I need advice on what could possibly be going on with my 18 month old and his all of a sudden screams several times a night.
As a baby, he was excellent, slept from 2 months onwards. The waking up during the night business has only started about 2-3 months ago. Started as just waking up once or twice here and there and Blake was very easy to put back to sleep. These days, He wakes up several times a night (always after MIDNIGHT) screaming, it gets to the point something that he will refuse to go back to sleep. Putting him to sleep has always been easy, he will sleep all the way through until it hits midnight and then will wake several times screaming. I thought it may be that he is hungry, so have been filling him up on so much food before going to bed and that hasn't helped. I give him a bottle when he first starts waking up, but as soon as he has finished the bottle, he is all restless and screaming again. I have tried bringing him into bed with me, which did work for a few nights, but he even gets restless in my bed and wiggles all night plus kickes me in his sleep, so I end up loosing sleep. I also don't want him to get into a habit of wanting to always come into my bed so this is a very last resort. I tried panadol thinking he may be in pain, but nope that didn't settle him.

From the lack of sleep that I have been getting and having a full time job, has been killing me slowly. I took Blake to the doc to see if there was something wrong, doc ran tests and everything came back normal, besides his iron being low, but he is on medication for that as he is a very fussy eater. Our Doc has tried asking other professionals as he thought, cant do much unless he gets monitored. Now he has sent a referall to QEII (Queen Elizabeth the second), which for those who don't know is like a place you stay at and have professional nurses examine you and your baby/toddler. They may not always find an answer but can help in ways to reduce the waking up, or trying to put back to sleep. It is a 5 night stay, which will kill me being trapped there for 5 nights and not being able to leave anywhere with my toddler. So im finding this as a last resort.

Now I have had others say it could be night terrors or night mares. I reserched this and cant be night terrors as night terros dont happen in deep sleep and will only happen in the first few hours of toddler being asleep and since Blake's screaming doesn't happen until after midnight, this rules that out. Nightmares which it could be, but makes me think that its impossible for Blake to have nightmares that many times a night plus EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. arghhhhhhh. I thought it could also be afraid of the dark, but since I dont know what actually happens and how toddlers react to being afraid of the dark, I sort of ruled that out.

Im at my wits ends, wanting to pull my hair out every time he wakes up. I have tried changing routines, and started playing with him even more then what I would normally of a night time to wear him out more and this still doesn't work. Can anyone please give me their opinions and tips on helping me before I drive myself to the loonie bin.

Thanks

Adeana

[BlackRose]

I think sleep school would definitely benefit you. But while you at waiting have you tried being in the room when he is first waking so that you can quickly comfort him before it gets out of control? I find that if I'm there when my DS is waking but not distressed I can pat his back and send him back to sleep as the more awake he gets the harder it would be to calm him down

It really hope this is a phase your little man is going through. Good luck xx

[FabFiona]

Adeana, you aren't the only one that feels like going into the loony bin. sleep deprivation is a killer! I've just started back at work and I'm getting up to two little ones each night. Not as bad as yours, but I haven't had a full nights sleep for a while.

I also think sleep school would benefit you. It seems like you've tried everything and ruled everything out, so you just need a bit of support to get back on track.