[bbeard72]

We are having all sorts of sleep issues w/ our 2 year old. It started about almost 2 months ago. I've had to quit my job b/c it's affected me so much.
He's always been a good sleeper then it changed all of a sudden. He will cry for almost an hour when we put him down then proceed to get up about every hour and 1/2 crying. If you go in and sit in the recliner in the room, he's fine and will go back to sleep but I have go in about 6 times a night and sit there about 20 min til he falls back asleep. So I get about 3 hours a sleep each night. I couldn't function at work and now I have to sleep during the day.

We've seen his Ped. 3 times regarding this. We've tried the Ferber method and nothing changes. His Ped thinks it's a control/behavioral issue b/c he sleeps fine at school. So I finally stopped going in there and he will cry forever (the other night was from 3-6 am). He is usually ready to get up about 5am.

So i'm at a loss, I don't know who to turn to. Are their specialists for this? This can't continue. I thought it was a phase but it's not seeming to be. I'm getting depressed, sick from no sleep and can barely function day to day.

[angel_bayou]

I had a friend whose son had sleep issues and they actually sent him to do a sleep study just like they would an adult! She's on the boards so hopefully she'll provide you with more info on that!!

Have you tried St. John's Wart or melatonin? Or even chamomile oil. All of these are natural ways to calm them to help them sleep. They can be bought over the counter at Wal-Mart and it's worth a shot since it's all natural. My nanny use to have to do the camomile and St. John's Wart per the ped. on her foster child and it seemed to help!! Sending lots of hugs your way because I know how hard it can been when your child doesn't sleep!

[laylasmom]

My 2.5 year old went through something like this a couple of months ago. What we did was put a mattress down next to his bed and dh and I took turns sleeping there all night. When he woke up during the night he would look for us right away and then go back to sleep, so we did wake up during the night but only to reassure him we were there and then we too fell back asleep. It took about a month to gradually get better and then we would start out in his room but leave after he fell asleep. He is sleeping much better now and so are we in our own room.

Janie

[GuatMommy2Be]

I am so sorry! Sleep issues can be very hard to cope with.

Two months ago was right around his birthday.. I'm wondering if turning 2 has something to do with this. My friend has also been dealing with this type of behavior for the past 2 months and her daughter is turning 2 in 2 months...

I'd suggest a cloud b on-the-go sleep sheep.. it's a soft sheep sound machine. It has helped my daughter tremendously..

I'm also wondering if he is having night terrors? Is he doing this on days he is having a bad day? My sisters son suffered for over 10 years with night terrors, and she says it would happen when he had a bad day.

Can you go in and rock him and just keep reassuring him, or try co-sleeping?

[mommyto2guatboys]

I pm'd you

[connorsmommy1999]

my son (bio) did this two times..the first was at about 2 years old.

We didnt have the strength to try all the "methods" ---I'm a total mess on lack of sleep! ---so we just put his mattress on the floor and another one next to it and slept in there with him. I dont remember how long it took each time but it seems like it was around a month...probably not two months. He would go back to sleep quickly when we were in there.

He's 9 now and is going through a nightmare phase again...but ever since he was about 4 when it comes up he will just grab a thick comforter, his pillow and quilt and come into our room to sleep on our floor. It seems like he goes through a phase about once a year.

[guatparents2be]

Originally Posted by angel_bayou

Have you tried St. John's Wart or melatonin? Or even chamomile oil. All of these are natural ways to calm them to help them sleep. They can be bought over the counter at Wal-Mart and it's worth a shot since it's all natural. My nanny use to have to do the camomile and St. John's Wart per the ped. on her foster child and it seemed to help!! Sending lots of hugs your way because I know how hard it can been when your child doesn't sleep!

there is an over the counter homeopathic sleep aid called calms forte. this can be helpful for some kids. i would have to say that i would be wary of giving a child st john's wort or melatonin without consulting with a physician. (chamomile tea should be fine for most kids.)

that said, it sounds to me that there is something going on emotionally with your son. if this is the case a simple herbal relaxant won't fix the problem.

is everything ok at school? maybe he is having nightmares? have you considered putting a mattress for him in your room for the time being? he may simply need you right now...nothing wrong with that.

i personally believe that for our adopted children that it can be adjustment issues and not simply control issues as your ped suggests...and that they can come up any time, no matter how old they are when they came home.

good luck with this, i'm so sorry, i know how hard it is when you don't get sleep...and your kids not sleeping just makes it worse. {{{hugs}}}

[StefB]

I'm trying to think of something helpful to say. My daughter turned 2 on August 1, and we've had sleep problems all summer. Ours are mostly the getting to sleep part and not the staying asleep part, so I really feel for you. I always tell myself, "at least she usually stays asleep".

