2 Year Old Waking Up at Night for Hours? Here’s What to Do
Do you have a 2 year old waking up at night for hours? There are many reasons your child may be staying up. Don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you can’t get a good night of sleep again. In this article, we’ll look at what you can do to get your little one sleeping through the night instead.
Many parents are caught off-guard by sleep issues in the toddler stage. Aren’t we past the newborn sleep deprivation? we ask.
This is especially true when your 2 year old wakes up in the middle of the night and plays for hours. Other times, he’s rolling and tossing before he cries out for you. It doesn’t help when he isn’t exactly sleeping in the next morning—nope, he’s up at his usual time, bright and early.
So, how can you get him to sleep all night? Take a look at these tips you can try to finally turn things around:
Table of Contents
Prevent the excuses
Does your 2 year old refuse to sleep because she says she needs a cup of water or a change of diaper?
Now, if this were once in a while, then sure, pour her a cup of water or take her to the changing table. But if you find that she’s relying on these excuses to be awake, find ways to prevent them from happening.
For instance, fill a sippy cup and place it by her bed. Remind her that her diaper can last the whole night. Set a box of tissues next to her if she wants to blow her nose. Tuck her sheets in tightly to prevent them from getting too ruffled. And take her to the potty one last time before going to sleep.
By taking care of her needs before she falls asleep, she has fewer reasons to fuss and get out of bed.
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Don’t reinforce habits you don’t want
It’s tempting to get out of bed the minute you hear your toddler stirring. You’re so used to bolting upright at the tiniest sound, after all. But getting up and accommodating his needs—despite your good intentions—is sending the wrong message.
You see, getting attention rewards that behavior. And yes, this includes any reprimands to go back to sleep or stop talking. The more responsive you are to his behavior, the more he’ll continue to do it, especially if you get riled up.
So, how do you respond?
If he’s simply singing, playing, or chatting quietly, then let him do so. But if he’s waking others up, poke your head in the room and let him know it’s time for bed and go back to sleep. Don’t try to comfort him or make it any bigger than that—close the door and move on.
What if he still wakes up at night for milk or is asking for a favorite lovey? Granted, this might be a one-off night when he is thirsty, or he hardly loses his lovey. But if it’s become a habit, don’t reinforce it by accommodating his needs. He can wait in the morning to tend to either request.
Offer plenty of downtime during the day
Have you ever had a difficult time falling asleep because the day’s events were so… eventful? Or you couldn’t fall asleep from the excitement and anticipation of the following day?
We all process our subconscious thoughts throughout the day, but the best time to do so is when we’re doing nothing. When we’re sipping a cup of tea, enjoying a shower, or driving our usual route. It’s in that downtime when our brains process all the information we feed it.
Now, imagine you’re a child shuttled from one activity to the next or in front of the computer or television often. Having a packed agenda that is all input with no time to rest doesn’t give her a chance to process the information she’s learned.
So, what does she do? She processes it the only time she does have nothing to do: in bed.
Maybe your 2 year old isn’t going to sleep until 11pm because she’s still processing all that she has experienced that day. If so, make sure she has plenty of downtime during the day when she’s free to play and decide what to do. She might process the information she’s learned through pretend play or think about what she has seen as she gathers leaves at the park.
By giving her time to process her thoughts during the day, she can feel better able to “shut down” and finally fall and stay asleep at night.
Play in the room during the day
Your 2 year old might be waking up because of the excitement of being in his room after not having been there the whole day. But by playing in his room, he would’ve had his “fill” earlier on. Include plenty of time in his room in your daily routine so that it doesn’t feel like he’s only there when it’s time to sleep.
This can also ease any fears or anxieties he might have about his room. He can associate the positive experience of playing during the day, offering the reassurance he needs at night.
That said, if he wakes up in the middle of the night because he’s excited to play with toys, take those toys out of the room. Remind him that they’re best played during the day and will be waiting for him when he wakes up.
Create a conducive sleep environment
Our environment affects how well we sleep. For instance, we fall asleep quicker and more soundly in a dark room than in a lit one. Take a look at your 2 year old’s room to see if you can change her environment. You might…
- Add darkening curtains to block light from outside
- Use a white noise machine to muffle sounds that might startle her awake
- Turn the lights off or use a nightlight
- Give her a weighted blanket
Another item you can add to her room is a toddler alarm clock. These clocks light up at a certain time of the morning, letting her know when it’s okay to wake up for the day. More importantly, anytime the clock is not lit up means that it’s still time to sleep.
Lastly, consider getting her a new toddler bed. If she’s still in a crib, she might be having a difficult time falling back to sleep because she’s outgrown it. A big kid bed could be all she needs to sleep comfortably through the night.
The bottom line
Hearing your 2 year old waking up at night for hours is no pleasant sound. But as you can see, you can help her fall back to sleep and break this habit once and for all. With these tips, she can learn that the middle of the night is the time to sleep—not to play, chat, or sing.
Get more tips:
- How to Avoid 2 Year Old Bedtime Tantrums
- 20 Examples of a 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule
- How to Establish a 2 Year Old Bedtime
- How to Get Your Toddler to Stay in Bed
- 2 Year Old Sleep Regression Solutions That Work
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