23 Months Toddler Takes Forever to Folll Asleep!

If she's not taking a nap and not going to bed until 9 - 9:30, she is overtired. Try moving everything up a bit - nap a bit earlier and bed quite a bit earlier (8:00 - 8:30). Also, train her to stay in bed. I know it's "easier" for you to just sit there with her, but she's not learning anything. Put her in bed and leave the room. You will have to put her back to bed probably several times the first few nights, but after that it will be done. You could put a baby gate across her bedroom door so even though she gets up, she can't get out.

Some kids just have a hard time steeling down at night. Every child is different in regards to sleep requirements. My now 8 year old son has not taken a nap since he was 2. He is just not a nap kind of kid. He always struggled to sleep at night. I tried everything and my pediatrician finally recommended trying melatonin which is a natural sleep aid and let me tell you...I wish I found it years ago. If it continues to be a problem, talk to your pediatrician. It might just be a phase, so try warm bath before bed, low light 30 minutes before bedtime, a special stuffed animal she can choose for sleeping with...hope this helps.

My guess is that it's the age. At two, they want to control something, anything. The only things they can really have control over is when and where they poop and pee and sleep. I went through this phase with both of my kids. I DO NOT think she is ready to give up the nap. Two is much too young for that. Chalk it up to the terrible twos and hang in there! I would suggest putting her down for nap earlier and also putting her down to bed much earlier - like 7:30 p.m. When they get overtired from chronic lack of sleep, their little bodies pump them full of adrenilin. This makes it even more difficult for them to get to sleep, even though they are exhausted. The best advice I could give you is PLEASE go check out Dr. Weissbluth's book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." It's my bible! You don't have to buy it, they may have it at the library or you can take some time at Barnes & Noble and look through it. His advice has always worked for us!

Kids go through many phases. It is possible she is not challenged enough throughout her day. Try turning up the activities and keep in mind both mental and physical activities will wear them out.

My son went through a phase at that age. I made sure he had a lot
more activity throughout the day & w/i a month or 2 was back on track.
Having said that, my friend who has a girl that age stopped taking naps at 2. She wasn't as active as my son.
She would only fall asleep when she went in the car to p/u her eldest child from school.
I now make sure my son gets a ton of activity thorughout the day.
He's almost 3 and done w/naps.
Make sure she's more active throughout the day and possibly make her bedtime a tiny bit later like maybe by 30 mins.
Try that first.
Hang in there.
She just may not be quite tired enough for bedtime so the best thing is to change her bedtime to a wee bit later. Not a whole lot but just a little.
It's kind of like when our older kids get older and they go to bed later etc

I agree, I would lessen or eliminate the nap. Lots of kids outgrow their need for a nap by 23 months. She might be one of them.

I suggest that she's trained you to stay in the room. I suggest that you put her to bed, after a 20-30 minute calm down routine, and leave the room. When she gets up and comes out of the room, remind her it's time to be in bed. Continue to put her back in the room over and over without saying anything to her. You might have to do this a few nights in a row but once she realizes you mean business she'll stay in bed.

Same for naps. Of course, she may not need a nap. Try going without one and see how it goes.

Do you have a consistent bed time routine that you do every night. And is it one that slows her down. For example, a bath, brush teeth, put on pj's, read a couple of books.

Have you tried playing soft music in her room? A night light might help.

My five-year-old daughter had problems falling asleep for a long time. We finally resorted to desperate measures in August since she was starting kindergarten. We chose to give her melatonin supplements (something your body produces to help you fall asleep) to regulate her internal clock. The first two weeks she was grouchy since she was readjusting, and after six weeks we stopped giving it to her. She now falls asleep within 10-15 minutes of when we put her to bed (between 7:30 and 8), and sleeps 11-12 hours consistently. She only needed a half pill. Good luck!

My twins gave up naps at around 22 months so she may be ready for no sleep in the day - it will certainly make going to bed each night quicker!!

my daughter will be two in February and I experience the same thing with her. and last night she really made me mad because she will say "i don't want to go to sleep", and than i tell her close her eyes she will close them act like she is sleep and than start talking again. so last night i left her in the room and told her not to get off the bed. when i went back in there 20 minutes later he was knocked out on the pillow. i know how you feel but i was in the room for about an hour before i gave up and left her in there with the tv on but the volume off.

imma try this a couple of more times especially because i am pregnant and will not have the time to sit in there with her every night and put her to sleep. hopefully this helps you gudluck:)

9 is too late for bed.. I bet she is overtired.. you will have to experiment.. try no nap.. and move bedtime to 7 pm. she should go right to sleep. she should be sleeping at least 12 hours per day.. gate her room so she cant get out. or go back to the crib..

my kids are 4 and 6 and they are in bed most nights at 7 and up at 7. they need 12 hours of sleep.

I would try more activity during the day. If that doesn't work, it may be time to give up naps. I went throught this with my oldest around this age. After fighting it forever I finally decided it wasn't worth it. We started skipping naps and were both much happier. It did take a little bit to transition to no naps (I remember him falling asleep at dinner a few times!)