Sleep regressions are exhausting, frustrating, and hard– but also normal. In your child’s early years of growth, as they’re absorbing so much of their environment and learning about the world around them, it is developmentally common and normal. Sleep regressions typically happen around 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months (but every child is different!). Today, I’m sharing sleep tips to help make the toddler sleep regression at age 2 a little bit smoother.
2 Year Sleep Regression
If you feel like your toddler is losing control, the 2 year sleep regression may feel like it’s completely throwing a wrench into your routine. Don’t worry- it won’t last forever! Your child is learning all sorts of new skills like shapes and colors, playing make-believe, following simple instructions, and developing their motor skills. All of these milestones are life-changing and overwhelming for your little one. As exciting as it all is, it can lead to sleep regressions. Here are some common causes of the 2 year sleep regression:
Testing Boundaries
Trying out their limits (and your patience) is a completely normal part of early childhood development. Although the “terrible twos” may have begun, it doesn’t mean your toddler is actually terrible- it’s totally normal! They will continue to learn and develop as they get older, and will eventually grow out of trying to test boundaries so often. Every child is different, so the way they test boundaries is different. It is challenging, and you should try to understand the “why” behind your child’s behavior to help them navigate their feelings.
Potty Training
If your child has started potty training, you’re likely familiar with the accidents and countless nighttime trips to the bathroom. The potty training milestone can make it difficult for your little one to fall back asleep once they’ve woken up!
Learning New Skills
Your little one is hitting SO many milestones in such a short period! Learning new words, climbing, running, jumping, and rapidly developing can create more distractions around bedtime.
Teething
Teething is painful! They may be unable to fall asleep or woken up in the night from discomfort. There are many ways to help soothe your child if they’re teething. It can be a disruption to sleep training, but it won’t last forever!
Illness
A cold or the flu can put a halt in your sleep training progress- but it won’t erase all of your hard work! Once your child has recovered, then you can resume sleep training and get back on track.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is normal for young children. There are many ways to help your toddler overcome their separation anxiety and develop a more secure attachment style. Allowing them to sleep with their favorite stuffed animal or another object, can help combat that nighttime fear of being alone. Another great strategy is to incorporate an item that will give them comfort and remind them of the person they are missing. Placing a picture near their bed, giving them a blanket of yours to cuddle, or spending some quality one-on-one time together can really help reassure your child that you are near, even when you aren’t right there.
Nightmares
Nightmares or night terrors (nighttime fears) may be impacting your child’s sleep, either waking them in the night or creating feelings of anxiety around bedtime.
Screentime
Blue light can impact your toddler’s circadian rhythm, making it much more difficult for them to fall asleep!
Overtiredness
It may seem like overtiredness would actually help get your child to sleep, but it happens to be the opposite case! All of the energy that your little one is using during the day can end up making them overtired, especially if they’ve dropped a nap.
Big Life Events
A big move, new sibling, new school, or any other big life change can come with feelings of anxiety for your little one that may impact their behavior and sleep habits.
Transitions: Crib to a Toddler Bed
Between 18 months and 3 and a half years, the transition from a crib to a toddler bed can bring on lots of overwhelming emotions for your toddler-especially if they’re not ready. Make sure that the timing feels right based on their unique needs, and that they’re ready for a toddler bed before making the transition.
How long does 2 year sleep regression last? Most regressions resolve in 1-3 weeks, though in some cases they stretch to 4-6 weeks if compounded with other life changes. It’s a completely normal milestone and isn’t cause for concern. However, if your little one is going through night terrors or intense nightmares, or you feel like something is off with their behavior, don’t hesitate to consult with a specialist who can help you get to the root of the issue. If your toddler’s sleep issues persist beyond the 6 week mark, consult with a pediatric sleep consultant or a pediatrician.
Signs of 2 Year Sleep Regression
There are several signs that your toddler may be going through the 2 year sleep regression. Here are some of the ways you can tell!
- Middle of the night wakings
- Bedtime resistance
- Waking up earlier than normal
- Expressing anxiety or fears
- Refusing to take a nap, crying at naptime, or taking shorter naps than usual
- Having trouble falling asleep or staying in bed
How To Fix The 2 Year Old Sleep Regression
Maintain Routine
Sleep regressions can tend to make following a routine feel much more difficult. The important thing is to stay as consistent as possible so that when the sleep regression is over, there is still some normalcy. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry accredits consistent sleep routines to fewer sleep issues in children. Having a consistent nighttime routine helps to promote positive sleep habits and sleep hygiene, and equips your child for a lifetime of better sleep.
Avoid Screen Time at Least an Hour before Bed
Blue light is a big no-no when it comes to sleep! Avoid screen time at least an hour before bed to avoid a delayed onset of melatonin and overstimulation. Your toddler will have a much easier time winding down, falling asleep, and staying asleep. There are tons of bedtime activities that you can replace screen time with for better sleep patterns.
Create an Optimal Sleeping Environment
Make sure that their room is dark, calm, and quiet for the best sleep. If your little one is afraid of the dark, use a night light to help calm their fears. Use blackout curtains to help them stay asleep longer in the morning. Try a white noise machine to add to their environment.
Address their Anxieties
Toddlers have wild imaginations! They may have seen something scary on TV, or they may be afraid of separation or something that they imagined. Instill confidence in your toddler that you are always there for them even if you’re not in the room with them. Help ensure them that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Fear spray (glitter and water) is one of my favorite tools to make them feel safe! There are so many other books and sleeping products that can help your little one sleep more soundly as well.
Give Them a Small Snack
With the development of language, there’s a chance your little one has learned the phrase “I’m hungry!”. Incorporate a light snack into your bedtime routine to help them feel full and sleepy. I can also help eliminate the snack requests that somehow always come up after they’re in bed. The routine of a small snack can even become something that helps your little one look forward to bedtime!
Stay Calm
Being patient during the 2 year sleep regression can be difficult. It may feel like your hard work in sleep training your child has gone to waste. The struggles that come with it can be extremely frustrating. Stay calm, consistent, and remember that this is temporary. Try not to feed into the drama to keep the meltdowns at a minimum. If your little one wakes up in the middle of the night, calmly walk them back to bed and try not to make the situation feel like a huge deal. Help them develop independence to handle these wake-ups alone.
Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting
Is your 2 year old having difficulty self-soothing for naps and overnight? If your child is unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up at a normal time, it may be time to consider sleep training. Sleep Shore offers personalized solutions for each unique sleeping situation to get your little one on track- whether they’re a newborn, infant, or toddler. We also offer in home sleep training services in the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Michigan (Midland, Clare, Mt. Pleasant) and Traverse City, Michigan. Sleep training offers babies and children with the skills to fall asleep on their own so they can wake up feeling more well-rested- and in turn, you’ll feel more energized, too! See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“My husband and I reached out to Danielle after several months of fighting our 2.5 year old to sleep. We were pretty strict bedtime followers for our older two, but our youngest threw us for a loop and we developed some not so great habits. Danielle walked us through each step patiently, and got us out of our daughter’s room and back her putting herself to sleep. Danielle gave us a well thought out plan that worked well for our busy family!”
Mom of 2-Year-Old