I posted on here a few weeks for some advice on transitioning our early wakening DS from 2 naps to 1. Were now working on that and thankfully he's sleeping a bit later in the morning now and so we're just trying to go straight to one nap a day from about 11.30/45 onwards.
A new problem has arisen over the last 2/3 weeks though.. he has gone from self settling really well at bedtime to being a nightmare! He screams hysterically as soon as I leave the room and wants me to stay with him patting his back before he will settle down.. I've been letting him cry for a few minutes then going back in, doing this until he calms down then leaving again.. and doing it over and over again he finally falls asleep. He's now started wakening overnight as well though and then it's worse, it takes a lot of screaming and going in and out, it can take 1-2 hours until he's asleep again
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I'm guessing this is all part of the dreaded 18 month sleep regression.. we don't think he's teething, we can't see or feel any teeth coming through but saying that he's only got 6 teeth and hasn't had any new come through for about 6/7 months.. so I'm sure some must be on the way soon. we are giving him calpol / nurofen just in case that is what is bothering him but it doesn't seem to help. We also make sure he isn't too hot or cold and he has leaked out his nappy.
Will this just pass?? Is there anything else I should be doing? I've been quite scared of getting into a habit of staying in his room and patting him until he's completely asleep as I don't want to set up any bad sleep associations, but then I also hate leaving him to cry for too long as he can get quite hysterical (and loud!). He is generally a very stubborn little boy so is he just testing his boundaries? I've been going in very 5/10 minutes but it doesn't seem to be working. Help!!!
His rough routine is -
Wake up - 6.30 ish (sometimes wakes up 5-5.30 but we try not to get him up before 6)
Nap - 11.30/45 (at the moment only 1-1.5 hours.. but have just started one nap a day so going to persevere and hope it extends)
Bedtime - 6.30 ish (have brought this forward from 7 as he's been waking overnight and sleeping less during the day)
Sorry for the long post.. any advice??