2 year old not settling to sleep anymore

[MrsP2015]

Just wondering if anyone has had the same as friends toddlers aren’t doing this 😐

DD turned into (what I class as) a really good sleeper. Since about 18 months old she’d go to bed, fall asleep by herself and mostly (unless bad nights) sleep through until 5am onwards. The last month or so it was nearer to 6am. Her day naps were usually about an hour. Sometimes 2 hours if at home in her cot, sometimes 20 mins if we were out (she has fomo).

Anyway, the last 10 days or so, her day naps have been awful as in she can’t settle at all and when she is falling asleep she does that thing where her body jolts/ twitches. She’s had 90 minutes some days and others only 10!! Night sleep is fine once she falls asleep however it’s taking her up to an hour and a half to actually fall asleep some nights even when she’s really tired because she’s not slept. I’ve tried earlier bedtimes but it makes no difference.

Anyone any ideas?

Watching with interest as my 2.4yo are going through a very similar phase.

Best I have determined is it’s a combination of being far more aware of their surroundings (DS is body twitching awake and crying sometimes), then there’s deliberate nap dodging (possibly coinciding with meal time rebellion as with my DD) which is boundary pushing and finally, being more aware of your presence (or lack thereof) when it comes to bedtime.

As hard as it has been, I have been repeating to myself not to go back into my twins after their night time routine is finished (beaker of milk, story and then song) unless they’re obviously distressed. It doesn’t make my nights any easier sleep wise, but we’re 4 months into our twins being a bit more difficult around sleep and it’s starting to improve again slowly!

Also is your DD in a pitch black room at night? It was suggested to me by my twins Paediatrician that at this age they can also start developing fear of the dark as their imagination is going from strength to strength at this age.

Finally - has your DD got her back molars through yet? I realised the start of my twins ‘regression’ coincided with back molars growing through (which can take a fair few weeks) and with DD and DS developing more with their speech.

Good luck OP and don’t forget the Mumsnet mantra that has saved my sanity “this too shall pass”.

Oh gosh and I think it's bad with one child!! 🙈

Do the twins help or hinder each other's sleeping?!

Her room is dark apart from her grow egg and monitor but that's not an awful lot of light really. I have the gro clock but haven't set it up properly yet, maybe I should try that as it's quite bright for a night light...

I think you're right not to go back in once bedtime routine is done- I do the same, even when she was kicking her headboard so hard the whole house could hear it! 😂

Her back teeth are through but there are some middle ones still due, I suppose that could be it... kids eh?!

They sometimes tell each other off for making too much noise (usually DD telling DS off) and sometimes spend an hour or so chattering to each other - DH has had to go back in as I type as DD was starting to get upset that her brother keeps banging and won’t let her sleep but we only have 2 bedrooms so not much movement to separate them out for a bit!

I love the toddler stage but I do miss how well they used to sleep 😂 I often find that parenting a toddler (or two) is like trying to figure out a puzzle with missing pieces.

I have tried a timed projector light for them that shuts itself off and makes zero noise whilst rotating and that has helped a little, I think the lights soothe them and when it turns off they realise it’s sleepy time, but it’s only been successful a few times thus far

They’re the light of my life but blooming heck I did underestimate the challenges of toddlerhood

I’m just glad that when they finally settle down, they sleep like rocks!