My 2 year old is suddenly waking through night and fighting going to sleep at night.... Help please x

[Cymrublonde1]

Hi all,

My 2 year old has always been a good sleeper (12/14 hours a night). The past week or so she has been waking through the night and is wide awake! Unlike her, she won't go back into her bed and only seemed to want to be in my husband and my bed, even though we have never allowed this?!?
Tonight, she has cried and cried and pretty much refused to go to sleep and cries out "I'm not going to sleep!" So she understands what's happening....

Has anyone else experienced something similar?
We have thought about moving her knot another room with a bed within next few months as we are due our second baby in July.
I am wondering if she is more ready for this than I maybe thought or not?

Feeling confused and not sure what to do as everything that normally works doesn't seem to be at moment.

Would be grateful for any advice, thank you xx

She might have had that emotional development that leads toddlers to suddenly become scared of the dark. Try a night light.

If not this, she could well just be pushing boundaries like any other "Terrible Twos" tantrums. She wants everything her way (ie in bed with Mummy & Daddy) and it is your role to be the parent and set boundaries (ie The place for you to sleep is in your own cot/bed, so lets take you back there).

Be consistent and keep repeating the same stuff. She will get it and accept the boundaries as you set them eventually.

Thank you FateDestiny!

We leave the landing light on as a few months back we think we figured out that she was afraid of the dark, although my husband is keen to get a night light.

I think a big part of it is testing the boundaries as she seems to understand an awful lot and can certainly tell us what she doesn't want to do!! Lol.

Last night we spent from half 12 til 4 being consistent as you say as I agree that's our role to make boundaries and stick to them.

Just strange as so out of character and very tiring when pregnant!
Xxxx

We went through similar recently, expecting our baby in April. It lasted about 5 weeks but thankfully we have finally gotten back to normal again. It seemed to be a developmental phase mixed with insecurity about the new baby. I used to try to settle dd in her own room at bedtime, leave her door slightly opened and reassure her that I was getting ready for bed and I will come in shortly and wait until she fell asleep. If she wouldn't settle without me, I used to lie in the spare bed next to her cot and shush her and reassure her that I was there and she was safe. It took a little time to work but she has started to feel relaxed again at bedtime. It is a very unsettling time for them when there is a new sibling arriving and it is Ialso a time when they are becoming aware of new fears/emotions so it can take a little time to help them process how they are feeling and reassure them. I hope your dd feels better soon and this phase doesn't last long. I would check that she isn't teething too, sometimes they are getting their molars and it can affect their sleep pattern at night.

Thank you sweetsformysweets.
It is so reassuring to hear that it's perhaps a stage and/or that other mums have experienced similar.

Congratulations to you!! ??

How old is your daughter?
It's funny you say that as we have done very same, left Freya's door open and the landing light on and she asks for a light on.
Last night after trying everything, I stood in her doorway and just said shhhh and mammys here and that seemed to be enough to settle her and within about 15 mins she fell asleep?

Also I think I may have underestimated how much she understands about the new baby. She is only 2 since Christmas but understands a lot more than I anticipated. She has become very clingy to me and has never been before really, always very much a daddy's girl and I think that's a protective thing with the new baby.

Thank you again xx

I am unfortunately having the same problem wih my 2yo ds. always been a fab sleeper but for oast 4 weeks will only fall.asleep either in.our bed.or on the sofa. screams blue murder when we leave him.in the cot. I've tried cc but he just gets that worked up he is sick and gets totally devastated.

when I ask him if he is going to sleep.in his cot he says no,.daddies bed. I am.going to get a toddler bed and see how that goes.

maybe this is common for 2yo? I want my good.sleeper back as I'm. sure.you do! x