It was taking up to 2 hours to get her down. I can't handle letting her cry. I know for her there are fears and separation issues at hand. It doesn't feel like behavior/control, but more like panic. For a while she was doing better with her crib mattress on the floor (I did that just to shake things up). I've done away with reading books in her room just before bed because they just stimulate her. I've also stopped using music. We've played around with the lights, the fan, the opening of the door.

All this to say that things are improving (she's back in the crib, by the way, at her request). I'm not sure why things are improving. I'm letting her call as many of the shots as reasonable: fan on or off, nightlight on or off, etc. She wants 10 swings, 10 rubs on her belly and 10 on her back. Her doll gets 10 swings. Sometimes the other doll too. But, miraculously, she then is letting me leave the room while she's awake. No crying, just a feeble protest sound for about 10 seconds, as if she is obligated.

I'm much happier, but holding my breath. I'm sure you're at the end of your rope and that I had better advice. I hope things just start to resolve themselves. Take care.

[mommytoEli]

all i can say is that lack of sleep makes you crazy. lol. be careful. is there enough room in his room for a twin bed that you can just sleep in there with him until this stage passes?

[lcikra00]

What about letting him sleep with you in your bed? Co sleeping may just do the trick.

[mcnay1]

Sleeping issues stink!!! We've been there!!! Is he in a big boy bed? Can he be ready for a big boy bed? I dont know...just a suggestion.

[SKL]

You need to get your sleep! I like the idea of putting a mattress on the baby's floor and just sleeping in there for up to a month or two, in the hope that that's all he wil need.

Or, could your husband or someone else do the baby-duty for a couple nights a week so you can sleep through?

If these are not possible, here is a thought some may consider mean, but hear me out. Consider going to bed, closing the door, and leaving the baby monitor off one or two nights a week. (Tell your child in advance that you won't be coming to his room until morning.) Or, maybe set the alarm to get up once in the middle of the night. Will your child cry a lot? Probably, but isn't that what he's doing anyway? Your lack of sleep isn't helping him and it's hurting you badly.

As a general thought, I wonder what it is that makes 2-year-olds suddenly feel a need to wake up in the night. A new need that arises based on their developmental level? I have a hunch, though many will think it's off the wall. Maybe they reach a level of maturity where they don't want to soil their diaper at night. Maybe letting the child relieve him/herself at night would make him/her feel better. I get this hunch because I know folks who co-sleep and their tots wake and fuss when they need to pee. I suppose it's a long shot, but if I was not getting my sleep, I might give it a try. I can't say I have experienced this myself, so it's just a thought.

[angelkisses0102]

There is a reason your child is calling out to you during the night...if it is not a physical one, in all likelyhood it is an emotional need he needs met. If at all possible attempt co-sleeping...but know it can take a few weeks or more for you both to acclimate at this stage of the game. I was totally against co-sleeping until I had a child who NEEDED to sleep with me for his emotional well-being. Now, both DH and I are advocates of it.

I also recommend reading Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control Heather T. Forbes, LCSW ...I so wish I had this tool when we were dealing with the first 23 months of no sleep with my DS. The daily parenting reflections are a great tool as well!!!

Good luck...I so understand sleep deprivation...please take care of you.

[NeeNee]

Here is something to consider.

When my son was two he also did this. Would scream the minute I turned off the light to leave his room. For quite a few nights I couldn't figure out what the problem was. He went from being a wonderful sleeper to this child I didn't recognize! I was finally able to get out of him that there was a shadow that was freaking him out the instant I turned off the light! When I saw what he was seeing I wasn't surprised at all that he was screaming. I had the night light next to his dresser, in an outlet near the floor. On that same side of the dresser, near the edge, was a lamp. When the night light was on and the the overhead light off...well...the shadow created from the night light shining up through the "spokes" of the lamp...it looked liked a giant spider on the ceiling!!! I think at the age of two they are starting to be more aware of such things as spiders and things that may hurt them.

Just a thought I wanted to share!

Good luck. I hope it resolves so and you get back to normal.

NeeNee

[Casey677]

I have an almost 20 month old who is suddenly not sleeping well at all either. We put her in a twin bed two weeks ago as a last resort effort. Lat night she slept through the night for the first time in a long time. The first two weeks of the twin bed were hard though. I am really hoping last night was not a fluke. She shares a room with my 3 year old who starts preschool on Tuesday and needs her sleep as well. We've all been rather cranky here without sleep.