2.5 year old used to be a great sleeper now he is horrible!

[Anonymous]

DH and I went away for a week (grandma watched him) and when we came home our great sleeper is refuses to go to bed, needs the door open and is waking up multiple times at night! WTH?!?

He used to go to bed around 7:30 and sleep with the door closed straight until 7:30 in the morning.

Last night he was in bed by 8:30 but didn’t fall asleep until 9:30, the door was cracked open otherwise he would scream. Then he woke up at 12:30 and 6:30 because the door was closed (we close it when we go to bed).

What is going on?!? Is this a sleep regression? We are at our wits end! We can’t let him realistically cry it out because we have other kids who need to not be woken up.

[Anonymous]

He had a whole week with his grandmother who did things differently. Do you have the idea that you can force him back to a different way without any screaming. He’s 2.5. If he screams during the day, do you do whatever he wants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He had a whole week with his grandmother who did things differently. Do you have the idea that you can force him back to a different way without any screaming. He’s 2.5. If he screams during the day, do you do whatever he wants?

Op here - no we have discipline and don’t give in to him during the day. And we try not to give in at night. For instance for some reason he asked to sleep with the lights on. We said no. Instead I have a night light. He was ok with that but then insisted that the door be open.

[Anonymous]

The good news is he is at the age where he’ll understand consequences. What is something you can take away? Does he watch tv? Don’t let him watch TV when he has woken you up during the night.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if Grandma was spoiling him!

Still, though, that's awesome that you went away for a week. Don't let this make you hesitate. So jealous! I've done long weekends with my DH but never that long. Just next time lay down the law before you leave about how you never go in the room at night unless there's an emergency. I had to get my very softhearted attachment parent-y mom to respect my sleep training boundaries and it took a couple times, but she does now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Grandma was spoiling him!

Still, though, that's awesome that you went away for a week. Don't let this make you hesitate. So jealous! I've done long weekends with my DH but never that long. Just next time lay down the law before you leave about how you never go in the room at night unless there's an emergency. I had to get my very softhearted attachment parent-y mom to respect my sleep training boundaries and it took a couple times, but she does now.

I am sure he spoiled him! I didn’t want to make things harder for her (she was watching 3 young kids for us) so just let her do what she wanted. I gave her instructions but didn’t want to be super nit picky since she was doing is a huge favor!

[Anonymous]

I’m very serious about sleep. Having said that, I would let him have the door open for a few nights, gradually close it a little bit more each night. My kid sleeps with her door mostly open, we all do. Doesn’t affect sleep.

[Anonymous]

I'd let him have the door open. Growing up, we never closed our doors at night anyway; it's certainly not necessary. My older kids don't like to sleep with the door totally closed; they prefer it to be open at least a crack.

[Anonymous]

He's 2.5. He's becoming a big kid. Grandma's visit probably just hurried it along.
Cry it out is for babies. Not to say you can't leave him alone to cry, but it's not a given that it will work at this age. See if tiring him out and going back to routine will work. If not, you will have to try older kid motivators like sticker charts etc Maybe security objects to give some comfort. Be very non entertaining when interacting in the evening.

[Anonymous]

If the only thing he is fussing about is having the door open, then leave it open. Maybe over time, you can eventually close it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd let him have the door open. Growing up, we never closed our doors at night anyway; it's certainly not necessary. My older kids don't like to sleep with the door totally closed; they prefer it to be open at least a crack.

I was always taught closed bedroom doors improved fire safety.

https://closeyourdoor.org/

But, I do it anyway because I prefer it. It also helps with noise between kid bedtime and our bedtime.

[Anonymous]

Grandma's are good at messing everything up. I don't let my mom watch my kids anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He had a whole week with his grandmother who did things differently. Do you have the idea that you can force him back to a different way without any screaming. He’s 2.5. If he screams during the day, do you do whatever he wants?

Op here - no we have discipline and don’t give in to him during the day. And we try not to give in at night. For instance for some reason he asked to sleep with the lights on. We said no. Instead I have a night light. He was ok with that but then insisted that the door be open.

Well, you insist right back on closed if it’s important to you.