2.5 yr old having major sleep drama! Help!

[lilmom]

DS has been a great sleeper (not counting teething, moving, travelling, etc). Until a couple of weeks ago, and now we are seriously sleep deprived.

He will typically go to sleep around 8pm. (he has not napped since he was 18 months) Normally, he would sleep until 8 or 9am. But lately, he will go to sleep, around 8pm, and wake up sometime between 2 and 3, and will NOT go back to sleep until 5,6,7, or even 8am, and then will sleep maybe 2 hours and get back up, then he will be cranky and supertired all day, but do the same thing all over again, even if he goes to bed at say 7 or 7:30 instead of 8.

When he wakes up in the night, he wants to stay up. He says over and over, "I don't want to lay down! I don't want to go to sleep!" We have tried everything we can think of to help him relax and go to sleep. Rocking, laying down with him, telling stories, lullabies, backrubs.

Today, we took him to the chiro to see if that would help. But tonight, as of right now, he is still awake. He hasn't gone to sleep YET and it is almost midnight. He has been fighting and fighting for hours. He is exhausted and a big portion of that time he has been in total meltdown/tantrum mode. He had a snack and that did help. But he is still not currently asleep, DH is trying at the moment.

What could be causing this? We are desperate for sleep. And he really needs it too! PLEASE HELP!

[annmartina]

Have you looked into food allergies? Dairy is a big one and commonly causes sleeplessness. Good luck, it sounds tough!

[elisheva]

Our ds2 (16 month) was having night-waking/screaming with oranges and tomatoes about a month ago. Has been *much* better since we cut those out.

[Kailey's mom]

Try adding the naps and see if that helps. he may be getting so overstimulated and overtired that he can't calm down enough to go to sleep, and stay asleep.

[lilmom]

Originally Posted by annmartina

Have you looked into food allergies? Dairy is a big one and commonly causes sleeplessness. Good luck, it sounds tough!

Hmm, no..we know he's allergic to eggs, but we haven't had him officially tested. I think that might be a good thing for us to look into though! Thanks

[lilmom]

Originally Posted by Kailey's mom

Try adding the naps and see if that helps. he may be getting so overstimulated and overtired that he can't calm down enough to go to sleep, and stay asleep.

I do think he is having trouble relaxing. I just really doubt I can get him to take naps again. He hasn't taken naps in about a year. I also think he doesn't know how to really soothe himself anymore. It's like he forgot how to do that. : ( Or else maybe it is a physical thing like the other ladies mentioned..maybe allergies?