*HELP*Hysterical 2.5 year old - can't sleep

[krisp]

My DS has always been a terrible sleeper, he was 17 months old when he slept through. Recently his night sleeps have gone from really good to absolutely shocking. To set the scene - he would have his bath, have some warm milk we read a couple of books sing some songs and by 7.30ish he would say "bed" and we'd put him in his cot light out and that was that. Then, one night about 2 months ago he was running down the hall and ran into the corner of the wall and split his forehead open. After a trip to hospital he slept the night with my DH in the spare room as he was quite upset. Since then he has become hysterical at bedtime every night. He would kick the bars of the cot so we put his matress on the floor (his big bed only arrived yesterday as it took 6 weeks to get here!). He was so excited to get his bed he ran to jump in and said "spider bed" as I put spider man covers on it as he is his new favourite. It was after 9pm when we finally got him to sleep and then he woke at 11 totally hysterical. We let him cry for a while hoping that he would drop off to sleep but after 15mins my DH went in and he was sitting on the floor out of his mind with hysteria. He has a night light now as he's suddenly become afraid of the dark as well. The only way we can get him back to sleep is to put him in the spare bed with my DH and give him a bottle. It's crazy he's going to be 3 in March and his sleep is getting worse and worse. Some nights he has 2 bottles overnight just to get some peace. I've talked to Pinky and bought her books but that hasn't helped at all and I'm now at my wits end. My DH and I haven't slept the night in the same bed together for weeks and weeks. We hoped the new bed might fix the situation but it hasn't. Any suggestions at this stage would be wonderful. I went back to work 3 days a week recently (this might be a contributer) but the sleep issues didn't start at the same time. Working 3 days a week and being up with my DD who also doesn't sleep is killing me.

Please, does anyone have any suggestions at all?????

[krisp]

Is there no words of wisdom???

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Well, you can have words from me but wisdom is generally in short supply this end.

Have you tried letting your DS go to sleep in a bed with DH who then leaves? I know DS sleeps better if I'm in bed with him and I don't have to stay all night.

Can he talk well enough to communicate most things? Is he having nightmares and can tell you about them? You've recently gone back to work, how is the child care you have arranged? Maybe something there upsets him, can you ask? Maybe tell him a bedtime story where he does something and Spiderman comes to play/help him/rescue him related to these issues, point out that Spiderbed means Spiderman will be with him all night and that may help?

Best of luck, working and no sleep sucks.

[Charlyfrog]

Have you considered starting with a paediatrician? As everything seem to go off kilter from the nasty accident, it seems like its sent your little one's mind/memory and emotions completely haywire! You'd probably have to go through a GP for a referral but if you already know of a peadiatrician, you can ask for a referral to them. I think as they are experts with kids, they can at least start you off in the right direction, even if it means referring you on to someone else if needs be.

HTH

(only saw this post tonight, sorry love )

[BellyBelly]

Changes at home etc can result in this sort of unsettled behaviour, with another little one in the house that too could be causing some grief for him. Give him lots of reassurance and see if you can have some regular one on one time with him to see if it improves?

[Beatrix]

HUn

This sound like my house.. my DD is almost 2 and I get several hysterical fits every night. I have no idea whats wrong with her.
I am considering seeing a dr.. but i think it may be due to the seperation I have had with my kids dad.

I have no advice for you but wanted to say you arent alone

[foreva*your*mummy]

Well the only advice I can give is expereince on what happened to us. We moved to WA from NZ and our little man was 2, it was a huge life change for everyone and they kids really found it hard to cope, my sons sleeping pattern went out the window!!, waking all hours of the night and crying lots. We took him to Big W ( or you can go where ever). and got him a soft toy, He choose what he wanted ( with some little persuation lol) and that was his new special friend. The one he choose was a stuffed little boy type teddie. hes really cute with a cap on and clothes but a soft toy. This worked absolute miricals for us. He took it absolutly everywhere he went, It was super special that Ted Ted slept with him to keep him company, we told my little DS a story about it. He took ted ted ( toys name) to daycare, on daily outings, and to bed. Even now over a year on he will still take him out when we are going somewhere that he thinks is a little unfamilir or scary to him. He chipped his tooth the other day and had to go to the dentist so ted ted came with us. Usually otherwise he just stays in DS bed.
I would definatly recomend you try this, I think it is something constant and secure in his life and maybe you could say its because he is a big boy now and has a big boy bed???. Im sure you will think of a story. I also think it would be good if he is going to daycare now? they do find it hard.
HTH ( after I have written all this I just thought mayb he already has something like this lol )

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

My DS has Herr Hare the bunny, who goes to all new places with us and ALWAYS is there for nap-times, even at nursery. His sleep is better... unless he can't find Herr Hare at night and then he needs us to give him his bunny back!

Sorry, that was an aside, but if you do go down this route (and I know it works for a lot of people) remember to buy TWO toys at the time and rotate them - so every time you wash the bedding, wash the toy and give the spare one. That way if one is lost you have one that will be accepted. We have a new Herr Hare tucked away, but got him just a couple of months ago and he's so new and soft and colourful! Not going to fool DS for a minute so we're careful with Herr Hare and where he can go.