2 Year Old Not Falling Asleep Until 10Pm!!

Try putting him in bed by 7:30, My two year old gets up at 7am and if he isn't in bed by 7:30 pm he stays awake for a while playing... too tired to sleep I guess. I also notice if my boys watch TV before bed they get too jazzed to sleep, it is too stimulating. Try reading books, soft music and dim lighting.

I think that there is a weird phase that toddlers go through where bedtime becomes totally out of whack and takes forever and everyone gets really tired of it. But then it gets back to normal and you realize that you are actually doing the same/simple routine and it's everything is normal again. Stay calm, consistent and things will get back to normal (whatever that is).

I have a 2 1/2 year old. We put him in a toddler bed about 2 months ago. It was HORRIBLE!!! He would come out again and again. It made our bedtime routine a few hours instead of a few minutes!!! We kept it for about 2 weeks and then we couldn't handle it anymore. We went back to the crib and it has been great!!! After brushing his teeth we only need to sing a song, turn on the nightlight, and push the button on his crib fish toy. LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

I think some kids just aren't ready to switch out of the crib. Really the only reason why I switched him was because I was ready for his room to look different. He wasn't ready at all. He wasn't climbing out of his crib or having any negative issues with the crib at all. He's my last child (of 3) and I didn't want to be "babying" him, so I thought I better get rid of the crib. BIG MISTAKE!!!

I would say... go back to the crib. Have your new baby sleep in a bassinet or playpen for the first 4 months. That gives your 2 year old 4 more months to grow and mature before trying the big boy bed again. Just my thoughts!!!

Good Luck!!! :)

Does he nap? If so, you may want to consider cutting the nap out. Also, lots of times TV isn't relaxing, it's actually stimulating. It can get their little brains going and working overtime. So, I'd skip the movie. Maybe add in another book or two read quietly in bed. Talk to him about how it's important it is to say in his bed. Then take everything out of his room except his bed. No toys! It's too tempting to get up and play if they're readily accessible. I would tell him that he can have one book in bed with him to look at while he falls asleep, but that's it. Nothing else. Don't give him the option to play. Good luck!

My daughter was very visual and verbal. When she was two, she suddenly had a harder time sleeping, and would ask me to "take the pictures out of her eyes." I realized that, though we didn't watch much TV, the video games she'd seen at a friends house and a few movies here and there were "playing" in her mind when she closed her eyes.

Since adults tend to chill out in front of a TV, we think our kids relax that way too-- but for a child under 4 TV/movies are actually very visually stimulating. I recommend cutting out, or seriously cutting back, on TV/movies, especially before bed. Also monitor what is being watched. A lot of Disney movies have graphic, disturbing images that are not appropriate for children under 4--don't trust them!

If you decide to do this, be prepared for opposition. Be clear and firm--make a clear plan yourself for when and how TV will be watched. Decide yourself that you are the adult and will not change your mind--(amazing how hard it is sometimes to be stronger than our kids!) You may have to give it up to a month before you know if it helps your son to be calmer at night. A good sleep is a HUGE investment in the peace of the home and calm attitudes-- so important for learning new concepts. You are wise to see this as an issue to address... especially with another baby on the way! Blessings to you!

Oh I have been in that exact situation!! With my little one I ended up putting a child proof lock on the door so he couldnt come out and he eventually fell asleep by the door. I let him do that for a while until he grew out of it. It took a few weeks - and he still sometimes gets out of bed and falls asleep on the floor - but it's much more rare now. So if your door handles are the type that will let you, I'd suggest door locks. :) Good luck! :)

This worked for a friend of mine. In his room, set up his crib or pack-n-play next to his big boy bed. Tell him that his is a big boy and gets to sleep in a big boy bed, but only if he stays in there. The first time he gets up, do as you have been doing. Tell him it is time for bed and he needs to stay in his bed. Also tell him that if he gets up again, you will put him back in the crib. And do it. If he gets up again, put him back in the crib. My friend said it took a few nights for her daughter to figure out she was going to get put back in the crib if she got out, but now she just stays in the bed because she doesn't want to be in the crib.

I have had this issue with both of my boys as they transitioned to a bed. I tried everything, but the only thing that worked was to find their currency. For one boy, if he didn't stay in bed & go to sleep, he had to go sleep in the guest room (which he hates!) I also found that if I offered him gum (his favorite thing in the world) as soon as he woke up but only if he stays in bed - that worked, too. With my youngest, he has a blanket he is attached to. If he gets out of bed, he has to go sleep in the guest room - but his blankie stays in his bed. That has worked like a charm. With both of my boys, I quickly realized that they can make themselves stay up all night if they don't relax. But if they keep still for 5 minutes, they fall asleep. I tell them that they don't have to sleep, they just need to stay in bed. Invariably, if they do stay in bed, they're asleep in no time.

