2 Year Old Not Sleeping

I'm VERY interested to hear the responses to this! It probably has nothing to do with being in her own bed though. My DD, 26 months, is the same way. And she still sleeps in our room. She wakes up between 4-5 to nurse, at which point I move her from her crib to our bed. But sometimes she nurses and then stays awake. It's a nightmare. I end up lying on the floor next to her watching cartoons in the living room. I feel bad about the t.v. but I'm such a zombie at 4 .am. that it's the only thing that's saving both her and me right now. My older DD went through the same phase though and hopefully it will pass soon.

Put a baby gate on her door so she has to stay there and let her play in her room and/or watch TV for another hour or so..............She might surprise you and go back to bed for a little while....................i will tell you though, that just might be her new schedule......my 16 month old son wakes up at 5am almost everyday now...................

The fact that she goes back to her room and sheis in her bed is good- when this happened with my daughter I explained that she must stay in her room until -for example 7:00am if that is the time you & your husband get up- I told her I was putting a digital clock in her room and when it reached that time she was able to get out of bed and come into my room-but not until that time!!! I let her pick a cute clock she liked -ex- hello kitty, princess,etc- whatever your daughter likes- involve her into this with you so she will understand and work with you. If you do not do this know it will alwyas happen and you will be exhausted!!! You must be consistent- Lay down the rule and tell her we are starting it whatever day you choose- give her reward points for making it through the night when she does!!! Good Luck!! I have been there- I am a Mom of three beautiful girls!!

S.

I have a 2 1/2 y-o daughter and never, ever, slept through the night. Since the day she was born, she slept no more than 4 hs. we did everything. We took her to see doctors. We thought she had a problem. But she is ok. She doesn't want to sleep or doesn't like it. We put music in her room, night light, then took both. Tried everything. She came to our bed. then she woke up in the middle of the night screaming for milk. Thing is i breast fed her until she was 15month. So, anytime there I was.
When I was expecting my second baby, she was so nice that we were afraid.
They suggested me many things. I don't agree with the music, or the light or sth. very concrete. what happens if one day you are somewhere else and don't have the music, or the light, or the "THING"? She won't sleep.

Just make sure her room is fine. Not so cold, not so hot. Make sure she has everything and put her on her room. Explaint her that she has her room, that you both love her, but as you and DAddy have a room she has another one. Show her the many things that she might have in her room.
I used to tell ISa.
Look what beautiful flowers, and the princess, and the, and the.... Of course I had her screaming for hs. But if she is not sick, and you know for sure that her diapers are not wet, she is not feeling bad or hungry she just wants to be with you. She knows that sb. else is coming but might not understand the whole story.
And in my case, she also came wanting to play. Anything was fine.
Just take her to her room . But remember that since you have another on the way, she might be a little jealous. And it is obvious. Look what a gift.!
My daughter told me when I was expecting Valentina that she didn't ask for a sister, nor needed one. So she said that we needed to return her.
Just pay attention to what she wants, and try to enjoy her as much as possible. Because, I had Valen, when she was 19 month. And it was and is a nightmare. Plus, I do not have any family here. So, here we are.!
And one more thing. Might not have nothing to do. When you start making the crib, room, or bassinet for the new baby let her play in it. If she climbs and just let her.! Then she will not be able.
I guess that on one side, she might be a little active. Another little jealous. But, also and important. Make sure that she is not hungry, or she didn;t sleep a lot during the day.! Maybe she takes long naps and that kills you.!!!!

Best of luck, email me if you wish so.

Maria

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C.

Your child probably has lost her sense of security in a new environment. She needs to gain her independence slowly so she can feel secure by herself. For now, place a large stuffed soft toy in the bed next to her so she can cuddle with it. It must be a good size of something that will give her a secure feeling. Otherwise, get her a pet. I hope this works.

Sleep tight.

I am a great sleeper and now my granddaughter is learning from me. She likes to wake up very early and her mommy just deals with it. I kept her one night and when she awoke at 5 am I said "not now" and she said, " I know". Girls like to do what is expected of them. They like to be right. Appeal to her sense of the absurd. "You thought this was morning?, how silly. Go back to sleep." I found that that works. Boys not so much. Set the rules in your house right now. she will be your best ally in the future. Safety first, good care, then routine. It might help to make sure she has had enough to eat so that she can't be waking up hungry. Make sure she has no drinks an hour or so before bed so that the need to urinate doesn't wake her. With those two things covered you just have to set a routine that she can learn. Bath, story. bed and then "ignore" her until morning. If she comes to your bed send her back, or at least don't play. Don't cooperate with her plan, tell her mommy and daddy are good sleepers. Be sure to secure her safety with with a baby gate or door. Role playing house where you act out the welcomed behavior might help. Talking it through is good for girls. She will be your new babies teacher so you can appeal to her from that position too. How should we teach the new baby or any baby to sleep and then bend her around to your way of thinking. She is just beginning to learn how to interact with the rules in your house. Guilt isn't all bad either, "mommy is too tired to take you for a walk today because you interrupted her sleep last night." And don't forget the bribe, "tomorrow we will go for a walk because tonight you will sleep and let mommy sleep all night". It's all been going on for years. I love mothers and always want to remind them that they have the answers and they make the rules. You are teaching your child how to deal with the situation she was born into. Make her a great family member. In the future it will be so gratifying to have her and all your family pulling together.

My first daughter, when she was a baby would get up early and wanted to play. You need to make her stay in her own room and in her own bed. If she doesn't want to sleep, well, you can't force it if she's not sleepy. But you do have to make it very clear that it's still night time and mommy and daddy need to sleep. Get her a night light, turn it on and leave the room. You may get resistance from her at first, but eventually she will understand. I always kept musical toys attached to the crib....if your daughter is not in a crib anymore, then provide her with a favorite doll, stuffed animal, or special blanket. To reward her for staying in her room/bed for the entire night, give her a sticker in the morning after breakfast...and explain how proud you are that she stayed in her own room/bed for the night. Children this age love stickers.

Hi S. T:

I had the same problem with my daughter when she was that old. The first thing I did was make her nap a little later then usual in the afternoon and then keep her up an hour and a half later at night and when she was ready to go to bed I give a bottle of warm milk to sustain her. Soon enough she was sleeping all night long and so was I.

Congrats with your second child!!

Sweet dreams!!

Mother of 4 from Puerto Rico

Just a few thoughts: Make sure the room is dark so that she's not being woken up by a street light or something. What time does she go to bed? A 2 yr old should be getting 10-12 hrs. of sleep a day. Does she take a nap? how long and what time of day? Maybe you could drop or shorten her nap. Or move it to earlier. Make sure she has lots of activity during the day. Running, jumping , playing outside, swimming. Trying giving her a warm relaxing bath before she goes to bed. Make sure you put her to bed awake so that she can learn to put herself to sleep. When she wakes up return her to her bed to put herself back to sleep.

I have a 2 year old son and luckily never a problem sleeping through the night. His schedule is 8:00p bedtime and wakes up at 7:00a. Occassionally he decides to wake up early, around 6:00 and mornings like that I usually call to him and tell him it is still nighttime and not time to get up (I found if I go into his room, then he will not go back to sleep and will start to fuss). He will usually go back to sleep or he will play in his bed until I come get him. Either way I don't get him out until 7:00a. If I get him out earlier, he tends to get up at that time more often. The first couple of times he did it, it was a fight, but we made it through and now he knows when it is not time to get up he doesn't get to get up. Good luck!!