Help!!!

My 2.5 yr old son has always been very easy to put to sleep. No fuss at all bath, brush teeth, pjs, kisses then bed. Since monday it has been PURE HELL. He doesnt wanna sleep in his bed he SCREAMS for hours in his room and all I can do is cry...I dont know what to do. Anyone have advice?

My son was the same way!  He always went to bed with no problems, but he started acting up at bedtime around that same age.  Sorry, I don't have much advice for you, but I know how stressful it is!  He would wander out of his room just minutes after we put him to bed.  He would usually do it at least three times, sometimes as many as 20 times in a row.  The only thing I could do was just walk him back to bed and explain that he needed to sleep.  Does your son take any toys or stuffed animals to bed?  That seemed to help us a little.  Our son had a stuffed animal he liked to take to bed, and he got in the habit of staying in bed as long as 'rabbit' was there with him.  Now that he's 3.5, he likes to take a different toy to bed each night.  He gets to select one after his bath, and then we tuck him in with his toy. 

It's going to sound mean, but let him scream.  Do all the normal bedtime things, bath, jammies, book, snuggles.  Then it's lights out and bedtime.  If he screams, he screams.  The only thing I can really think of that you could do differently is maybe push bedtime back a 1/2 hour or so, maybe it's too early for him when he is going to bed now? 

Other than that, you have to maintain the fact that YOU are in charge, not him.  It seems like he is trying to assert some independence which is fine, except with thinga like bedtime.  Mommy is the boss of bedtime. 

Take heart, these phases pass and they go back to "normal" pretty quickly! :)

I agree with Mollie.  Try reading a book to him right before bedtime so he's nice and relaxed. Playing soft music in the room might work too.   Also, the hour before bedtime keep prepping him that he's going to bed soon. But, once he's in bed he should stay no matter how loud he screams.  If he gets up, just put him back.  Don't say anything after the 3rd time.  Just pick him up and put him back in bed and walk away...then cry in your room but wipe the tears before you have to put him back again!  Lol

These are the hard times of being a parent (I have 4).  But it's for thier own good.  He is not the authority...because he's just 2.5!  Love him, hug him, kiss him and tell him you'll see him in the morning.  Good luck! :O)

Be firm about the routine in your response to his protest.

That's the key!!!

It helps to have a routine before bedtime that's comfortable. i.e: Let him pick a story book for you to read him. Or: A song for you to sing to him. Just something to get him settled into his bed. Sometimes it helps to add a comfort item/toy too. Nightlight/ Stuffed teddy bear/Special Blanket/Etc.

However: The most important part is to be consistent in your response to him. That way you've made it clear it's still bedtime regardless of his meltdowns.  Period.

 It's a short phase if you're consistent in your approach and response to him.

Best of Luck! :)

Thanx for all of your replies.

It has been very trying, my husband works out of town mon-fri but this past week he was in town and Caleb didnt really give us a hard time. So today will be day 1 to see if it all come down to his dad being away 5 days a week.