2 year old takes up to 2 hours to fall asleep

[Moonbeam7]

Hi all, new here. Registered to see if anyone could help me; my two yr old takes up to 2 hours to fall asleep! We co sleep and I need to be in bed with her to sleep.

She wakes at 8, go for nap at 12/1 and it takes until close to 2 to fall asleep. I've tried taking her at 1/1:30 then she doesn't fall asleep till 3!

Wakes roughly 2 hrs later and bedtime is between 8-9. Again falls asleep around 10-10:30.

She just jumps around in bed (laying down) kicking around and talking to herself. I've tried laying down cuddling her, doesn't work.

The thing is she IS tired, she's actually getting dark circles now due to lack of sleep!

Bed time routine is dinner, stories, pj's and teeth.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[DoItTooJulia]

My ds1 was just like this. It used to drive me mad.

He is 9 now and even if he is in bed at 7.30 he reads till 9.30 and tries to get it later than that! I don't mind if he is quiet,in his room, reading staying up til 9.30. But he's 9.

We used to try everything. In the end he just got to an age where he would be ok with some reading time on his own. So we could leave him upstairs on his own in bed. He was probably 4.

We tried CDs, story CDs, music CDs, meditation for kids CDs. Special quiet bedtime toys, night lights, sitting there. Gradual retreat. You name it.

Good luck OP.

[Moonbeam7]

Thanks for your reply. Feeling like this though :(

The thing is I used to be exactly like tht until I got pregnant; would take me AT LEAST a few hours to finally fall asleep! Just wish lo didn't have same problem.

If it makes any diff she hasn't always been like this. Up until a month or so ago she would fall asleep within 30 mins.

[tantrumtime]

My DD is 2.8 and I also have to sit with her so she goes to sleep. It's infuriating because I have to hold my 13 month old too and all her faffing sometimes wakes him. I've got no advice but I'm watching closely to see if anyone else does. She wakes in the night and the whole thing starts again but it my bed
Like you this is a new thing.

[Moonbeam7]

Tantrutime- I too have another 1 to deal with, 9 week old ds so know exactly how you feel! Hopefully someone out there has some sort of magic remedy..

[tantrumtime]

It's a nightmare! I have to sit on DD bed whilst feeding DS to sleep then cross my fingers to hope he stays asleep whilst she sings twinkle twinkle 50 times. Some nights are easier than others but it generally takes over an hour.

[Moonbeam7]

Lol my dd goes through rock a bye baby and jingle bells 50 times! Thankfully my ds is a really sleepy baby so he's usually asleep through most of it.

I used to try singing to my dd but that only encouraged her more; cue "ROCK ABY BABY ON TREE TOOOOOP" in her loudest voice!

[RoganJosh]

I would try to limit the nap, 2 hours might be a bit much.

[Bearandcub]

Unfortunately I've found through varying experiments that the only true alternative is to put a film on for my eldest. He is usually asleep 40 mins into it but I know it's an instant veto for mother of the year.

[Moonbeam7]

Rogan- I have tried 1.5 hour naps before and sometimes when were out and about the only nap she gets is in the car so usually 30 mins but we still have the same problem. The only difference is when she wakes before her 'natural' time she's such a moany mary!!!

Aaand I love those 2 hours of peace an quiet :D

[Moonbeam7]

Bearandcub- I would so be willing to give that a try but we don't have a tv in our bedroom.

Thanks for the replies to everyone, keep them coming!

[Bearandcub]

Kindle/ iPad/ iphone and a film from Netflix?

[tantrumtime]

Oh and no nap, not even 30 seconds. I keep her awake at all costs. Saying that, she dropped her nap at 18 months when DS came along

[Moonbeam7]

Do you have to pay for netflix? I might need to give that a go...

Again tried the no nap route but she drops on her feet by 5/6pm and if she goes to bed that early she wakes around 11 and is completely awake till about 2.

[Moonbeam7]

Plus I'm worried with no nap she won't be getting the amount of sleep she needs? As like I say she's getting under eye bags atm the poor thing- I feel so guilty like I'm to blame already so no naps would probably make those a lot worse?

[Mamabear12]

My daughter does this if we try to sleep w her. She gets too excited. She has to sleep in her own room. In a crib w sleeping bag on so she can't climb out.