Toddler sleep routine

JW95 · 2026-09-17T19:37:15+00:00

My 2 year old sleeps in her own room. She wakes around 3-4 times during the night- crying for me. I’ve read that magnesium is good for sleep. Has anyone tried this? What brand? And what is your experience? We have no problems with her going to sleep- I lie with her until she falls asleep. I just want something that’s going to help her get into a routine of sleeping through (every parents dream, I know) Any other sleep advice to get her to not cry for me throughout the night would be greatly appreciated ☺️

MissLC · 17/09/2026 21:01

My daughter was like this until she was 4. I didn't want to try any medication or anything so we did the disappearing chair, moved further out of her room slowly each night until she was going to sleep independently. She woke a few times in the night after that but she knows she can go to sleep on her own now and will do that 9 times out of 10.

maggisimpson · 17/09/2026 21:04

If she expects you to be lying with her then she's going to freak out and cry if she finds you've disappeared in the night.
I'd tell her you're going to your room at bedtime so she knows where you are in the night.

ThatMintMember · 17/09/2026 21:24

No experience with magnesium but I'd be looking at her naps, wake up and bedtimes. It's possible she's not tired enough it she's waking that much or overtired as both can cause similar problems.

My DS has been through various similar phases but it's always been fixed by a few tweaks. He's just turned 4 and has mostly slept through for years, i also lie in his room with him until he falls asleep.

Bitzee · 17/09/2026 21:32

It’s because you’re lying with her to go to sleep. Then when she naturally comes into light sleep, she panics that you’re gone and has no idea how to fall back to sleep on her. Magnesium won’t help with that. She needs to fall asleep how she’s going to stay asleep so if that’s you lying with her then cosleep properly. Or if you want her sleeping independently you need to think about a bit of sleep training (can be gentle e.g. gradual retreat) so she learns to fall asleep alone.

Peonies12 · Yesterday 11:45

What's her usual routine? I'd be looking there before giving her medication or supplements she doesn't need. She might benefit from a shorter nap and/or later bedtime. It isn't necessarily to do with the fact you lie with her at bedtime, we do that and mine sleeps through, she's nearly 2. We cap nap after 1 hour or by 2pm, and bedtime 8pm.

Original poster

JW95 · Yesterday 12:10

@peonies12She still naps for an hour around 11am. We’ve tried no nap and she was falling asleep by 5, which obviously completely messed up bedtime. We go up to bed for half 7, read a book and then she falls asleep listening to a tonie box story. We’ve tried total darkness, night lights, a new “big girl bed”, took her to choose her own blankets, changed the timing of her tea time incase she was feeling hungry or too full and uncomfortable- nothings seemed to work.

I’m 7 months pregnant and was really hoping to have cracked this by now, at the moment I feel as though there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.

OP posts:

ThatMintMember · Yesterday 12:14

JW95 · Yesterday 12:10

@peonies12She still naps for an hour around 11am. We’ve tried no nap and she was falling asleep by 5, which obviously completely messed up bedtime. We go up to bed for half 7, read a book and then she falls asleep listening to a tonie box story. We’ve tried total darkness, night lights, a new “big girl bed”, took her to choose her own blankets, changed the timing of her tea time incase she was feeling hungry or too full and uncomfortable- nothings seemed to work.

I’m 7 months pregnant and was really hoping to have cracked this by now, at the moment I feel as though there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.

What are her wake ups like? An hour after going down for the night? Every 2 hours? A big awake period in the night? Waking at 5am?

Also how old is she exactly? Just turned 2 or nearly 3 can make a big difference.

Original poster

JW95 · Yesterday 12:32

@ThatMintMemberShe usually wakes up around 10 then sleeps till 2ish. Between 2 and 4, she’ll wake around 3 times, sometimes 20 minutes between and sometimes an hour between going back to sleep.

she’s never awake for long periods. She’ll stand and cry for me at her safety gate. As soon as I walk into her room, she’ll climb back into bed and go back to sleep. I go straight back into my room once she’s asleep. But feel as though I can never sleep properly, knowing she’ll back up in 20 minutes or so.

She’s 2 years and 7 months.

OP posts:

Peonies12 · Yesterday 12:38

JW95 · Yesterday 12:10

@peonies12She still naps for an hour around 11am. We’ve tried no nap and she was falling asleep by 5, which obviously completely messed up bedtime. We go up to bed for half 7, read a book and then she falls asleep listening to a tonie box story. We’ve tried total darkness, night lights, a new “big girl bed”, took her to choose her own blankets, changed the timing of her tea time incase she was feeling hungry or too full and uncomfortable- nothings seemed to work.

I’m 7 months pregnant and was really hoping to have cracked this by now, at the moment I feel as though there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.

In your scenario I'd be getting your partner to handle the wakes, as that will have to happen once baby arrives. Put a double mattress in her room and your partner can sleep there with her. I'd consider trying again with no nap or literally a 10 min car nap if that works for her.

ThatMintMember · Yesterday 14:08

JW95 · Yesterday 12:32

@ThatMintMemberShe usually wakes up around 10 then sleeps till 2ish. Between 2 and 4, she’ll wake around 3 times, sometimes 20 minutes between and sometimes an hour between going back to sleep.

she’s never awake for long periods. She’ll stand and cry for me at her safety gate. As soon as I walk into her room, she’ll climb back into bed and go back to sleep. I go straight back into my room once she’s asleep. But feel as though I can never sleep properly, knowing she’ll back up in 20 minutes or so.

She’s 2 years and 7 months.

My son was busy dropping his nap around that age. I'd try a slightly later bedtime, she might just not have enough sleep pressure to stay asleep all night if she's having a nap but is close to dropping it. What time is she up in the morning?

maggisimpson · Yesterday 20:36

JW95 · Yesterday 12:32

@ThatMintMemberShe usually wakes up around 10 then sleeps till 2ish. Between 2 and 4, she’ll wake around 3 times, sometimes 20 minutes between and sometimes an hour between going back to sleep.

she’s never awake for long periods. She’ll stand and cry for me at her safety gate. As soon as I walk into her room, she’ll climb back into bed and go back to sleep. I go straight back into my room once she’s asleep. But feel as though I can never sleep properly, knowing she’ll back up in 20 minutes or so.

She’s 2 years and 7 months.

This does sound like she just needs your presence to sleep - as soon as you're in the room she can sleep again.

I'd really work on teaching her to fall asleep without you.