22 Mo Old & Sleep Troubles

Hey T.,

I agree with the mother who said not to let your son cry it out. Put a mattress on the floor next to your bed and when your son is frightened, tell him it is acceptable for him to come to your room and lay down on his special floor bed, if you don't want him in bed with you. Also, the gate obviously isn't working, and it sounds like it's becoming a dangerous thing if he's stacking stuff up to get over it. I'd lose the gate. This is a stage that will pass. If you approach it with love and patience, you'll get through it just fine and so will he. I totally understand the exhaustion this causes-been there, sometimes, if I'm honest, still there! Hang in and follow your intuition.

Good Luck,

A.

My daughter is almost 25 mo and has had boughts of this also, so you are not alone. It started about 22 mo also. It would last about 2-3 days and then dshe would go back to normal. The gaps inbetween her night tatntrums as I call it have gotten larger and it is not happening as often. I have noticed that if can totally avoid it, I dont take her out of her room and dont turn her light on, then i sit with her until she is calm and then put her back down. Some nights this works great, others it is a struggle and shescreams and beggs for cartoons. I think it mioght just be them seeing what they can get away with. When I try to let her CIO it is hard and heart breaking for me, so I am interested to see the advice of other mommies to your post for helpful suggestions, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone and I am right htere with you! :) Good Luck

I could use some help too. My almost 2 year old son has been doing the same thing. I am thinking it's a phase he going through. Last night I tried just sitting next to the crib and rubbing his back, but without talking or looking at him. He eventually calmed down and fell back asleep.
Here's to better sleep tonight :)

You could also try a sound machine or soothing music to help keep him asleep. We did this for both our kids. We also installed dimmer lights in their rooms. They kept pulling out the night lights and were still ending up in out room. Once we put in dimmer switches, they stopped.

I wouldn't lock your son out of your room at this age, but walk him back to his room and spend some time to help him back to sleep. When he realizes he can't sleep in your bed he will learn to sleep in his bed and eventually learn your bed is off limits. Don't give in at anytime now you've started this regiment. Don't give up and make it a big boy thing and even reward him for sleeping in his room.

My first thought is to have him checked by the pediatrician just to make sure there is nothing physically wrong. Since he is really screaming when he awakes, he may have an ear infection after being sick or if he was vomiting, he could be having a bout with acid reflux.
Secondly, maybe he wants his door left open or a night light on. At about this same age, both of my kids decided they wanted the door open and one sleeps with a light on. This was a change as I always made it super dark and closed the door prior.
Just be consistent and he will get the message that he's not coming into your bed. It shouldn't take more than one sleep deprived week for him to know he can't win.
Good Luck!

Hi T., I went through night terrors with my daughter and had them myself as a child. It is very frightening as a parent. I would be unable to "wake" my daughter as she was screaming and thrashing around... I would just hold her tightly and tell her to come back to mommy, tell her that she's safe and I'm here.. sometimes it would take up to an hour of the hysterical screaming and her not recognizing me. Even though her eyes were open, she wasn't awake. She'd fall back asleep eventually and not remember in the morning what happened. These happened more often after she had been sick and eventually happened less and less. My darling is 5 now and it's been a long time since an episode.
If you think he's experiencing night terrors, you can read online about more of the symptoms or talk to a pediatrician. I was told by the ped that it wasn't uncommon...
best wishes to you, and I hope you and your family are able to get some good rest soon!

You must be exhausted with 2 babies keeping you up. I can understand what you are going through as I have an 8 month old teething baby and a 3 y.o. who no longer naps during the day. Also, my first child never slept through the night till after 18 months. I don't sleep much these days and I never get a chance to catch up during the day. My heart goes out to you.
Your oldest child at 22 months is still pretty much a baby and really needs your comfort. I'm not a fan of the "cry it out" method because it ignores the need that the child is expressing for security and reassurance. It also increases the stress hormone, cortisol, in the body which could lead to health problems. We tried to let our first child "cry it out" and it was a disaster. She would cry till she threw up and then after we changed her bed, she was inconsolable for a very long time. I changed my ways and just comforted her when she needed it, rocked her to sleep before bed and tried to hold her more throughout the day and sometimes even slept on a foam mat on the floor beside her bed just to get some sleep. Eventually her sleep habits improved. Now she's a terrific sleeper. Goes to bed at 8:30 pm and sleeps till 7 a.m. She's also a very secure, confident child who shows no jealousy of her baby brother.
You have your hands full, but keep in mind that this is just a stage. Some day when your babies are bigger, your house will sleep. Right now they both just need so much from you and your husband. Parenting is a 24 hour job rather than a 7a.m. to 7 p.m. responsibility. I recommend checking out from a library Dr. Sears' The Baby Sleep Book (it also talks about toddlers/preschoolers sleep problems). It helped me a lot. Now I don't feel so resentful when my kids rob me of sleep since I understand the physiological reasons behind their sleep disturbances. Best wishes! R., married certified nurse midwife mom of 2. SAHM since 2005 and loving it!