.... at 2 years old, they COMMONLY get sleep tweaks.
They are, changing SO much at this age juncture... both physically and cognitively and emotionally.
It is, growing-pains. Which is not just physically.
It is hard, but a phase.
At this age as well, some children will start to have night mares too. Which also tweaks their sleep. And at this age they can begin to have general "fears" of the dark and what not.
Because, their "imaginations" are also, changing.
So.... this is a developmental, "hardship" on them too.
ALL of these things, are occurring in the child, at the SAME time.
So because of this, it is hard on them.
Then on the parent.
Because, no 2 year old, astutely "understands" all of this developmental stuff, yet.
AND on top of that... their "emotions" are not even fully developed yet either, NOR their communication skills.
ie: They cannot tell you "Mommy, I am grumpy but yet overtired... and hungry too. So I am having a hard time keeping myself glued together. Can you rub my feet to relax me as I fall asleep? Oh and I also get scared at night..."
So, they are just a diamond in the rough. They can't even know the answers to why the are having a hard time, sleeping either.
BUT... one thing is: Toddlers, need TIME... to wind-down.
With my kids, I would make the house DARK and quiet.... 1 hour BEFORE their actual bedtime. To help them key down and "transition" to bed time. And would verbally cue them, calmly, that bedtime would be coming up. Then I'd let them finish up with whatever playing they were doing... then, coaxed them along with the bedtime routine.
NOT just all of a sudden saying "okay bed time.... go now" kind of thing. They need a head's up... and you... making the "atmosphere".... more calm and dark and getting the "ambience" ready... for bedtime.
I would have only 1 lamp on... at night. In order to.... make the kids relax and the atmosphere more conducive... to them going to bed. If the house was too lighted up at night for example, they would just not wind down.
Also, Toddlers need runaround time. But not right before bed. It will get them too keyed up and unable to key down.
My son, LOVED to watch "Little Bear" at night.... it is a cartoon by Maurice Sendak. It was so relaxing and really got him into, bedtime.
And, try some warm milk, before bed. Or just milk.
Milk naturally helps some people, relax. And for kids too.