Hard Times with 2 yr old!

[Laura Anne Farley]

So Samantha is not sleeping again. She is up and down all night. My husband is still working out of town M-F and she is aware of it!!!! When he is home, he can get her to sleep instantly and only recently will wake up during the night while he is home. It used to be she would only wake up when he was not home. Also, I have such a struggle getting her to sleep at night. She won't nap anymore without a fight. She throws a temper tantrum and if it is long enough, she is so tired she will sleep. My pediatrician said she still needs to nap (Amen) I agree but how? I actually have bruises and a scratch on my face from her fighting me while rocking her or carrying her to her bed. Is it possible she doesn't like the mattress? We converted the crib to a toddler bed but it still has the hard mattress. I am open to suggestions and questions. I am sure I've left something out.

[Erika G]

Gosh, I wish I had some great advice. Have you tried giving her Calms Forte before a nap? Or putting some lavender oil on her bed? Or some Rescue Remedy for kids? I just went through my 15m girl waking every few hours and I went to Earth Fare and bought everything with "homeopathic calm" on it! Do you co-sleep?

[Laura Anne Farley]

I am ending up co sleeping but she has her own bed and room. I think I will try some of the remedies. I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thanks!

[Leslie]

Hi, I have a 5 year old and a 2 yr old (and live here in Mint Hill also). I have never had a problem w/ mine waking in the night or sleeping with us except for those rare sleepwalking times of which I let my 5 year old stay for a while then I either put her back in her bed or she just goes right back to her bed. My suggestions on the napping would be to try to go without it to see if that helps the bedtime. I know mine (2yr old) is starting to outgrow naps. I agree that they still need them but only if they'll take them. My 2 year old (turned 2 end of Nov) will only take naps probably 2-3 times a week now. I do try to get her to take naps everyday at the same time usually but most days (lately) she won't sleep. I have also noticed that on the nap days if I do let her sleep too long then she won't go to bed as easily at night so I usually wake her up if she tries to sleep more than 2 hours at nap time. ON another note, my 2 year old is also a very active one, she's into EVERYTHING... you can't leave her alone for very long at all...she's a little destructor well...curious one is a better way to put it. Could just be a personality thing, missing Daddy since she seems to sleep better when he's home? I know I have been told that the co-sleeping thing can backfire too, so me personally, I wouldn't do it too much, they'll get used to it and never sleep in their bed. Could be the switch to the toddler bed? Hope this helps, hang in there!

[Jenn]

My two youngest gave up their naps around that age. I know it's so hard to give upthose quiet times! LOL but what I ended up doing is having quiet time. for one hour in the afternoon they go to their rooms and do something quiet. It can be reading books or playing quiet toys.But they have to wind down and relax. This seems to help. There are days when my 3yr old is tired and will fall asleep on his own but usually just the time relaxed is enough to recharge him. (and it gives me my well needed break) I have never had a problem co-sleeping. All three did it and they all sleep in their own beds now. Most nights my 3yr old comes in our bed but it's usually between 5-6 and he goes right back to sleep. Maybe the comfort of being near you at night when her father is gone will help her to sleep better at night. Maybe her finally realizing her father leaving makes her worry you will leave it could be she just needs the comfort of you being in reaching distance and when Dad is home she feels better about it.

[Laura Anne Farley]

It has still been up and down. i tried the calm forte and it seemed to work for 3 nights and then back to getting up. We borrowed an awesome toddler bed and she is thrilled with it but still up and down now. So, I decided to sleep in her room stil she goes to sleep and then I go back to my room. SoI guess I am back and forth and she is up and down!!!

[Yvonne LV]

Hang in there a bit longer. Kids brains really change around age 3.. which is when my first finally started sleeping through the night.

In my own personal outlook, I'd rather not make bedtime be a battle of wills at all. I do not want them feeling angry, hurt or resentful as they try to sleep. I do not think it creates a good association with sleep and may lead to problems further down teh road, like insomnia.

If she sleeps great, if not, maybe make sure she is in a room that she is least likely to get hurt in while you rest nearby.

And of course, if you haven't already and your 2 year old is fairly verbal and or expressive in a way you can understand, try asking her what she would like or need.

I think paedes go off of the statistical average on whether a child needs more sleep and still needs naps at certain ages.. but then that means there will be those children who need more sleep and naps and those who don't. My first (age 5.5) stopped napping at age 2 and my second (turns 3 in march) still naps once a day about 4 days out of the week.. and my six month old baby has already cut down to only 2 naps a day.