I've also known people who've had success with just picking up the child & putting them back in bed each time they get out. No talking, no attention - just put them back & walk out. It takes some time initially, but they get the idea that getting out of bed isn't going to get them anywhere & it's not going to get them any attention.

We just transitioned to the big boy bed 2 weeks ago and my son is finally calming down when we turn the lights out. They have a new found freedom, so the last thing they want to do is stay in a bed they can get out of! I was having the same issues, not falling asleep til about 10pm, crying and screaming at the door to get out. We put one of those doorknob child protectors on so he can't get out and wander. Luckily my son doesn't wake up til 730-8, but we finally just had to leave him to cry it out if that is what he chose to do. The only problem we have now is that he chooses to sleep on floor, rather than in his bed and we end up moving him once he falls asleep. Keep up your routine and stay consistent. I know its hard to be patient, I've just had the most draining two weeks and I think we are almost there. We would try and place him back in bed too at first but he would hop right out before we got out of the room....they will adjust soon. Don't go back to the crib. We have a baby coming soon too. Once you make a transition, you shouldn't go back. Stick with your routine and try and get one of those doorknob covers so he can't escape! I am right there with you! You are not alone in this!

Short, sweet and acouple ideas to try! Sorry in a hurry and dont like being on internet. Music (cd), have a bigger light than night-lite so you can tell him he can bring acouple of books to look at by himself or he can bring one of his favorite toys', thats not noisy. He only gets to do this if he doesnt leave the bed. Also, with one of my kids i would do what that "nanny 911" lady says to do: each night take further and further steps towards the door, sitting not looking at them or saying anything just letting them know you are there and if they get out of bed pick up calm and dont say a word or make eye contact; replace them back and go right back to where you were sitting. You can do sticker chart every morning if he is sleeping by....? You have them put a sticker above their bed and when they get 5 you just let them put up a glow in dark star or galaxy thing. Its pretty cool when they have earned all the parts. Good luck! Im doing same thing with my 2 and 4 yr olds.

melatonin - has changed our family's life - ask your pediatrician. In bed by 7pm, asleep by 7:30pm and sleep until 6:30pm or 7pm. They are happier, less cranky and ready for their day.

Not having the TV or computer or any bright light 1-2 hours before bed will really help. It resets the melatonin level in the body and if just turning them off does not work in a couple of weeks then I suggest asking you doctor about melatonin also to jumpstart it again.

And the babygate in front of the room really helped all my kids. They did not like it but did not feel as abandoned as when I shut the door. Is there anyway to put the toys up and make sure he can only turn on dim lights? Is he tired during the day? If not this may be the amount of sleep he needs (I was like that at age 2) is much less than your typical child. Also if he takes a nap still eliminate the nap. And I would teach him to play quietly with quiet toys on his bed like small stuffed animals and looking at picture books. As long as he is not tired during the day (minus the nap) he may be getting enough sleep so teaching him to do something quiet in his bed will make it possible for you to go to bed safely.

We went through the same thing when our son moved to his "big boy" bed. What we did is put a child gate at his door so he cant get up and roam around except in his room. We still have to tell him several times to "be a big boy and get back in your big boy bed". Some nights he goes to bed immediately and sometimes this goes on for like an hour or so. It just depends on how late he took his nap that day. We just make sure we stand strong and never let him back out of his room. He eventually gets the picture and crawls back into bed himself. I am pregnant too and due on March 9th so I know what you mean about the crib. Thats why we did it right when he turned 2 so he wont think the baby's crib is his bed. Also, we have a bed rail on his bed so it makes it a little harder for him to just jump in and out. I think he gets tired of doing it after awhile. Just stay consistant and good luck!

NO two year old is going to stay in bed. It is a horrible habit but really it is just wise to stay in there till he passes out and then over time when he gets to the point that he understands that he needs to sleep there, that's when you start pulling out of the room early. Don't put him into his new bed and then leave. It's strange. Stay and give him back scratches and read him two or more books. Snuggle with him and see how he likes his new bed. Also, put up everything toys and books. Laundry needs to be put away. stay away from noodles for dinner and anything high in energy. Feed him protein and veggies. Don't over fill his tummy and make him really full. Stay away from TV yourself whilst putting him to bed, even if that means that you and dad don't watch TV while you put him to bed then so be it. Everything electronic should be turned off right after 8 p.m. to help parents get to sleep too. It takes the human brain to go into total sleep mode after one hour of falling asleep. So if you go to bed at midnight and pass out in thirty minutes your not totally benefiting from falling asleep till about one thirty. It takes the human heart to go back to a usual beat in a minute. Say you got scared from a scary movie or you just got yeld at from a stranger and it put your heart into a steady beat, it takes your heart sixty seconds to go back to a calm heart beat. Everything is over stimulating to a two year old and depending if he has any add or adhd he could just be one of those kids that doesn't want to miss out on anything. You are mommy and you know your son better than any doctor or the most smartest person in the world. sit down and digest his days not just his evenings. foods, activities, tv shows, and then sit down and make a list of things that need to be done to get him to settle down. NO matter what you do no one is going to know your little boy more than you. Your blood runs through his veins and you know his ins and outs. So sit and think momma, what makes your little boy so hyper before bed? and remember no child is perfect just like moms and dads. Everything takes time to learn and if this behavior has turned into a bad habit then it will take about 21 days to break it, if your constant with your lessons. Patience. Love. Understanding. Also, kids are empathetic. They can see and sometimes feel the same way their parents do. So if your not serious about going to bed then he wont. If your stressed, yelling, laughing or goofing off then he will too. Time and patience and understanding, its the only way to do parenting.

