2yo sleep regression - any tips?

[rejdw]

My daughter is 2 next week and - I think - we are going through a sleep regression classic of this age.

She is usually good at going to sleep - has a bath, story, milk, gets in her sleeping bag, in her cot and we leave the room. She usually falls straight to sleep and if not immediately within 10 mins max.

For the past two weeks she has cried for a long time and it's getting worse - it took 2.5 hrs last night to get her to sleep. We tried staying in the room with her in the cot until she was asleep but as soon as I left she'd know, wake up and scream again. We tried giving her cuddles and putting her back in when she was calm but that would just send her off again.

I've read a bit about gradual retreat which I understand is better for this stage but I just wondered if anyone had any practical experience of doing this and how long it takes etc?

I am 32 weeks pregnant so very keen to knock this phase on the head before the next one arrives!

Id she still sleeping at lunchtime?
Cut that back. DS1 stopped all napping at 25 mths.
DS2 is 27 mths, and has had 30 mins napping all weekend.

I'd agree. Either cut nap backs, or put her to bed a bit later. I think they are the in between phase - often not quite ready to drop naps but not really needing them either.

Thanks ladies - she still seems to need her afternoon naps and it really seems to be about wanting the company rather than not being tired. Has anyone tried the gradual retreat method?

Don't need to remove the afternoon nap completely, just wake her 30mins earlier than she currently wakes.
Or take her to bed later?

We tried gradual retreat when DD was younger than 2 and it worked well for us, so hopefully will do the same for you. Took us about 4 days until we were sat outside her room-we got stuck at this point for a while so spent some time sat outside her room reassuring her every now and again.

Another tip I was given (prob on MN) is to say "I'm going to pop out of your room for minute to (insert boring chore here)" and make sure you go back in after a minute. Then pop out again and keep doing that until they fall asleep and just gradually lengthen the time you spend "doing jobs".