2 Year Old Dosn't Want to Go to Sleep

I got Avery my 3 yr old a horse stuffed animal SHE picked out to sleep with. She sent her paci up in the sky on a balloon when she was 2 1/2 I think it was and she did FINE after she did it. It was hard a couple of night but nothing bad. She has a CD with music with her name in it that sings lullaby songs. She LOVES the CD I will read her a story of her choice put in her CD and she is OUT. Thank goodness my son HATES the paci. Right now he chews on it b/c he is teething but will not suck on it so YEAH I am happy. Good Luck

I have 3 small children 5, 3, and 1. The oldest 2 are girls and lately they have been saying they are scared and want to sleep downstairs instead of upstairs in their beds. I got them the stuffed animals that glow when you push on their paw. The girls call them their bear lights and as soon as they go to bed we pray to Jesus to help them not be scared and then they turn on their bear light and watch it change colors while they fall to sleep.

Does she have a special stuff animal or something to comfort her? Maybe that could help if she finds something special to go to bed with. Just a thought. Good Luck..

How about some nice easy music? My son (22mo) uses an aquarium. Still working for us. Grab some classical music and see what happens. Worst case is that it just doesn't work for you. Best case is that it could be the answer to your prayers. No harm in introducing your little one to some of the greats like Beethoven, Mozart, Zamfir, etc. Good Luck, Shannon G.

I am going through the same thing as you! My son 2 1/2 was a great sleeper until we took his passy away a week ago. Now is does not know how to self sooth and put himself to sleep. He did replace his passy with a hard plastic airplane and a this little Thomas the Train lantrin which has helped some. We plan on takng him to build a bear this week so maybe he can have something soft to sleep with to replace his passy. Have you tried anything like that?

Hello J.:

As a mother for 20 years, I fully understand and sympathize with your current problem. Let me just assure you that your daughter WILL eventually find a way to go to sleep without her pacifier. What you need to do is come up with a specific routine that you follow every night, leading up to her bedtime.

Even the simplest of tasks, when followed in order every single night, can have a significant effect. Start with a drink of water, a visit to the potty, a goodnight story. Have your daughter help to choose her clothes for the next day. Maybe she can choose a special stuffed animal to sleep with each night? The different tasks don't matter -- what matters is that you do them together each and every night. These different tasks gradually let her know (and her sub-conscious) that it's time to go to sleep.

A nice snuggle with Mom may help a lot, also. Maybe a snuggle in a rocking chair, with a quiet little lullaby? Something to soothe her and help her to quiet down. The pacifier was probably a soother, and a snuggle may help to take its place. Above all, try to be patient.

I hope this idea helps and wish you lots of luck in your endeavor. Try to just enjoy her, no matter what the struggles. She won't be a 2-year-old for long!

Hugs,
L. R

I was thinking a "buddy" would be good. My 4 year old has 2 buddies(purple bears with green ribbons that are very frayed by now), a blanket, and a nuk she has to have with her when she's either VERY tired or upset (usually tired). (We haven't really forced the issue of "retiring the nuk" only because she really ONLY wants it if she's Super tired, and even then, it falls out of her mouth shortly after she falls asleep, if and when she uses it.)

Either that or find her another pacifier.