2 Year Old Sleep Challenge

Each of my three children wanted me close to them as they fell asleep. They are now 11, 8, and 6. I have always had the philosophy that they grow out of everything in their own time. Their childhood goes by so fast, I just try to remember that someday, I'll miss those days of snuggling with them at bedtime. Each of them, in their own time, told me when they were ready to sleep by themselves. HOpe this helps! Good luck.

My son is almost two and does this as well, he like to hold my hair. We've tried a few things, but he always wants to go back to it. He sleeps in his own room, in his bed, but still wants to hold my hair to fall asleep. Lately we've tried just having him hold my hand, and he fights this, but he does it and falls asleep. I've also tried sitting in a chair in his room and he fights it, keeps asking for me to come closer, and it takes him a long time to fall asleep this way too, but he eventually does. I think it's lasted this long because I haven't been consistent, when I am tired and want to crash, I've given in since I know it will get him to sleep fast. Being consistent is key I think. Wish you the best!

Have you tried a stuffed animal or something soft(a blanket) I gave my daughter a teddy bear and to this day, if I lose it, "I'm in trouble!" She goes right to sleep. In the American Academy of Pediatrics book it says to try a stuffed animal or something soft.

Hope this helps!

My older son had this issue when very little. He had the worst case of mommy-itess! I would tuck one of my old t-shirts around him or lay it under the crib mattress before I would put him to sleep! Sometimes if he felt he needed to be in my arms I would hold him until he was asleep and then move him to his crib/bed. When he was awake he would carry another one of my shirts as a "wooby". A few months of this and he was ok. Just the smell and feel of mommy can be reassuring. You might even try to rub his back as he drifts off to sleep so he has the security of knowing you are there.Good luck!

He just misses his Mommy and he loves you. My son is now 5 and he was like that from day one. He will eventually outgrow it. My son just in the last few months has been going to bed like a big boy so i know how you feel. Try taking him to a toy store and having him pick out a special friend to sleep with. Also lights on the ceiling or soft music may help. You could also go cold turkey and start putting him in his bed and walking out of room.( keep coming back every few minutes to touch him lightly and let him know you are still there) It may be tough and heartbreaking to hear him cry but it will be over in a few nights and you will both feel better.I did this with my daughter(2 and a half) (wish i had done it with my son) and she has been going to sleep in her own room for 6 months now! Good luck!

Before my son started to fall asleep on his own we would read a story then sing a lullaby with his bear. After about 4 nights he was able to go to sleep all by himself as he held that one bear (he's almost three and still loves that bear).

I use one perfume and I sprayed his bear with it once or twice a week for about a month so it would smell more like me.

Hope this helps! :)

Someone already mentioned this but I wanted to re-itterate because it has been a blessing for both my little girls. We were given a tiny "Little Giraffe" blanket when my first daughter was born. At a "Transition to Motherhood" class the nurse mentioned that a security item would help babies fall back asleep on their own after awaking in the middle of the night. I tried it. I slept with it for two nights which I think did help as then it had my smell. Then give it to them. The blankets are so soft and they have satin trim so them have something soft to touch/rub and it will have your scent. We only keep ours in our beds so that we dont lose them.

My daughter used to do the same thing. for her it was holding one of my fingers. Eventually she out grew it. I think she was between 3 and 4. Its just a feeling of security for them.

When my youngest daughter was 1 1/2 she had developed a habit of pulling on my ears in order to go to sleep. This was very painful. I found the softest stuff animal with large ears and when it was bed time I would place the stuffed animal in her crib and she began pulling its' ears and falling asleep. This actually cured her habit because after a while she no longer needed the stuffed animal ears to fall asleep. Try it and let me know if it works.

C.

A little about me:

Mother of 3 grown children and grandmother of 4.

To help my son he has several nighttime "items" that he very MUCH enjoys sleeping with and that provide security besides one of us (his parents). He has a very soft, soft stuffed monkey that he loves and a special blanket that he goes to sleep with. We really built these up for him to provide that nighttime security and it is great as I wanted to avoid a co-sleeper like my now 6 year old is and this has worked wonderfully for him. Good luck!
T.

i know just how you feel, my son will be 3 in aug. and he still has that issue... i really do wonder if there is anything that i havent tried that might help...
~E.
p.s. i know this didnt really help, but im sure it makes you feel better knowing that you arent going through it alone....

