2 year old sleep regression?

[drivingmisscrazy]

is there such a thing, or is it just happening in my house?

DD was 2 last week, has been sleeping badly since Christmas. Previously she could be difficult to get to bed, but now she goes off like an angel at 8, but off like a bomb at 2 or 3 am. Will not go back to sleep, asks for juice or to go downstairs - clearly she thinks it's time to get up...this is happening 3-4 times a week. She no longer naps - at least not regularly.

She is probably over-tired (we all bloody are!) but I don't know how to break the cycle.

Getting her back to sleep is a nightmare - she just will not lie down and lie still - is up and singing and playing. Have tried

1. leaving her to it (escalating crying)
2. going to her room and comforting her, attempting to persuade her to lie down (not just with words, IYSWIM)
3. lying down and sleeping next to her
4. bringing her to our bed

none of these works, really - no. 4 usually leads to her being put back to her own bed, where she goes back to sleep - but this takes about 2 hours!!

any ideas? TIA

I would stick with 1 and 2 but ditch 3 and 4. I think she's making a fuss & waiting for 4 to happen before she gives in, basically. You're already losing 2 hours of sleep a night... I don't think you could make things worse by insisting she stays in her own bed and goes back to sleep. Good luck

thanks - she is as stubborn as they come...don't much enjoy listening to her cry and it's never worked before, but your analysis does make sense. Thank you.

I agree with chil. We spent much of the past 12 months giving in to DD's crying and night waking, thinking it was teething or a phase. It was only when we got tough a few weeks ago that it stopped. A few nights of tears and you'll wish you'd done it sooner. But you and DH must be a united front and not give in!

Good luck!

mum295 - if you don't mind me asking, what did you actually do? nothing? just let her cry until she gave up? or did you go in?

DP and I were thinking that we'd go in, briefly, reassure her ('it's OK DD, mummies are here, now you are going to lie down and go back to sleep and we will see you in the morning' sort of thing) and then leave her to cry and shout.

I think she is mostly cross that we won't do what she wants, as well as tired. She's never been very good at falling asleep...

If she cries, we leave it a minute or two, then go into her if it sounds like she's sitting or standing up or inconsolable. We tell her (gently but firmly) to lie down and go back to sleep (if nothing obviously wrong) and if needed, sit next to her and rub her back and head a little.

But if she cries again after that, we leave her to it, knowing she's okay.

DH was away with work last week and I was unable to get up to her every time she cried due to having painful SPD (am pg with DC2). She settled down quite quickly even without me there, crying/whingeing for no more than a minute at a time. (She had a bit of a cough so woke up a few times, but otherwise has slept through.)

I also meant to add that before, DD was drinking loads at night. Milk, but also water.

We also cut that as part of the new regime. She has water by her bed and knows where to find it, or we offer it to her if she's coughing. But she has a much drier nappy in the mornings - maybe the wet nappy was disturbing her sleep. She then guzzles water/juice with her breakfast but also eats much better for having less liquid at night.

that sounds like what we are planning - go in and check on her and then leave her to it. She has had a temp a couple of times which I wouldn't want to ignore. Maybe she is having a wee at that time of night and it's waking her? Who knows. She has had a cough/cold, but she generally sleeps through the cough. We will try to get her to nap again (sigh), but she's also had way too much excitement over this period - visitors, presents, outings, family - one of the downsides of having birthday and xmas so close together and effectively 3 families...crazy. Can't wait for everyone to just go away tbh.

Yes, we were glad to get Christmas over and done with, for same reason!