I have a two year old and he won't sleep through the night, he will go to bed but then wake up later on and stay up all night... is something wrong with him? Is there anything I can do? I do a bedtime rutine and everything... I am so frustrated!! :mad:

Hello friend,
Please let me know what this child's schedule is during the day and when he takes his nap?
This may help me answer you best.
Sincerely,
SmartAlex :)

Baily gets up at 6:00
He then has developmental time/play time until 11:00
He then goes down for nap at 11:00
He wakes up about 12:30-1:00
He eats lunch
He gets to watch disney channel for an hour
Then its playtime/outiside time when its warm
Then its daddy time or mommy time-which ever parent was gone for the day
Then we have family time
Then its bedtime routine-bath, read, sing, and tuck in kisses
He is in bed by 7:30 every night
The thing that scares me is that he wakes up screaming... I have tried everything I turned on his light before bed. Did nightlight... I am out of idea
It's like he he scared, and I don't want to leave him in the room if he is scared, but what is he scared of? Could someone be hurting him?
Another thing that worries me is that this started after my brother came to visit. My brother raped me when I was younger, and my family refuses to accept it, My mom left him alone with bay and I got furious when I found out. It was only for about five-ten minutes but coud something have happened?

Hello friend,
It sounds like you are taking care of Bailey really well . (I like that a lot! )

The only thing I would change is his bedtime. Because he is waking up later it can simply be that you need to move the bedtime up an hour and that may help . Two hours would be even better.

Though I know you need your personal time too it's a simple fact that as children get older they begin to need a later bedtime.

As for your brother's visit ,I'm really sorry that the fear you feel is real enough that you know he could have molested your child. You've every right to be upset with your Mom.

Since your mother does not seem to understand or respect your fear it's your clue that you should not leave Bailey with her unless she agrees that will not happen again. Turn your fear and your anger into power.

If you feel your brother has too much influence over your mother then it's best just to not leave Bailey with her but do visit when you have time so she can still see him.

I'm going to give you my gut feeling here .

It would be possible for the visit from your brother to have allowed Bailey to experience your fear and in that he's left screaming in the night with fear he doesn't understand.

Believe it or not even pets react to a visit from someone that the owner isn't completely comfortable with.It's not unreal that Bailey is a very sensitive baby and feels your fear.

(Doing "Self talk" with yourself concerning your fears can help you become more calm,more sure of yourself. Things like "I'm in control now,I am in my home with my family,I am ok." can help.)

Night Terrors are real and even children who do NOT experience parental fear have them. It's a stage that some children go through.

I'm including a website for you to help you understand more. Nightmares are also real and there's a difference between them and Night Terrors.

Also,be sure you are not allowing any violent programing that might upset a young man's emotions to the point of dreaming about what he saw. (just an extra and very good precaution!)

Here's the website to help you know more:
Nightmares and Night Terrors in Children -- familydoctor.org



Sincerely,
SmartAlex

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Thank you so much Alex... I am really glad that I have finally found people that I can talk to about situations that I can't talk to my family about. So thank you... and I will try to give the bedtime upping a shot... Also I never allow bay to watch any televison but playhouse disney. But thank you again.

WOW SmartAlex! You rock!

Based on my own experience with a molester, I don't think that your brother could have molested Bailey. For the brief time that they were alone with the possibility of your mom walking in on them, it is doubtful. Not impossible, but unlikely.

As to your mother, find someone else to care for Bailey. She didn't believe you (or can't bring herself to believe you) and she has left Bailey with his uncle against your wishes. She is not suitable for Bailey's care. I'm sorry to say that and I know it hurts being that its your mother but its best for Bailey's sake.

Night terrors sound bang on for the nighttime screaming though.

Hang in there and don't forget to love yourself! You are doing a great job as a mom. As Bailey gets older, teach him what is proper interaction and what is not and that he can always tell you anything. Armed with this, he'll be confident enough to put a halt to anything that might evolve in the future of this nature. And if it is something that happens to him even if he does try to stop it, then he knows that he can tell you. That is unconditional love and you sound like you've got it mom.

I agree on moving the bedtime back a little. My son has a bath at 8:00, a book at 8:30 and then tucked away safely by 9. We used to have a problem with "monsters" and my husband gave him a stuffed animal frog which is very good at eating any and all monsters. We haven't had a problem since. "soothies" are a great way to calm a child and make them feel safer when you are out of site. A stuffed animal or a "magic cape" blanket will almost always do the trick. Also, maybe try putting on some very soft classical music to drown out any white noise or house creaking which can be frightening for a child.

Thank you all for your advice... you guys are so helpful. And are parents yourself so you have experence.

Not all of us are parents. I can only wish I could be. I am the second oldest of 25 grandkids and the favorite family babysitter. I also have a very well-developed inner child lol. I just try to think of what I would want if I were the kid in question or fun creative ideas to solve the problem.

I tried moving back his bedtime and guess what?? He is sleeping through the night, and he is sleeping in till seven. THANK YOU so much for the great advice... now I can get some sleep lol

My 2 year hasn't slept through the night since he has been born. Mommy and Daddy are going crazy. I don't know what I should do. I've tried letting him sleep in the middle between us and everything. He sleeps for about 3 hours then wakes up screaming and crying. He is also still taking his bottle at night, I can't seem to get that away from him. He sometimes don't want to eat, he will knock the plate and everything away.. I need some help!!

Hello I'm in need of help!

I have a twenty-three months old who I'm having trouble getting to sleep through the night.she has been getting up screaming I'd say nearly every hour.I have recently got her off the bottle about just over a month as she was getting up three to four times a night for it to be refilled. She stills has a drink to bed in a non-spill cup that I give her. She doesn't drink from it at night just needs it in bed with her. Every time I go into her room at night I don't talk to her I just lay her down and tuck her back in this seems to settle her sometimes. I have recently had a baby who is Seven weeks old and it's really exhausting having to get up to him and her. She also screams when she has a nap and when she goes to bed.
Her schedule during the day is
Wakes up 6:30 / 7 o'clock
Watches TV until 8 / 9 o'clock
Plays out side with her older brother for one hour / two hours
Has a nap around Ten / Eleven o'clock for an hour
Has lunch
Back out side or inside play again
Dinner at 6 o'clock
Bath, teeth and then bed at 7 o'clock