Help with Getting 2 Year Old to Sleep

Updated on June 06, 2007
A.M. asks from Mobile, AL
5 answers

HELP! My 2 year old does not want to go to sleep at night. Every night it is anywhere from a 30 minute to a 2 hour battle. My husband or I one used to go lay in her bed with her and with in 15 to 30 minutes she would go to sleep. This is not working anymore. I would love for her to just get in her bed by her self and go to bed. I have tried reading her books and then leaving. I have tried moving closer to the door over a period of nights and then she just wants to get out of bed and come and lay in my lap. She is not in a baby bed anymore because she just climbs out of it. I have thought about just shutting her door but I don’t want her to be scared of the bed like it is a punishment or something. At daycare she just gets on her nap mat and covers up her face and is always the first to sleep…so I just don’t get it. I have tried doing the same things at to her at night that do at school and it still doesn’t work. Also, last night I told her that I would lay down with her but she couldn’t have her milk cup…HAHA…She doesn’t get her cup a nap time a school either…I can’t stand her going to sleep upset and thinking mommy is being mean to her…It makes my night long also to have to fight with her every night. Not counting what it does to my marriage at night…Moms..Dads..Please any suggestions. So in the end any suggestions about getting her to bed peacefully and to try to get her off her milk cup (not a bottle) at night would be great. Thanks ahead of time.

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So What Happened?

Well, my daughter is off her milk cup and going to sleep in her own bed ..... by herself!!!

More Answers

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L.M.

answers from Nashville on

I had problems with my children going to bed too and this is what a friend of mine suggested who is a counselor. He said to put music on, classical or instrumental, something that is relaxing and put it on fairly loud. I tried this and within a few days both my children fell asleep and stayed alseep. My children are almost three and almost twelve. They both LOVE it. My pediatritan also stated that studies show classical music played when your child is younger helps with their math skills in school. I thought that was interesting....maybe that's why I am not the best at math! LOL :)

I put their music on and shut the door after I read to them and rub their backs, arms and face. They seem to do well and hope this helps give you some other ideas to try.

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E.Q.

answers from Biloxi on

My husband and i put our 21 month old into a toddler bed recently and she had a bit of a hard time adjusting to it at first, We have a routine where we BOTH come in tuck her in ot bed kiss her good nite and leave we NEVER stay in the room with her til she goes to sleep...WE DO CLOSE THE DOOR...other wise she will get up and come out repeatedly She does have a night lite so its not fully dark and we open the door a crack wehn we go to bed!! I would definatly make it clear to your daughter that she MAY NOT GET OUT OF BED, AND THAT YOU WILL NOT STAY IN THERE WITH HER! She is old enough to know that you are there if she needs you but you will not help her to sleep...she should be able to self sooth! Now Maybe try making it a big deal that she is in her big girl bed make a sticker chart and for every nite that she goes to bed in her big girl bed by herself she gets a sticker and if she does it for a weeks straight she get a special treat( extra book at bed time or a new ball or somthing small will do) and then once she gets the hang of it make it a longer amount of time like a month and eventually she will not expect the toy as a reward! But you have to weene her off of you being in the room with her to go to sleep! the reason she goes right to sleep at school is because she knows no one will come and sleep with her on her mat! I hope i helped you a little and good luck! ohh and about the sippy cup at nite start giving her water in it and she will probably be less interested in it..like give her milk on nite then the next have it watered down and so on til with in a week its just water...she wont want it anymore or just do it cold turkey!

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J.B.

answers from Huntsville on

Try checking out "The baby sleep book" by the Sears doctors. It is very informative about a gentler approach to getting your baby to sleep at night rather than the CIO method. Maybe your 2 year old is getting clingy because something is bothering her. Hope this helps. Good luck!

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A.S.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

My son kept getting out of his crib so I moved him to a toddler bed. He still procedeed to come into our bedroom and get in bed with us. So I put him to bed and stay in the living room until he falls asleep.He cried that first week everynight but soon figured out that he didn't have a choice, that we weren't going to let him sleep with us.
Put your daughter in the bed and leave the room,if she comes out take her back in there and repeat each time. But after the 3rd time don't talk to her just take her back without a word, you may have to do this awhile every night but keep it consistant so that she knows that each time she gets out of bed, she's going to go right back to bed. Hope this helps!

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D.M.

answers from Biloxi on

Hello A., Well I assume you work since you talk about her daycare! First thing you need to do is sit down and talk to her! Just tell her that from now on she can have a glass of milk before she goes to bed but that her sippy cup is only going to have water in it! Then of course make sure not to put nothing but water in it from now on at bedtime! Tell her that you are so proud of what at big girl she is at daycare and you want her to be that same big girl at home and that is one reason no more milk cup..also tell her what her bedtime is and that you will read her one story before bed and then it is off to sleep for her!! You are going to have to stick to everything you tell her..ok! Talk to her before bedtime and tell her all of this! This way you two can talk and get everything set up on how bedtime is going to be from now on! Now the reason I say talk to her and all is because if she is old enough to understand and do all of this at daycare then she can do it at home but you haven't made her like they do in daycare and she knows she can get away with it at home!! Nothing has changed in her room has it since you or your husband use to lay with her?? Don't close her door completely but maybe halfway or something! now I think what you should do is make sure she has had her milk and either gone to the potty or changed and teeth brushed and all ready for bed about 10 minutes before her bedtime! then tell her or show her if you have a clock where she can see how much time she has left and then let her choose a book for you to read to her and then it's goodnight hugs and kisses to everyone and get her cup of water to sit by her bed if she needs it during the night. Then off to bed to read her story or where ever you read at! Then kiss her goodnight and tuck her all in and then leave the room! She will probably either try to talk to you and tell you a thousand things but don't let her, just tell her you can talk in the morning and leave! Don't keep going back to her bed for no reason and if she gets up then put her back in bed and leave...don't stay in the room! All that does is prolong the problem! Don't let her do anything once you have put her to bed! I mean like if she wants to tell you something or get something just tell her no it's bedtime and make her go back to bed! She might go back by herself and you might have to put her back in the bed and if she is crying goes know that it will stop soon and she is using everything she can think of to get her way so don't give in!! Good Luck and let me know how she does!! D.

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