Bedtime Screaming

[cal28]

My son will be 2 years old next week and up to now he has always been very good at going to bed. He goes at the same time as my 4 year old daughter (7.30 -8.00) every night. Only about 5 nights ago he started screaming as soon as he gets a hint that its bedtime. Gone are the lovely kisses and waves night-night from him and instead he screams uncontrolably for hours. I mean one night it was 3 hours the others were all 1.5 - 2 hours its even during the day at nap time. It is so upsetting and incredibly frustrating especially with another child in the house....in fact as I am typing he is in his crib screaming away!!
I am a firm believer in controlled crying technique so my husband and I have been sticking to that with the help of ear plugs !! I just have no idea what could have triggered this huge change in his behavior any ideas ?? Also the controlled crying is having little effect right now as we are on the 6 th night and it hasn't improved at all. Our babysitter just told me that she has never heard or seen a child behave like this in her life!!! Please help.

[boosty]

first of all, night light! make bedtime a fun routine and not just going to bed.dotn make it a game, but brushing teeth and bedtime prayers and bedtime reading will make it fun depends on your approach. there are  a few reasons he could be doing this.
1. thats the only thing he has control of and if your constantly telling him no and disciplingin him, he wants to keep control over something .
2. he maybe having nightmares and is scared to go to bed.
3. make him sleep with a stuffed animal
never ignore him at that age. find out whats wrong. children always do things for a reason. you ignoring him might be hurting him more. he is screaming so he isnt comfortable. if he was calling you nonstop at bedtime, then i would understand you ignoring him.
talk to him. my daughter had night terrors for as long as i remember.  i guess its normal. shes a calm, happy kid, but alwasy had night terrors and would wake up in the middle of the night crying or something.
does he sleep in a crib or a regular bed?
my daughter started sleeping real bad and i decided to taker her out at 2 and put her in a regular bed. she slept beautifully.
dont let him be trapped and punished by being in bed. it should be a fun and relaxing experience.
a new thing i am doing now cause my daughter has started to call me in every second for potty or water just not to sleep is i put a blank paper on the fridge. everytime shes a good girl, she earns a good girl sticker on that paper. whent he paper fills up, she will get surprise.
first find out and heal this bedtime thing, then reward him with a sticker.  but take your time putting him to bed. i knwo alot of people may not agree, but i go wtih what my daughter is feeling. some nights i spend much longer time saying goodbye than other times. i read a book, say our prayers, sing to her, tell her how much i love her and what a good girl she is , kiss and hug her. somtiems it takes me thirty minutes.
you may not have to do that, but make sure that going to bed is a good experience and not a punishment.

[musicmama]

Exactly what are you doing with the controlled crying?  Does he have a nightlight?
I don't know what could cause this unless he is suddenly afraid of the dark, or he has had a nightmare or he is going through a separation anxiety phase.
Good luck and God bless.