Information on Difficulty Sleeping At Two Years Old

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Difficulty Sleeping at Two Years Old

If your toddler is no longer in a crib, not feeling the least bit sleepy, unhappy about missinggrown-up company, worried about had dreams, or in a challenging may try to get up several times after he's been tucked in. Another drinkr. another trip to the potty if he's toilet trained, curiosity, boredom, inter-:romas from someone's late snack, a "tummy ache," a claim of a "bad probably bogus if he just went to bed), or anything else he might think 11 be reasons he feels compelled to exit his bed and his room.

every other area in which you are shaping your child's behavior, a con-'sponse—loving but firm—will be necessary. Once he has been through__:me routine, any further interactions should be calm, brief, and busi-- "It's time for bed" should he your monotonous response, and his returnshould be enforced without any further fun, games, food, or ceremony.oblems come when there's a lot of variation at bedtime, or if one or bothfeel guilty about the kind of interactions they've had with him during thethe time to remedy the need for more quality time with your two-year-ldn't be at 11 P.M. if you give in and let him fall asleep on the couch ora snack or another story, be prepared for more of the same tomorrow

ur two-year-old is a late-night or early-morning explorer, you may needa barricade (the same type of folding gate used to keep toddlers off the_cross his exit route. Otherwise, you may awaken to find him finger paint-

e dumping flour on the floor, or worse—turning on appliances,precariously over the toilet bowl, or perhaps checking out the garage.ly, if you have been "cosleeping" with your child, now is a good time topractice. When you decide that moving day has arrived, carry out then with some advance notice. Talk about how great it is to have "your own"your own room." If possible, let him help you prepare the new sleepingthis age, he most likely would like to have a say in the choice of his bed,buying one, or at least in the decor of the new surroundings—sheets,es, night-light, or even wallpaper if you feel ambitious. Some parentstheir toddler to a futon or sleeping bag near their bed and then gradu-e it closer to the ultimate destination. And most of all, reassure him thattimes aren't over.

will also need to decide what to do if your toddler occasionally slips intoin the middle of the night. If you feel too weary to escort him back toor you don't mind the extra sleeper when you're already conked out,

Parentalwarmth afterdiscipline isessential todemonstratethat it is thebehavior—not the childhimself thatthe parentrejects.

you may choose not to make this an issue. But if you decide that your ":-limits except by special invitation, enforce your policy consistently, 7how tired you might feel. One approach to consider is designatingsnuggle times—for example, on weekend mornings

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