Hi everyone, I could use some advice.
My 2-year-old has recently started waking randomly throughout the night. We’ve always had a bit of a struggle with her nighttime routine, but once she was asleep, she would usually stay asleep.
We also have a 1-year-old, and a couple of months ago we moved her into the same room as her sister. At first, things went really smoothly, both girls fell asleep easily and stayed asleep. But recently my 2-year-old has been waking up crying or screaming. To avoid waking her sister, we started bringing her into our bed. Unfortunately, she began to want only to sleep with us.
Now, when she wakes, we just pick her up, reassure her, and put her back in her cot. She falls back asleep, but she’s waking every 1–2 hours needing us to come in, otherwise she’ll cry. It almost feels like a mix of separation anxiety and habit at this point.
We’ve tried:
- Cutting down screen time
- A calmer nighttime routine
- Making sure she’s not hungry or thirsty
- Offering a comforter
- Adjusting naps (and skipping them)
Nothing has really made a difference.
I’m due to have another baby next month (yes, that will make three little ones close in age—no judgment please, we know it’s going to be a wild ride!) and the idea of juggling a newborn and a toddler waking all night is daunting. She’s still in a cot, but I’m wondering if moving her to a toddler bed might help or make things worse.
Has anyone been through something similar? What worked for you? Any tips or tricks would be so appreciated.