Sleep problems with 2 yr old toddler

My 2 year old son started waking up during the night from about 2.30 and doesn't go back to sleep without our help. He's pretty hysterical and doesn't settle unless we stay with him in the room. He will wake up at least 3 or 4 times and when he finds out we left the room it starts all over again. We had a lady over from Annerley midwifes who gave us advice on how to handle this but at the moment it's all getting worse. My son is taking of his sleeping bag and climbs out of his cot. We feel sorry for him because he's going through a difficult stage but my husband and I are exhausted and would like things to go back to normal. Is there anybody who had similar problems and how did you deal with it?


Any advice is welcome!

This is apparently pretty common with 2 year olds. Certainly happened with ours. They are starting to discover that they want to be independent. At the same time they are afraid of cutting the umbilical. Nightmares ensue. We just have one of us sleep in her room if the nights are chaotic. She likes that company. Also if she has nightmares make sure you wake her up "all the way". Just comforting her without her waking up normally just makes the nightmares continue. You need to break the pattern.



"We feel sorry for him because he's going through a difficult stage but my husband and I are exhausted and would like things to go back to normal."


I hear you. Unfortunately things never go back to "really normal". ;) As with most such things, "this too shall pass".