need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

I had the best baby ever, who always slept through the night.

He will be 2 in Feb and is now doing this thing where he goes to bed around 9, wakes up at 11, stays up, and won't go back to his bed, but wants to be in my bed.

As a baby, I let him CIO for a few days and it worked...but now I'd feel guilty doing that now, because obviously he is more "aware" now, KWIM?

TIA!

Re: need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

Honestly, I'd do CIO.

My DS will be 3 in 2 weeks.
Yesterday we started the big boy bed.
For nap time, believe it or not, I did CIO.
Last night, by some miracle (lol) he went back in the bed, no problems.

When he was younger, I did CIO for a few nights and he "got it".

Good Luck.

Re: need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

thanks!

Re: need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

DS did the same thing about a month before he turned 2. He did want to stay in his room, but he didn't want to stay alone. We wound up sitting with him until he fell asleep, and there were a few nights I slept on his floor (seemed easier than getting up over and over). If someone was in the room with him, he didn't have much trouble going back to sleep. This lasted maybe 3 weeks, then he started sleeping just fine again.

In his case, he was definitely afraid to be in his room alone. Since he was really scared, I didn't feel comfortable doing CIO--I'm not sure if this is the case for your DC. It's a judgement call, I just couldn't leave a frightened child alone in there.

If you don't want to do CIO, see if it helps for you to sit in the room. At first we did it until he fell asleep, then as he got more comfortable, we started just sitting in there for a few minutes. Now we leave and he's completely back to normal in terms of sleep. If the dark seems to be the issue, maybe introduce a night light?

This seems to be a pretty normal stage for 2 year olds, and I doubt it will last. They do seem to develop new fears as they become more aware of things.

Message edited 1/3/2010 2:20:26 PM.

Re: need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

I have no advice but my son has been doing the same for almost 3 months now. I wish I could be tougher with CIO because now the waking is a habit. He knows we will bring him in our bed. It has gotten better though.

Re: need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

I vote for CIO.

older DS went through this a few days before we brought home the 2nd baby and we were ALL miserable.

I'm stronger with the CIO than DH is, so DS will cry longer and harder if DH puts him down for nap or bedtime.

It's tough, but your DC will learn that if you want him to sleep in his room/bed instead of yours, he will.

Re: need a BTDT mom - big change in sleeping & 2 yr old...is it cruel to let me CIO at this age?

thanks guys!

It is so frustrating because I've had it so good for so long.

It's not even that he wants to play or is scared in his room (I don't think), it's that he seems to just want to have company and cuddle...which makes it all the more harder to have to have him CIO.

I also have tried for him to CIO but he will bang his head in frustration.

I'll try it again tonight...because I know if it becomes a routine, it will last a looooong time.