My DS just started toddling after his first birthday... just a week before a really hectic Christmas, and SUDDENLY, he is fighting sleep at bedtime. :shock: DH and I will start the bedtime routine at 630pm and by 7pm-715pm, he is usually down - no problems (he doesn't sleep right away, but babbles in his crib for a few minutes). He isn't afraid of his crib (he plays in there once or twice a day alone while I shower, etc). He also has no problems with Independent Playtime in his room or playpen.
Since Christmas, he will start giggling when we turn the lights out and pray with him. :shock: He is actually sleepy, but wants to play somemore, and gets pretty hyped up. :lol: At first, it was "cute" and we would kiss him back (making him laugh even more)... then it wasn't very "cute" when he cried his eyeballs out as we put him in his crib. :roll: So lately, we would kiss and tickle him before lights out, and then try to keep everything very very calm. But it hasn't been working. He will be screaming the moment we start leaving the room. And it takes AGES to pacify him. Is this separation anxiety? I tried staying in the room, sitting in front of his crib and singing his bedtime song softly - but the moment DH or I appear in front of him, he stands up, bounces and wants to play. Crying stops immediately. Finally tonight, because I'm pregnant and had to pee and drink water, I left the room and went downstairs... He was screaming and wailling... and then just stopped and went to sleep before I came back upstairs. :shock: Does that mean that we're only distracting him more when we go back in to "comfort" him? Should we leave him to learn that bedtime IS bedtime? We don't have any problems with his 2 naptimes in the day, so I'm pretty clueless. :oops:
Also, since the Christmas play at our church last Sunday, Caleb has been waking up after 2-3 hours of sleep at night - screaming and crying in terror. He burst into tears during the King Herod scene in church and I had to carry him out of the sanctuary. When DS starts screaming, DH or I will go in, carrying him for a moment and pray quietly. He calms down quickly, and we'll put him down immediately, give him his piggy lovey, and leave him to stroke piggy in his crib alone. He falls asleep on his own.
I've never heard my son scream in so much fear before!! :cry: It is breaking my heart. What is happening???!!! :cry: :cry: :cry:
I don't know if this is due to:
1) Walking milestone
2) Christmas play
3) Guests staying in our house these holidays and many many relatives coming and going
4) Separation anxiety (only at bedtime?)
Please tell me this is just a phase... :oops: I hate to see him so fearful, and not even know why. Should I stick closer to his routine, or try to adjust it???
