Having a fit at bedtime

My 2 year old used to be a great sleeper. It was lights off and his sound spa on. He was fine for naps and nighttime. It started a week ago. First with having to leave the lights and door open. We obeyed and would close the door and shut the lights when he was asleep (the lights are bright and we have hardwood floors so better with it closed. He also has a projector from the sound machine as his nightlight). Anyway, now he screams bloody murder the last few days. Nap and night. I tried taking away a nap to see if it helps, but in the afternoon he'd get cranky. Especially when he has preschool in the morning. He usually naps 5 - 6 times a week for a couple of hours. His bedtime is a little before 8 and by the time books are done its 8 anyway. I know he's tired. Pushing his bedtime doesn't do anything bc he'd scream if it 8 or later. He's up around 7:30 - 8ish in the morning so its a long day with activities to keep him going.
I remember DS1 going through this too at 2. We would have to stay in his room till he fell asleep. He was in a bed then. Since DS2 is still in a crib we don't stay in there and shortly after we leave the room he lays down. It's the screaming every night that gets to me. I feel bad but know he won't hurt himself.

Re: Having a fit at bedtime

Honestly I think it is the age. Dd went through something similar at 2.5. It started off with mommy leave the door open and then she just kept asking for more and upping the anty She started getting up in the middle of the night and out go her room. One morning I found her sleeping at the front door. I had to stay strong and do some tough love and let her cry. Once she realized I wasn't come back in after I said good night it pretty much stopped.
Hang in there!!

Re: Having a fit at bedtime

This same thing started with my DD right as she turned 2 and now 8mths later she STILL gives us shit when it's bed time. She's in a bed (she started climbing out of her crib) so she finds every excuse in the book to get out of bed or
Call us into her room. It takes us hours to get her to bed every night. I'm physically exhausted

Re: Having a fit at bedtime

Ok. So sounds like it's just part of the fun and exhausting "terrible 2's" stage.