2 year old sleep/naps

[User37652]

Help me please!! I’m losing the will here….
My LO just turned 2 a few months ago, in the last few weeks her sleep has been absolutely awful! She has been acting tired and asking for a nap at the usual time but will not go to sleep, then is overtired and whingy all afternoon. Then I try to do an early bedtime (but sometimes after tea and bath it’s not much earlier than it was anyway), she falls asleep very easily at first but then has been waking up up to 8 times a night…worse than when she was newborn. Usually she falls back to sleep easily but sometimes she will be up for an hour or more.
I wouldn’t be too bothered by dropping the nap but she obviously still needs it but just won’t fall asleep. And then the night time is really killing me!
Any suggestions of what to try would be appreciated please!
Thank you!

I'm really sorry, it sounds awful. Just to remind you that like all the others it will be a phase and you will get through it, even though it feels like you never will.

Possible suggestions...

• Leave her in her room for length of usual nap, even if she doesn't sleep - at least you'll both have had some rest time even if no sleep
• If you think she's undertired try an evening walk before bath
• If overtired try skipping bath sometimes and putting to bed straight after tea (a quick wash will suffice)
• Try a night light
• If still in a cot try a bed
• If still in a sleep sack try a duvet

Stick at each change for a few days to give it chance to work

Good luck!

Oh and also, it could be teething issues causing pain when she lies down, have you tried calpol half an hour before sleep? (sparingly of course)