Real issues goin to sleep!!!!!! i want my perfect sleeper back lol

I am SO stressed tonight! Recently Riley has bee a little devil at bedtime!
Ever since he was tiny he has settled himself to sleep at night with no worries!
Occasionally if he has been poorly or we are stayin away from home he has been difficult to settle but at home he has always been an angel!
HOWEVER..... I have had such a fight on my hands tonight, he was screaming and headbutting the cot sides, and he threw his dummy at me and screamed at me when I went in the room!!!!
He has been like this every night pretty much since Mat went Back to Afghanistan, and I genuinely think It is frustration because when he is home Mat always does bedtime!
I used to love putting him into his cot and kissing him goodnight because it was so stress free and he used to settle right off, Now it is taking me at least an hour sometimes 2 to get him to go to sleep at night! I try leavin him for ten mins then longer each time etc but tonight he screamed SOLIDLY for 15 minutes and I am scared my meddl neighbours are gonna start complaining about him!

Do you ladies think it is a reaction to mat leaving us again? or am I crediting him with too much intelligence? I remember when he was around 6 months he used to be a little ... goin to bed for a day or two after mat left to go on training etc? so I dont know if thats what causes it! but Mat has been gone for over three weeks now and its starting to get to me! I am goin to my mums for a week next week and I know he will be a sod to sleep there cos he hates his travel cot!

I think I am just moaning a bit now but I wondered if anyone had any thought on how I can get my Special little angel back at bedtime!

Nikki B x x x x x x x x

I'v had this....

Hiya,
I know u'v had sum replies but just seen ur post n I can relate 2 u hun.
My now 3 yr old started 2 do pretty much the same when she was round 1.
My hubby started wrkin away around this time n she just didn't settle well at all. Weekends when he was hm were better as we tk turns 2 sort it!
It is a very emotional time n hard goin. I still hava few issues when he returns 2 wrk after weekends. She cries 4 him when she's been naughty or if she's havin an off day.
When ur tired n lonely it is bad enough, neva mind the kids not settling. I'm sure Riley is just goin through a stage. Just do wot ur doin hun. I'm sure ur doin wots best. I tried the controlled cryin n she would go 4 wot seemed like hours!
So stressful at times. They obviously miss their daddy's as much as we miss them when there away.
I am dreadin my 10 wk old goin through it!!! I will be totally grey n a wreck if she ever starts!!!!!
All the best hun, mummyand2. xx

Thankyou

for the lovely replies! I actually burst into tears readin them! I think the world seems a bit worse with me feelin poorly today!
I do have a cuddle while we listen to the message Mat recorded him and Riley has his milk! But I was actually considering not playing him mats voice as I think it makes him worse!
I just think he is a little confused and hopefully as i keep to the same routine at night he will eventually get back to normal!

Love to you all x x x x x x x x x x
nikki x x x x x x x x

Aw {{{HUGS}}} just added u on FB if u wondered who was adding u lol

xx

Hi

Thats brought a tear to my eye reading that, i'm so sorry for you, it must be really difficult for you and your husband to be in this situation. Your little man is more aware now isn't he and knows his daddy isn't there i would imagine your right in thinking its because his gone. Do you sit in his room cuddling him and reading to him or even singing , you prob do all that and more so sorry if this is soundind like the obvious, i'm just trying to think what would i do. My little fella won't and never has slept in his travel cot when we've been away, he has had to sleep with us, his gone back to his own cot ok when weve gone home. Maybe make it into a treat going to bed, take him a warm milk and you have a drink too maybe a biscuit or something whilst you read together so he starts to look forward to it, are you able to lay next to the cot with him, just for a few nights to see if he settles quicker?
good luck i'm sure your little man will settle again

kerry, frankie 16mnths and vinnie bump 36wks xxxx

Hey Nikki,

Its probs quite hard for him to understand where his daddy has gone and i expect he is testing you to see how you react to him playing up.

Im not sure as ive just had my 1st baby 10weeks ago but maybe try reading him a book and say give mummy a kiss and get him to kiss his daddys photo, that way he may get in to a nice routine and make him feel a bit more settled?

Its so difficult espically when you've probs tried everything to calm him down.

I hope u have a nice week away at your mums

Lucy & Rosie xxx