2 Year Old All of a Sudden Not Sleeping

My son is 2 yrs and 5 month. He just started to have problems sleeping as well. He wouldn't lie down and fall asleep like before. Instead he would lie down, wait two minutes for us to leave, and try to get out of his room and join us. We discovered that he has developed a fear of the dark. We now keep a light on in his room and, although he wakes up at night, he doesn't try to escape his room. Hope this helps.

I've got a little one, who had similar issues. The things we forget to think about are; has there been a change to her daily routine? A new experience that may have been unsettling? I didn't think about all those things when I was having issues with getting my son to sleep at night, and he'd just want to chat or play. My son's pedi recommended having time at night in his room where we read a book and had a little chat before I said, 'okay it's time for bedtime and Mommy will be here if you need me, but big boys need their sleep'...if he'd wake up, I'd kiss him and repeat the same exact thing.

His doctor told me that any small change in the daily schedule or event that may have caused a unsettling, may increase the need for reassurance that Mommy is there and always will be when you need her.

Even now, we still run into issues at night...if the nap was not long enough or if we try something new during the day, it can throw the whole thing off. Just be consistent with your approach, and you don't have to be stearn or mean, we're Mommy's our jobs are to love and comfort.

Good luck!

Hi Jamie:
You know,it would appear, that alot of young mothers feel the solution to many of their childrens downfalls or problems is (disapline)You mentioned Jenna has always been a great sleeper, and that this falling asleep alone, just recently began.Since this hasn't been an issue in the past, You have to assume,that theres a problem.I think it would benifit you and your daughter,if you both attempted to resolve it.After all...The idea is to help Jenna return to her good sleeping habits, not intimidate her with glares,but help her resolve the problem. Two year olds have a wild imagination,and with that comes new fears.She remembers dreams,and wonders if they were real? She may have a new fear of the dark,or a fear of being to far away from you.I'd sit wth her,and ask.(why she was having trouble sleeping)Then ask her what would help her.A nite light? the door ajar? What ever it is, that is keeping her from getting her normal good nights sleep.I wish you and your darlin daughters the best.

Not sure if she is too young for this, but my son is 3 and was having similar problems. I was starting with bedtime at 8:00 - 8:30, but he would just play quitely in his room and wouldn't actually got to sleep till around 11:00 or midnight. The preschool teacher recommended trying no nap in the afternoon. It has only been 1 week, but seems to work. He now goes to bed (and to sleep!!) around 7 or 8 and wakes around 7. He doesn't nap during the day, we do have a quite time where he just reads or draws quitely. He is still getting approx 11-12 hours of sleep, but instead of 8 hours at night and 2-3 hour nap it is all at night time. This schedule seems to work better for everyone! It is also much easier to get him up in the morning and he seems much happier during the day! Hope you find something that works, it is frustrating when they won't go to sleep.

Hi Jamie, Taking her back and forth for 2 1/2 hours, the bigining of a very bad habit. My question to you is, is why would you allow your child to disobey or defie you for 2 1/2 hours, look at the situation and ask your self who's in charge there. you need to be firm but loving and let her know bed time is bed time, and unless she needs to go potty, she's to stay in her bed, and if she doesn't there needs to be consinquiences for not obeying you. At 2 she should only be having one nap per day, if she is not tired until 10:30, it's because she is getting to much sleep during the day, try modifying her naps to one 2 hour nap a day, the 2 year olds in my daycare take one 2 hour nap a day. J. L.

Perhaps it could be an attachment issue. You say that you have an 8 month old child as well. Maybe she feels like the only time she can have truly alone with you is at night. A good friend of mine was going through the same situation and found that to be the problem. So, she quietly spent a good half an hour with her before bedtime and reassured her that no matter what mommy will always be there in the morning. Her daughter is now sleeping through the night.
Why not look into that?

Check to see if her molars are coming in. Has she had a bad dream lately? 2 years is a common age for night terrors

Dear J.,
I am a Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach in the SFV. Please check out my website www.theindependentchild.com Your problem is not uncommon and I know that I could help you in a matter of a few days at the most. I know how frustrated and exhausted you must be, but there is hope. Best wishes,
K.

I agree with Terry in that cutting out the nap or limiting it to 1-2 hours will help her to be tired earlier. It's harder on Mom but if you make it a play quietly time - you can still get things done while she is in her room "reading".

Also being a working mom, sometimes she might just want some one on one time with you. Sit with her in her room for 15-20 minutes at bed time, talk about her day, read a story, kiss and then have her crawl into bed.

Oh and the taking her back thing only becomes a game if you talk to her and smile and make it seem fun. (learned from experience) :)

To this day I say nothing and point to the bed with a look on my face that says no nonsense. I don't really mean to look cross -- but the look and lack of full attention gets the point across. (mine are 8.5, 8.5 and 10) -- its still works --but the look is key :)

Check out the Sleep Lady Book. I used it with both my little ones and its worked wonders for naps and night time sleeping.
:)