Is there such a thing as the 2-year sleep regression?

[BeeBread]

I've been very smug about my DS's sleeping patterns over the last year - generally he goes down like a dream, sleeps 12 hours, 8pm-8am and sometimes a bit longer.

He turned 2 a couple of weeks ago and seems suddenly to have (mild) sleep issues.

He is more reluctant to go down.

Sometimes when he does go down, we can hear him awake for ages afterwards and eventually he'll start to cry (although, bless him, he's had a good go at sleeping and trying to entertain himself).

And for the first time in literally months, he is waking up at 5-6am. I know this isn't the end of the world but I quite liked the lie ins .

I can't see any new teeth, and wondered if he was excited by Christmas, going though a growth spurt or developmental spurt (his talking is coming along great guns at the moment) or unsettled because I am due to have another baby soon?

Or is this a recognised "thing" for a 2-year old?

I think its quite common for 2 year olds to start trying to resist BT etc - testing the boundaries perhaps. What is his routine like ATM? Does he have a daytime nap?

We've had this - I think his molars have caused bother long before you could see them (he'd rub his ear/jaw and chew his fingers). DS also needs more exercise and fresh air otherwise naps and bedtime is a huge battle.

I think so - DS has been showing signs of developmental upset (just turning 2).

Molars have had a huge effect on his sleep too - for about 3 or 4 months (they're all through now though).

Also as they get older, developmental stuff is less predictable - they're learning new skills but at different times to each other, so it's harder to know when they're doing it IYSWIM.

Ooh thanks for the responses.

He has been dropping his nap, say 2-3 days without one, then a big catch up nap on day 3-4. Random times really, as we've never really had to regulate his sleep patterns because they've always been painless for us. But that's been going on for quite a few weeks now, well before the night time shenanigans started.

He was crying again after trying to sleep for 40 minutes last night, then nodded when I asked if he teeth hurt, so maybe it's that.

Can't have been so painful - he was then in full partypants mode until midnight and up again at 6am.

Those who have the early starts regularly - hats off - I don't know how you do it!

Ah, if he's dropping his nap, overtiredness could be a factor. Do you put him to bed early on the days he doesn't nap? I'd go for bedtime an hour early on days he doesn't have a day sleep.

An alternative might be to give him a shorter but later nap - he might need a later bedtime though.

Ds 1 was a dream sleeper and his sleep went womky for a bit around 2yrs.

It passed. But it is tiring.

Agree with Angels - sounds like OT, esp if he was struggling to settle. I would also do EBT.

We're going through the same thing here atm, I really hope it passes quickly because it is unbelievably tiring.
I tried putting DD to bed as usual an hour ago, she is still bringing me random items from her bedroom as gifts. She's been waking twice or even three times a night for a couple of weeks now too (bar one or two nights when she slept well).
If it is teething, why the bloody hell aren't we born with a full set of teeth??? Serious design flaw if you ask me.

Oh and now she's cooking me a meal.