2 Year Old Won't Sleep at Night

by Tammy
(OHIO)

My daughter turns 2 in 2 months and she refuses to sleep at night. She has been up since 6AM for the last week or so! I'm totally exhausted (with 2 other children on top of this).

We have tried giving her a nap early in the day and then we tried skipping naps all together, but when we still have the same results. When she stays up till 6 I try to wake her up early (after about 4 hrs), but she can never make it through the day without a nap. She whines and cries, falls down and just becomes really irritable and upset because she's so tired.

Please help!
Thank you

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Tips To Get 2 Year Old To Sleep At Night

What an exhausting situation, both for you and for your daughter! To me it sounds like your daughter is a very bright young lady. She has discovered that she is a separate person from you and that here is a way to control a part of her life rather than just obey. And who needs sleep anyway? :-) Toddlers can have so much willpower and so little sense - of course she doesn't understand the connection between staying up all night and being weak ad cranky during the days. All she sees is all the attention she gets and that she get to stay longer than any other kid. What an adventure!

I have a few suggestions on what to do - hopefully some of them might help.

First of all, you need to mark that the nighttime waking will have to end. In my experience, it is possible to change a toddler's behaviors, but it takes both patience and smartness. Yelling at a two-year old doesn't help at all. But they want so much to be a "big girl or boy" and that is something you can use. Instead, tell her that from now on we will all sleep during the night. She too, since she is such a big girl. And to reinforce how big she is, get her a big bed or a new blanket or pajama that she get to choose. And really let her choose as long as it is within your budget and safe for her.

Once the bed/blanket/stuffed animal is in place, declare that now the new times begin. And them make it a wonderful time. Take a bath together, curl up in her bed and read a few stories and then lights are out. Stay with her until she is asleep. If she refuses (very likely) don't let her get up and do anything fun. Stay in the room with her, stay calm but be firm on that now is sleep time. You can get a night lamp if you have to turn the lights on. No more books, possible a second lullaby and a back rub. But nights are for sleep, period. I don't know what you do all night long when she is up, but it is very important that this is not a fun time for her.

She might still be up until 6 am that night, but if there is no bonus with staying up, I would be surprised if she continues for long. She might throw a few fits, but stay calm, stay in the room and let her show her anger and frustration if she has to. The new rules will be there anyway. (Have the rest of the family sleep with earplugs if you have to.)

The first time she actually goes to bed and falls asleep in the evening make a BIG celebration in the morning. A cake, candles, her favorite breakfast, sing to her or whatever. Let her really know how proud you are that she has learned to sleep at night. And keep showing her your appreciation of it during the coming days too, until the new habit really sits.

Regarding her days, most toddlers really need their nap, but it is good if it comes right after lunch rather than later. Also, make sure she gets a lot of daylight, running around and playing outside. The more fresh air and activity, the more tired she will be in the evening.

I hope this gives you a few ideas. I had a toddler who did fall asleep in the evening, but who woke up at 3.30 am and refused to go back to sleep. It was extremely exhausting! But after a week of slightly less napping during the day (he slept too much at daytime) plus spending almost all hours of the days outside he started sleeping until 8 am. It was like a miracle! And actually, I think it was mainly the daylight, activity and fresh air that made the biggest difference; we had tried reducing nap time before without any positive effects at all.

So take your girl outside and PLAY!

Paula

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More Toddlers That Won't Sleep At Night

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• 18 Month Old Started Waking Up
• Screaming Toddler In The Middle Of The Night
• Why Isn't My 18 Months Old Sleeping Through The Night?
• 18 Months Old Won't Go To Sleep Alone

Find answers and comments below.

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