Toddler sleep issues!

[Kndy413]

My 2yr old son was a good sleeping up until 3wks ago...Both of our sons were the type of children you could lay them in their beds while they were awake and with no issues they would fall asleep on their own...Now our 2yr old screams when you even get near his room for nap time...I have to sit on the floor and hold his hand till he falls asleep...Bed time we have even more issues...When he falls asleep and we lay him in his crib but within 3-4hrs he's up screaming and crying, wants nothing to do with his bed! About a month ago I re did his room...I'm thinking these issues stem from the change in wall colors and location of his crib...His room went from a tan color to a navy blue...My husband and I are planning on putting both our boys in the same room bc they are so close in age (only 14mths apart) but there is no way we can do that with my 2yr old not being able to sleep through the night now, esp with my 3yr old starting school in 2wks! PLEASE HELP! Could these sleeping issues stem from the change in his room?

[Kndy413]

Thank you for your advice and quick response!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Toddlers do not adapt easily to change, so it's possible that the alteration of the physical environment has been unsettling. However, three weeks is not a long time. Stick with the usual routine, and don't 'rescue' him when he wakes up at night. He has to learn to fall back to sleep on his own, and he can only do that with experience. you're the parent, so you will do whatever you think is best. My guidance, though, is absolutely to not have the children in the same room. Starting school is enough of a change for now. As is often said, "If it's not broken, don't fix it."