Toddler separation anxiety

[Gardener11]

hi All! My lo is 22 months next week. Since he was 1 I have been able to get him down when he wakes up in the night by breastfeeding and putting back in his cot awake in 10 mins. About 3 weeks ago he got the most poorly he’s ever been and we ended up going to A&E. he didn’t eat for over a week and barely drank and all he would accept was boob. Since he has recovered I can no longer put him in his cot awake and he wakes up several times a night often screaming. If I send my husband in he is instantly hysterical and hyperventilating calling for me. The only thing that soothes him is boob. I am having to bring him into bed with me as he is often waking up when I put him in his cot and it all begins again. I am so sleep deprived it’s starting to feel dangerous. Husband could easily soothe him in the night before this and husband does bedtime most nights anyway.

I think this has been brought on by his illness but I have no idea how to break the cycle? Anyone had any similar experiences or ideas? How long does it last?

thank you for your help!

[alohalu]

Hi! I have always found really difficult to deal with a toddler in the middle of the night. Their brain is not functioning properly when they’re half asleep. But something that works for me, is doing changes when I put her to bed. So, my daughter, for example, only stopped breastfeeding in the middle of the night when I convinced her to stop breastfeeding when I was putting her to bed. I really mean convincing, like talking to her about it, explaining her that I didn’t want to breastfeed anymore because it was making me sad or tired.

So yeah, try to focus on the first time you put him to bed at night. And hopefully once you solve that one, the other times improve on its own.