My high maint. 2 yr old son

[flutterby990]

Hi, my son is going to be 2 in a matter of 2 weeks... he doesn't sleep properly at night and we're at a loss as to what to do. We just recently put him into a big boy bed and he seems to be doing ok with it. Not acting much different that he did when he was in the crib. He constantly wakes in the night and won't go back to bed. He freaks out like he's in pain but there's nothing that should be bothering him. I don't want to give him tylenol everytime because if there's no need he doesn't need the medicine. His eatting habbits have been strange too. He'll eat anything that is mush and easy to eat (he's a really good eatter) and he'll nibble at a bit of everything but won't eat just one big meal unless it's baby food. I even made home made babyfood for him and he's refusing to eat this as well. He'll eat junk food no problem but I don't want a child living off of junk or thinking that he can eat junk if he won't eat other stuff.
We're at a loss as to what to do and the lack of sleep is really getting to us. WE NEED HELP.

[lil_Jean]

Have you talked to a pediatrician? I have a 12 month old, and we had problems a couple months ago with sleeping. She gave us some pamphlets on ways to fix the problem and they actually worked! I don't know if it will help much, but when my daughter would cry, we would go in there NOT SAY A WORD, pat her back for a couple minutes, and leave. If she would continue crying, we would wait 5 minutes and repeat it. The first night or two was hard, but things got easier. Now we have no problems. Again that was for an infant. I don't know if it will help for a toddler? I would say ask your doctor or pediatrician. You'd be surprised at what they can help you fix!

[DustyL]

If you don't want your son eating junk food, don't give him the opportunity! He's not going to starve himself, so if you cut out the junk food, he'll eat his dinner when he's ready. I would stop the baby food like yesterday, he's WAY too old for that. If he doesn't eat the food you prepare it's because you allow him not to eat it, so he's not going to. There needs to be a point where you say, No more baby food your a big boy now so it's big boy food from now on. If you don't want it, don't eat it. But thats all your getting. He may so to bed hungry once or twice, but thats just testing the waters. Don't give in, be strong! He'll eat when he's hungry TRUST ME!!! As far as the bed, again, he did it once you re-acted in a way he liked. So it's going to continue. If he wakes up crying in the middle of the night, calm him down while walking him back to his bed. when you get there, tuck him in and remind him your only however far away. If he repeates it throughout the night, you need to as well. After a week or so of realizing he's not getting out of sleeping in his own bed, he'll give up. This is a tough time for parents cause that 2 year old boy will try EVERYTHING including making you feel horrible if it means he gets what he wants =] Just remember... YOU'RE the parents.... and YOU make the decisions. Good Luck Hope this helps!