Sleep problems in 2 year olds?

fancynewbeesly

Up until about 2 weeks ago, my daughter had no problem sleeping. She loved her crib--loved playing in it, and never was resistant to bedtime/naptime.

What I suspect happened is she had a bad dream and now is resistant to her crib and sleeping. She is usually up once during the middle of the night hysterical--which was unlike her as well. She has separation anxiety in her crib as well. Last night--around 2 am she was hysterical and the only thing that started to calm her down was to talk about grandparents---and then she was listing all the people/things she loved to do. She is also getting up early--like 6am and panicked then about the crib. Which means she is crabby and prone to melt downs all day long. 

I don't want to have her in our room--because she is the type that if we let her do it one time, she will want it all the time--and it will be a hard habit to break. And she is a terrible bed sleeper and we won't get any sleep. 

Any ideas? She has a night light and tons of stuff in her crib. 

She is verbal but not that verbal to tell me what is bothering her/scaring her. They are doing construction on the parkway in the middle of the night so sometimes you can hear faint noises from that--but I don't think that is it. 

LadyXaverian

Been through it, still going through it, and a lot of ladies from my BMB facebook groups have been/are going through it, too. It's definitely a "thing" around this age.

We have just been riding it out. We're past the middle of the night crying hysterically wake-ups, but she still won't go to bed by herself. I have to sit with her in the rocking chair until she falls asleep and then put her down. I'm just riding the wave and not trying to force it because her bedtime separation anxiety seems pretty real to me.

As for the middle of the night stuff, I did end up letting her come to bed with us because other wise, I would have gotten no sleep. Sorry. Wish I had better advice.

fancynewbeesly

FhSTAR81 said:

Is she ready for a big girl bed? We live in sleep time hell

I was thinking that it could be, but I don't know if that would make it worse or not. Because then she could get out of her bed and play. I just don't know.

Spapeggy

Get a super cool bed and bed set she picks

MamatoA2010

No good advice for you. My DD is almost 4 and still wakes at night half the time. I hope things get better for you guys!

flyingsaucer

DD went through similar (she is also Reese ) . My advice is not to switch beds. My aim is to keep the kids in the crib until they turn 3. Then we do a big birthday switch with books, new blankets, etc. if she is scared, she may feel safer in the crib. Fears and separation anxiety peak at this age. Hang in there, be consistent, supportive, loving, firm. Don't start bringing her in your bed either or you may have a problem you can't undo (unless you are ok with it long term, DH and I are not). We got a humidifier for DD's room that projects lights onto the ceiling, you could also try a sleep sheep or other musical toy. We also have a sound machine playing beach sounds in the room. The things that has worked for us best of all with both kids tho is the Tag Jr. It's a "book reader" for young kids. DD sits in her bed and reads books to herself. Keep reassuring her, but stick to the routine, I say. It will pass