Good morning
I wonder if anyone can help me please?
My son has always resisted sleep but we persisted with gradual withdrawal and since he was 18 months old until 2 weeks ago he has slept perfectly. He happily goes up to bed at 7 and after a couple of stories we kiss him goodnight, leave and don't see or hear from him again till about 7 or 8 in the morning. If he ever couldn't sleep or woke early he would chatter to himself in bed quite happily. He was also still having a 45 minute nap most days of the week and again these were no issue at all.
A couple of weeks ago he was constipated so woke a few times at night but went back fine. Then one night he kept crying as soon as I left the room and kept saying he needed the toilet. This went on for about 4.5 hours and he kept saying he wanted to go to sleep but getting upset when we left. Eventually my husband suggested we shut the door and see if he calmed himself down. Obviously this didn't work and although it was only for a couple of minutes my son was very upset. In the end my husband cuddled him to sleep in his chair and then transferred him to his bed. He then slept the night although was up a bit early.
However that day he didn't want to nap at all for my mum (she has him one day a week) and when I tried to put him to bed he got really upset. He finally went down after I gave him a night light and left the door open and sat on the landing for half an hour or so till he'd dropped off. He then woke in the night and wouldn't be consoled so he came in with me. This continued for 3 nights with him obviously getting more and more overtired and miserable.
On the fourth night I stayed on the landing from 2am to 6.30 reassuring him I was there but that he couldn't come into my bed. The next night was similar. Now he is taking 1.5-2 hours to get to sleep every night because he keeps asking if I'm still there (on the landing). Then he wakes at about 12 and goes back but then wakes again any time from 2am onwards about every 15 minutes or so and by 6am we're all exhausted and he gets up. Last night this started at 2am until 3.40 when I had to bring him in with me because everyone is so exhausted. But he doesn't really sleep that well in my bed because he's never done it. And even when he's with me he asks if I'm there and has to hold my hand to make sure I don't disappear.
Does anyone have any ideas please? I know it hasn't been long but it seems to be getting worse rather than better and I'm at my wits end. And my poor son is so tired and unhappy. He's gone from 13-14 hours sleep a day to about 5 or 6.
Sorry, that was quite long and garbled, I hope it makes a bit of sense.
