Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

2 year old won’t sleep

11 replies

Firstbaby1234 · 23/12/2023 21:19

Does anyone have any advise on how to get a 2 year old to sleep?

he will not sleep without me or his dad lay next to him and even then it takes hours for him to fall asleep. We have tried letting him cry but he’s in a bed so can just get out, we have tried silent rapid response and also moving away each night and nothing seems to work!

would a sleep consultant help?

OP posts:
bakewellbride · 23/12/2023 21:24

More info needed. What's his day typically like? Does he still nap? What's the bedtime routine- does he wind down much before coming up for bed?

SeaToSki · 23/12/2023 21:25

Can you put a stairgate on his bedroom door and leave him in his room to bumble around. He will drop off to sleep eventually

Original poster
Firstbaby1234 · 23/12/2023 21:27

@bakewellbride he does nap at 12 but we have limited this to 30 minutes. His bedtime routine is bath, story books and bed. He just doesn’t go to sleep

OP posts:
Original poster
Firstbaby1234 · 23/12/2023 21:27

@SeaToSki we did think of doing this but I just don’t think he would, he would stand at the stair gate and scream because we aren’t in the room with him

OP posts:
bakewellbride · 23/12/2023 21:32

Does he have much sugar in the afternoon? Sorry to be annoying, just trying to think of what could be keeping him up. Could you try hey sleepy baby for advice. She has a good Instagram page with some tips.

peonygrace · 23/12/2023 21:48

I'm going through similar with my two year old twins OP!

I've found after dinner, an hour before bed I give them a banana. I think it seems to be heavy enough on their tummies that along with the milk it does mean they aren't hungry before bed.

But you have my sympathies! Sleep is not great at the moment, I had 18 months of bliss before they hit 2!

Original poster
Firstbaby1234 · 24/12/2023 07:58

@bakewellbride no he doesn’t have a lot of sugar, I have no idea what it could be!

OP posts:
Original poster
Firstbaby1234 · 24/12/2023 07:59

@peonygrace last night was awful, he missed his nap in the day as we were out doing things, we got home at 6 and started his bedtime routine, he fell asleep at 7 and treated it like a nap, woke up at 7.45 and wouldn’t go back to sleep. He finally fell asleep at 11pm the woke up at 2,4 and 6. He got up for the day at 7 :(

OP posts:
Outliers · 26/12/2023 01:08

Buy a travel cot and let him CIO maybe

Motti · 26/12/2023 01:21

Hi OP, we had similar issues with DD. She dropped her naps before the age of 2 & I remember from about 18 months she started to go to bed later- from 8.30. She also did that nightmare thing of having ‘danger naps’ occasionally late in the day then being awake until midnight!!! Is it just possible that he needs less sleep? Also we now know DD is autistic & she still sleeps less than average & falls asleep much later than children her age. Not saying this is the case for your DS but worth mentioning.

Autumn1990 · 26/12/2023 07:15

i had this problem with my eldest, unfortunately nothing has solved it. I still have to lay with him whilst he falls asleep and it takes ages. Sugar is restricted and he gets a lot of fresh air. He also wakes really early 5 am is a lie in. I’m knackered

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread