How to Get My 2 Year Old to Sleep

I am doing a chart with my two year old. Right now I am working on just keeping her in her own bed all night and then I will work on going to bed by herself with me having to lay with her until she falls asleep. But with the chart, It just has 20 squares on it and she gets a smiley face each night she stays in bed until time to get up. Its been a week and she stayed in bed all night for three nights in a row now. AND beleive it or not, its getting easier to put her to bed at night too!

I think you really have to force a schedule. It has to start somewhere, and you have to be very determined and devoted to keeping that schedule.

Every evening, after dinner and bath and all of that, play some soft music, no singing (singing might stimulate him), in his room, and read him a story, making sure he can see the pictures in the book. Tell him that he is a big boy, and you need him to help you with the story. Ask him about things you see in the illustrations. Have him ask you questions. Once you have read several books together, you can let him pick out his favorites each night.

Not only will this get him into a habit of being in his own bed, but you will give him one of the most wonderful gifts a child can receive...the love of reading!

After the story is over, turn the lights down a bit, and sit with him for 10 minutes. No longer, no less. 10 minutes. Or you can choose your own time limit, but always stick to it.

It is going to definitely take a few weeks to get him into this. You must be dedicated to it, or it will fail. You don't want to miss even one night doing all of the same steps. Children that age are comforted by routine, and once it is a routine, it is familiar, and less frightening.

Please stick with some type of schedule, and if your husband won't agree to it, tell him that he will be the one who has to 'deal' with your son every night. This worked great with my kids.

Hope this helps a little.

I was interested to see that you said you are your "2 year old's best friend right now". A little light went on in my head. Since you already have an older child you must know that being your child's "best friend" is not what they need! They need boundaries and to know that mommy is her own person and so are they! Clearly, you need to force the issue with your son, put him back in his own bed. He will scream, but don't cave! You can try to make it pleasant, get a bedtime routine with special stories and attention from you. But he needs to learn to go to sleep on his own again. Also, why not make some time for your 2 year old to be around other kids his age? Join a play group or put him in preschool. It would be good for him to make some friends, and get some of the focus off you.
Good luck!

Well I don't know how much help I am going to be as I am one of those dreaded mothers that lets my 17 month old fall asleep in my lap after his bath at night. I can't help it, I love those last few minutes before he drifts off and I know that personally I don't like to fall asleep crying. Oh well... one day. But I will mention this as an option, I have tried it a time or two and it actually did pretty well.

Somewhere I read about or saw a technique of putting the child in their bed and sitting on the floor next to their bed (easier with cribs of course). No matter how much they scream or beg don't make eye contact or talk to them. It gives them the sense and the comfort that you are near without the interaction and "play time". I literally sat in my son's floor for almost an hour while he "talked" to me from his bed. Finally he just laid down and talked himself to sleep. I am not sure if this is an option for you, but from what I was reading, night by night sit a few inches further away from the bed until you don't even have to stay in the room.

I was surprised the way it kept mine from screaming himself sick. I think I have just spoiled myself by letting him fall asleep in my lap. Good luck to you.

I know that this may sound a little harsh, but lock your bedroom door. My son did the exact same thing, and when he would come to my door, I ignored him. There were many nights that I had to pick him up off the couch and put him in his bed, but it worked after a few days. One night, he fell asleep on the floor outside my door. I simply picked him up and put him in his bed. Tough love works in some cases, and now may be the time. He may yell and scream, but as long as he's in a safe place, a little yelling won't hurt him.

I would suggest getting him a really big stuffed animal, and let him know that he is having a sleep over with the animal. Tell him that the animal is sad because he doesn't have a friend. Also if it would help, I would suggest giving the child "A special blanket" that would help calm him down. If you stoop to there level and get creative with it you would be surprised

Go on Amazon and buy the book "no cry sleep solution" I know this used to not be a problem, but little guys don't take long to make a new habit. This book is TERRIFIC. I should get money for promoting it!!! It SAVED my life! I had my baby sleeping 12 hours a night by 6 months old. I expect fall backs, but this book taught me how to handle all of the ups/downs without the crying it out part.

Good Luck

My daughter had that problem too. It wasn't my husband fault, I put her in the bed with us since she was 6 months old. She screamed when I put her in her crib so I bought her a big bed and I slept with her in her bed for 2 nights and after that she went to bed by herself in her own bed. I hate to say it but I let her watch tv as well for a little while, while she was going to sleep. I know a lot of people disagree with letting kids watch tv as their going to sleep but it works with my girls. They watch something on tv while they are laying down and after 30 minutes or so they are asleep, it also keeps them in their room. I hope this helps you a little.

I really dont have any advice for you on the sleep thing, but I will say that you should treat both of your children the same, and going on vacations with one and not the other, and calling your 2 yr old a deamon child is WRONG!!!!

LOL! The deamon child! We have five children (boys except our last is a girl)which includes a set of twins! I had people tell me that our second would be opposite of the first, they were not lieing. Which is obviously true for you too. Our twins are opposite also. But back to the bed situation, one of our twins is this way, wanting Mommy all the time! I gave him "Mommy's" bear and my husband and I tuck them in everynight. We just try to follow a routine everynight, consistency is so important because children know what to expect and will follow because it becomes comfortable to them. Start this new process on a week that you can clear your calendar completely at night, starting with dinner and all the way through to his bedtime. Just keep putting him back in his bed, try not to yell or get angry (sometimes hard) and each time use a short explination that he needs to sleep in his bed and Mommy & Daddy sleep in their bed and Big Brother sleeps in his own bed. I would also leave the door open, less scary! Good Luck!
*I twirled the flag and rifle in my High School Marching Band!!! So much fun!

I wish I knew. I have a 4 year old who can not go to sleep without me in the bed. His started almost 2 years ago when he had hip surgery and was in a body cast for 3 months. I was so scared he would fall off the bed I started sleeping with him. And now it seems impossible to stop. My husband is not any help. He went to sleep around 9:00, my son went to sleep around 10:30. I snuck out for a little alone time. I wish I could help you. Maybe being firm is the best thing, but I have not been able to stick to it. As far as being his best freind and I in the same place. he is an only child so I spend alot of time playing. Good luck

Put him to bed and just let him cry. If you cater to his every whim he realizes that he is the boss of the house. Hope it goes well.

sorry i cant help with that one i have the same problem with my two year old.

You and your husband have got to be a team and be consistent or nothing will ever work. He has to understand that even the occassional "treat" of sleeping with the parents is confusing to a child and the more you give in to them, the harder they will try. If you let him cry for 2 hours and then give in, next time he'll cry for 3 hours. No baby ever died from crying, that's what my mother always told me. It's terrible to listen to, but consistency and teamwork are key. If you don't have that then don't waste your time.