2-Year-old Won't Sleep!

Updated on June 19, 2007
B.R. asks from Grand Rapids, MI
7 answers

My daughter wakes up at 6 AM every morning crying and refuses to go back to sleep. She goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 every night. I really don't think she is done sleeping because she will often fall back to sleep with me or her dad on the couch within an hour of waking up. We've tried leaving her in her room to cry it out but that hasn't worked either. If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it!

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L.B.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter used to get up very early, too. We put a nightlight on a timer and told her it was her "magic lamp". We made a big deal about it and said that the lamp magically knew when it was morning and time to get out of bed. We gradually changed the time that it went off later and later until she was used to getting up at a decent time. I hope this helps! Good luck!

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C.G.

answers from Detroit on

my daughter does the same exact thing i just take that time to spend with her until she falls asleep then i get up (very slowly and quietly) and use that time to do whatever i need to around the house kids need naps i wouldnt force her to sleep longer it'll just stress you out but maybe get up with her in the morning get her breakfast and after that put on a movie and lay with her on the couch till she naps i would just try to make it a regular routine and earlier naps are better then later ones

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L.C.

answers from Detroit on

I too have the same problem with a 2year old boy. Because of a small house, his bed is in our room. My 7 yer old boy has his own room. People tell me to put him to bed later at night, but I'm exhausted by 9pm and need some "mommy time." I try to run him around to get him tired in the evening. Sometimes the evening air helps. You're lucky, my husband doesn't help much during the night or early morning, and we both work full-time. My mom tells me to hang in there.

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J.P.

answers from Saginaw on

Hi B.. I have a 3 year old and last summer we had the same problem. It can be so frusterating! We found that letting him run around and play more outside (particularly after dinner) tired him out and he would sleep soundly through the night. I've noticed that on rainy days when he can't get out and play as much, he doesn't sleep as well at night. Also, is she still taking a nap? Hard as it can be to eliminate a nap, that may help her sleep through the night. (I know, I know...easier said than done!) Hope this helps! I totally understand your frusteration because I have a 9 month old that wakes 2 to 3 times a night still! Good luck!!

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C.L.

answers from Saginaw on

My son wakes up about that time in the morning (Because daddy is leaving for work about then) and he will drink some milk and come to bed with me for our morning "cuddle time". He loves the contact and I don't mind it either. He usually goes back to sleep until about 8:30 if I bring him in with me. Unless you have a huge problem with it, I would just let her come in with you about then and snuggle for awhile. You don't sleep alone-why should she? ;)
C.

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V.K.

answers from Saginaw on

I read this tip in a magazine and logged it into memory for future use... Not sure if your daughter is quite old enough, but it may be worth a try, and hopefully I can describe it well enough...

A mom bought an inexpensive wall clock (one that you can remove the plastic cover on the face to get to the hands, numbers, etc). On the numbered face she drew lines like pie pieces and colored them in. The section from 7:30 to 10 she colored green, and the section from 5 to 7:30 she colored red. She then put some little stickers on the hour hand. She told her sons that when the magic hand (the hour hand with the stickers) was in the red area, they needed to stay in their beds. They could either read a book or rest. When the hour hand was in the green area, then it was ok to come into Mom & Dad's room...

I thought it was a pretty clever idea. My oldest is pretty good about sleeping, but I saved the idea in case we have a problem with our now 2 month old some day... Good luck to you...

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C.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi B.,
I don't know if you have shades or blinds but my son was doing that also so I got some darkening shades so it stays darker longer. He would get up and tell me that it is light out so it is time to get up. He was to little to understand how earlier it was. It worked for me. Good luck
Chris

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