2 and a half year old, will not go to bed after our recent holiday

[mumsrthebest]

My 2 and a half year old, will not go to bed after our recent holiday. Obviously on holiday her routine was out. I have spoken with my health visitor and she has advised me to sit in the room and face the other way until she drops off to sleep. Has anyone else had this issue? If so how long does it last?

We get this a lot. We travel to Italy often (where despite my best efforts DS goes to bed much later) and it always takes a good while (think weeks) to settle back to normal. We're off in 2 weeks' time on holiday for a week, back for 2 weeks then out to Italy for 2+ weeks. God knows what it's going to do to him.

I've recently instigated a new bedtime routine where I sit quietly by DS' cot with lights off (after last story been read) until he drops off. Before that I had to stroke him to sleep (which started after a prolonged bout of travel). Seems to be working so I'd follow your HV' advice.

Thanks, I will try the story reading and see how it goes.

Is she in a bed or a cot? Is the problem that she keeps getting back up again?

Does she still have a nap?

Whatever you do, stick to it and it will be quicker. When my DS was that age, sometimes I felt like I was a distraction in the room and had to leave.

Allow the amount of time you were on holiday plus another week if jetlag an issue (even 1 hour)

She is in a cot but she has now learnt how to lean over the cot side and land on the floor with a loud bang!. I have tried taking the side of the cot off and I just keep picking her up and putting back in the cot over and over again.

She sometimes naps about 30 mins to 1 hour a day.

Admittedly I haven't been in her room constantly everynight because two of the night last week she fell asleep on the sofa so I just put her in her cot.