End of my rope

[Elismum]

My 2.9 year old DS is climbing out of his crib multiple times a night, doesn't want to sleep in it or his big boy bed.  He only wants to sleep in our bed which neither my husband or I allow.  He's too big and restless and none of us sleep that way.  Last night he got up at least 8 times.  Today he won't nap. I tried laying down in his room for a bit but if he wakes and I'm not there, the whole thing starts - lots and lots of crying, then getting up and coming to the stairs and yelling for me.  (His bedroom is on a different floor from ours.) He is so exhausted and so am I.  We also have a 5 month old that is waking 2-3 times per night and taking an hour to get back to sleep.  I yelled at DS this afternoon - in a pretty mean way.  I hate myself for losing it with him but I have no idea how to solve this. He is like a walking zombie but won't sleep! Argh!!  He's got to sleep in his bed in his room but I don't know how to get him to do it.  I've tried explaining how we all sleep in our own beds, how he needs sleep, etc. and he says, "I won't climb out of my bed." But he does two seconds later.  Up until recently, he's been a decent sleeper.  Also, in 3 weeks, I have to go back to work full time and if I can't sleep, I'll be a wreck!

[laohaire]

I think it must be hard for a 2 year old to sleep on another floor from you, much less another room.

Could you set up his own bed closer to you? In your room (not bed sharing, just in your room) or in another room nearby?

[Elismum]

Maybe but I have doubts of him staying in a bed in or close to our room, too.  When we've slept in the same room, say on vacation, he spends all night talking to us or telling us he wants to get in our bed and then wakes up at 5:00 am.

[Italiamom]

You mention that until recently, your DS has been a good sleeper.  So I'll go down the list:

-Does he have his 2 year molars yet?

-Any chance that an illness is cropping up?

-Any recent big changes in your lives?

-Is he close to a milestone?  Like begining potty learning?  Or a big jump in vocabulary or other development?

It might be that you'll need to move him into your room, or move into his for a little while.  Not into your bed (at least for me, I just CANNOT get comfy with DS in the bed), just into the same room.  Or just keep toughing it out with trips across the house and many night wakings if that's not an option either.

Sorry you're dealing with this.  Sleep issues are one of the hardest parts of being a parent!

[Elismum]

Thanks, Italiamom for a good reminder! I was so focused on what I wanted, I wasn't really paying enough attention to his needs and this morning he said "my mouth doesn't feel good" - so maybe he is getting those new molars.  Or maybe it's all the disruptions from the holidays, etc. I've slept in his room for the last two nights and he's slept perfectly.