M.,

I emphathize with you being a working mother as well. I would allow my kids to fall asleep on me mostly for my benefit because it was great bonding time that I needed after being at work all day. I quickly realized that I was setting myself up for a hard separation. Unfortunately, the only thing that worked was cold turkey putting them in the crib and letting them cry it out. No doubt, it was very hard but in the long run, it was successful. You just have to decide when you are up for the challenge.
Empathetic x4

Sorry, sounds like a blessing to me, not a problem. My oldest liked to have me face away from her and play with my hair, which was in a long braid. She's in college now and I miss those days. He'll grow out of it soon enough and then you'll miss it! Just use it as relaxation time. Everybody can use a little more of that.

If you work full time, then your son must have a day care arrangement. Does he have to touch sking to fall asleep there? The way I look at these sleep issues is that a newborn baby needs to be held when it cries and it often falls asleep in someone's arms. It is the parents who fail to transition as the baby ages and is ready and able to fall asleep without being rocked, or swayed, or having its back rubbed, etc. all ways of being soothed. Do you know any adults who have to be soothed to fall asleep? Well, a two year old no longer needs it either. He now has a habit and unfortunately he will have to cry a little to learn to be self-soothing. Since he is two, you can explain to him that he has to fall asleep by himself now and that you are going to put him down and he should go to sleep. After he cries 5 min., pop your head in the door only, no talking, you are to see him but he doesn't necessarily have to see you. After 10 more min if he's still crying, pop in your head again. Then wait 15 min before looking in on him. At his age he will probably be able to cry pretty long and when he sees you he will really begin to cry hard. That is good, because he will actually wear himself out faster the harder he cries. If you find it very difficult to listen to his crying, then don't, turn off the listening end of the monitor, close doors between you, whatever to lessen your anxiety. He will survive and actually he will be a happier boy, because we all have inner instincts and when we make progress growing-up, we feel better about ourselves. You will also feel better about your growth as a mother. When doing something for the first time, it is easy to get stuck. Many parents continue to act in ways that were good when started, but the child has outgrown the need for them.

Seems like he just needs you right now. I'd go with it and allow him to fall asleep while maintaining contact with you. I'd take your cues from your son even though it may not be convenient. Something else to try...wear him in a sling (or carrier of some sort...a mei tei or a ergo baby carrier) after you're home from work. This sounds VERY normal especially because you're away from him during the day. Remember - this is just a stage and it will pass. Give him what he needs and he'll be better for it (and it's not a terrible problem to have! Your child wants you close!). Good luck!

FROM JEWEL yes I have a two year old to what I do is turn my back to him and sooner or later he falls asleep.

I would try and play up that 'pretty soon' (a couple days time) he will need to go to sleep like a big boy and that he'll get a prize (very small token) in the morning when he wakes up. It will require a bit of work, but if you want it to stick you need to break the habit. You might tell him the first night or two that you'll sit in a nearby chair or floor... and then transition to 'I'm right outside your door'. Another idea is to give him a few books to read in his crib and then just pull them out before you go to bed. If my daughter is having a hard time, I do this with her and then tell her M. has to go to the bathroom or that I'm going to lie down - - and then I just never go back in her room and she forgets about it because she's too busy looking at her books. Might be a wee bit dishonest, but it works!

We just moved our 26 month daughter from her old room to her big girl room and she's had a bit of adjusting - but every night goes by a little smoother. The first night took 1 1/2 hours - but once she fell asleep she was fine through the night.

Just some thoughts... good luck!

Try a comfort silke http://www.comfortsilkie.com/ You sleep with them for a few nights and they will retain your scent. Super soft and silky. Good luck it may be hard at first.

Though this question is very old, just for info I would like to post my reply.

I am a 30yrs old male.
When I was a kid, I used to touch my mom's belly to fall asleep. I don't think it is a security issue. On some occassions, when I was denied, I remember feeling so sad that I cried. I don't even remember how I overcame the habit. It was natural. I had no issues going to hostel, staying away from home (I went to a boarding school when I was 12 yrs old for quality education). I was one of the easiest to adapt to any new environment. Now I have a well established business built in a different country where I came alone. My relationship with my parents is very good. Though I stay in another country, every other day I talk with my mom & dad through phone or Skype. I don't see any problem in a child wanting to sleep with his/her mother. That's what we humans do, enjoy being in company of one another & feeling safe being with an affectionate family.