2 Year Old Sleep Regression

Welcome to the 2 year old sleep regression. I’m guessing you’re here because you are in desperate need of some saving. I got you, and I know that toddler regressions can be rough.

I’ll answer all of your burning questions when it comes to the 2 year old sleep regression. First and foremost, let’s get into what causes toddler sleep regressions to begin with.

It’s important to remember that toddlers have so much going on in their little lives. They are growing tremendously, learning tons daily and also testing boundaries…a lot. This is all normal toddler behavior and all part of their development. It’s also a huge learning curve for us as parents and we need to try our very best to stay calm, take deep breaths, stay consistent with our toddlers and remember that they are sensitive little people who need our attention and our TLC.

What causes a 2 year old regression?

I’ve compiled a list for you of the most common things that can trigger your two year old's sleep regression.

• Huge developmental changes

• Big Transitions or changes

• Daycare

• Newfound fear of the dark

• Molars

• Separation anxiety

• Potty training 

• Even a new teacher or classroom

• A new sibling

• Bedtime resistance 

• Sleep needs changing

• Stalling at bedtime

• Crying or calling out for you

• Maybe they have sleep crutches to begin with

Signs that my toddler is going through a regression

• Extreme crankiness

• Extreme clinginess

• Bedtime and nap refusal/resistance

• Tantrums

• Stalling at bedtime

• Screaming, crying or calling out for you at bedtime

• Catnapping

• Early morning waking

• Sudden middle of the night waking

• Refusal to go back to sleep

  
  The list goes on…

Is it common for 2 year olds to have a regression?

Yes! It’s very common, indeed. It’s easy to miss the signs of a brewing sleep regression and it can hit us head on if we aren’t paying attention to changing sleep needs, being consistent with their schedule and staying in-tuned to behavioral changes. Oftentimes, the signs go under the radar, like toddler over-tiredness. They are adept at hiding their sleep cues, so pay close attention to them to make sure we are in-tuned with their sleep needs. 

Toddlers often go through bouts of separation anxiety due to big changes or transitions and they also have a newfound ‘fear of missing out’ which can cause a lot of bedtime battles and resistance. So give your toddler a few extra minutes to stay up and play with his siblings or his toys, give him a few extra minutes of your attention if he is dealing with separation anxiety and this should help make bedtime a lot smoother.

What do I do if my 2 year old is refusing naps?

Don’t panic! This is very normal for toddlers to do. Parents need to adjust their expectations when it comes to toddler naps because they aren’t going to sleep (perfectly or at all) every single day and like they did before.

You’ll notice that some days your toddler will fall asleep like a dream and other days she will be wide awake in the crib for the entire duration of nap time. This is due to your toddler either strongly refusing naps or because she genuinely doesn’t need the sleep.

This does not mean you should drop the nap completely (unless they are nearing 3 or 4 and really showing you that they don’t need the sleep and are consistently not falling asleep for naps).

They still need that down time, that time to unwind and decompress and take a break from all the stimulation, so keep offering the nap and it will eventually be used as quiet time for your toddler if they are indeed not falling asleep.

How do I deal with my toddler’s regression?

So your 2-3 year old is going through a major sleep regression…now what? I'm going to tell you just how to handle it!

Caution: Handle with care. Toddlers are very sensitive and need proper attention and handling in order to successfully make it out on the other side. 

Here are my top tips to help you get through this phase with your toddler. 

1. Introduce a lovie or comfort item
   If your toddler is struggling with separation anxiety, then a lovie or comfort item is a good idea to help your child feel more safe and secure in his/her bed. You may be thinking that it’s just too late to be introducing something at this age, but it’s not. Don’t worry about a dependency on a comfort item, you can worry about weaning your toddler from it later on. Research actually shows that a comfort item helps to significantly reduce nighttime wakings and sleep struggles. So I ay go for it! It’s totally worth it for your sanity and for your toddler’s security.
   

2. Communicate with your toddler
   about his/her feelings and talk them through it. They are often feeling unsettled and need your reassurance.
   

3. Be firm and fair
   It’s ok to be firm and fair with your toddler if he is not cooperating at bedtime or in middle of the night. Set boundaries, offer incentives and be assertive in your approach to getting them back to their usual routine.
   

4. Be mindful of lots of big transitions
   Avoid having your toddler go through too many new transitions or big changes all at once (I.e., eliminating bottle or paci, potty training, graduating from the crib, bringing home a sibling, starting school, moving, etc…) Your toddler can only handle so much at once.
   

5. Offer Extra 1:1 time and TLC at bedtime and throughout the day.
   Make sure to offer your toddler extra comfort and support to help them feel more safe and secure. Take time to strengthen your connection with your child and take extra time to bond, whether at bedtime or throughout the day. This is really important for both you and your toddler because they need that feeling of safety and security, especially when they may be dealing with separation anxiety.

6. Focus on good quality awake time during the day
   Plan for extra outside activity time. You want to make sure you are helping them use their bodies and brains during the day.
   

7. Have a plan in place of how to deal with the sleep regression.
   Educating yourself about what’s going on with your toddler during a sleep regression and knowing what to expect is really going to prepare you for if and when it happens. Know the signs, learn how to prevent them and prepare yourself with tools for how to deal with it should you need to. No one wants to be hit with a regression and not have a clue what’s going on.
   

8. Avoid introducing too many new sleep habits to your toddler.
   Be consistent with your approach to sleep and keep everything as normal as possible. You don’t want to add more habits on top of a sleep regression.

How to prevent sleep regressions

Staying in-tuned to your child’s sleep needs, paying attention to their wake windows and maintaining a great schedule for them with optimal sleep and consistency in their routine can significantly reduce the blow of sleep regressions and prevent them altogether. Babies who are great independent sleepers and who have a reliable optimal schedule rarely have sleep regressions and if they do they are usually quite minimal and easy to fix.

Remember that this will pass.

Take a deep breath, guys. Sleep regressions are temporary bouts of sleep disturbances and they will not last forever. Your child is going through a growth spurt, developmental and physical and this can cause some TEMPORARY sleep disturbances. Be patient, try to keep their schedule as normal as possible and it will pass.

Are you struggling with sleep regressions?

If you have questions and concerns about your child’s sleep, feel free to send me a message or book a free discovery call so that I can answer all of your questions.