L.
Is your 2 yr old still napping? These guys need about 10-15 hours of sleep total in a 24hr period so if he takes a 2-3 hr nap he will only sleep at night about 8-10 hrs at most. Plus with the new baby on the way he knows something is up.
You can put a gate in his doorway so he can not leave and you try not putting him to bed until 9. Parenting is constant adjustment and tweaking of everyday things and just when we think we got something down it changes! Good luck!
J.

I would recommend getting the book called "the 90 minute baby sleep program" its only like 9 bucks but its great for babies too. I used this book for my daughter and now at two it still applies. Basically its about how long they have wakeful time before they are tired again. You might just be putting him down at his wakeful period so you just have to change his nap schedule so he will sleep at 8. (this book will also help you with your upcoming baby!!) Well, hope this helps!

Perhaps he is over stimulated by the movies he watches. I would suggest stopping the movie watching and see if this helps. Is the room dimly lit for a while before he goes to bed to start his melatonin working? Also, does he take a nap during the day? How long and how late? Perhaps you could forgo a nap for a day and see what happens. Or, cut his nap a little short. And if he is taking a late afternoon nap this may not be good. You may want to try to get him to nap a liitle earlier. What kinds of food is he eating before bed? Do any of them contain caffeine? Such as chocolate or sodas? Or too much sugar? Bananas are known to help one sleep. Just like adults he has gotten into a sleep rhythm and schedule that may take time to change and gradually. Is there any other activity and noise in the house that may be keeping him up? Is he getting enough excercise during the day to cause him to tired enough to go to sleep? Teaching him breathing exercises to help him relax before you tuck him in for the night might help also.

First of all, nix the movie. It is stimulating, not calming.. no matter what the movie is. If you must have 'SOMETHING' on, put a small stereo in there and put on classical or calming music with no words. I used to have an acoustic guitar/strings CD that was all soothing quiet music. It was AWESOME for this purpose. I played it starting from their infancy.

Do you have a rocker in his room still? We always did bedtime stories with son in my lap in the chair.. then into bed afterwards. The lamp was turned off, and prayers were said. Goodnight kisses and that was it. No nightlight.

Perhaps you could offer him a "new" option to try.... he can choose ONE toy (action figure?) to have in bed to play with until he falls asleep.. then he has to go to sleep. He cannot get up to get more, or exchange it and he must lie down in the bed, not be sitting. The idea being that it he will voluntarily stay in his bed so that he can play with the toy. He will quickly tire of the single toy and will go to sleep. (If he doesn't follow the rules, then he won't be allowed to have any toys in bed - let him know this). It has been a long while, but it seems like we did something like this with our son around that age. He became an excellent "going to bed" kid. :)
HTH

Hi L.. I know how tiring this is, I've been thru it with three kids. They do outgrow it on their own, but in the meantime, I would put a babygate up on his bedroom door, so he can't leave his room. (this alleviates worry for during the night too) then, if he is napping, I'd skip naptime so he is exhausted after dinner. I would try for an earlier bedtime too. I would start at 7pm with the book, and this way you have more time for him to fall asleep so its not too late. He is going to cry, I would let him cry it out first for 5 minutes(before reassuring him), then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes. My last one would fall asleep on the floor by the babygate for the first few weeks. One night we checked on him and voila! He was sleeping in his bed!! He was also (just turned) 2. Good luck, dont go back to the crib!

We have the same problem with our 3.5 year old. He's always been a night-owl, but he consistently is going down after 10 pm. It doesn't matter what we do. He just doesn't like to give into sleep if he's not tired.

We've started putting him in his room, by himself, with books to read to wind himself down, but he needs one of us there most nights to lay with him.

It's agonizing - between him and his little sister, we usually don't have them both down until 10pm or later.

Good luck! You are not alone