The 2-year-old sleep regression is a tough time for parents. Your child may suddenly display signs of insomnia, bedtime resistance, and night wakings.

It can be confusing and difficult to know how to respond to your child’s sleep problems at this age. The best thing you can do is to remain calm and consistent with your toddler’s routine, even if it seems like it isn’t working!

What is 2-Year-Old Sleep Regression? 

Sleep regression is a period of time when your child is having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It can last for a few days, but it can also go on for weeks. common for babies and kids to have sleep regressions between the ages of 6 months and 3 years.

This is the time when your child will start to develop his or her own sense of self and independence. Your baby will begin to understand that he has control over his body, which can cause him to be fussier at night as he works through these big changes.

Why Does Sleep Regression Happen?

Every 2-year-old parent has been there, right? Your child has always slept through the night and suddenly, for no reason at all, you’re up every hour on the hour. It’s frustrating, tiring and honestly, it feels like it should be a crime.

What are the signs of 2-year-old sleep regression?

If your child has been sleeping well up until now, you may notice some changes in their sleep habits during this stage. Here’s what to look out for:

●          Your child wakes up more often at night and cries or fusses more than usual before falling back asleep easily.

●          The child is waking up earlier than usual in the morning.

●          He/She doesn’t seem as tired as they did before or they feel too tired than usual.

●          You see changes in their behavior during the day (more cranky, whiny, clingy)

●          They refuse naps or only take short naps

The most common causes of sleep regression include:

1.    Maturation

After a baby is born, her brain goes through significant changes, which means her sleep patterns will change too — sometimes drastically. The most common maturational milestones include walking, talking, and toilet training.

2.    Health Issues

Some health conditions can affect your child’s ability to sleep well at night or nap during the day. These may include ear infections or allergies, teething, and respiratory infections. In addition, some medications can disrupt your child’s sleep cycle if they’re not taken properly or cause side effects such as drowsiness or daytime fatigue.

3. Developmental Milestones

As your child approaches each new stage of development (such as walking), it can be challenging for him to make the transition from one phase of life to another — especially when it comes to sleep patterns! It’s normal for babies and toddlers to exhibit signs of resistance when faced with these changes in their lives, but don’t worry; it won’t last forever!

4.    Your Baby has Started Teething

Which can make him feel uncomfortable when lying down or falling asleep. Teething also typically worsens during the night when he’s in deep sleep, so his cries may be more intense during this time period as well.

RELATED: How Long Does Teething Last in Babies?

5.    Hunger

Your baby might need some food before going back to sleep after feeding during the night. Although it’s not recommended to do this regularly, sometimes offering a bottle of breast milk or formula will help comfort them back into sleep without any fussing from either party involved.

How Do You Help Your Toddler During Sleep Regression?

The first time your baby goes through a sleep regression is often the most difficult because you don’t know what to expect. However, recognizing that it’s normal can help you cope with the changes ahead of time.

How do you help your toddler during sleep regression? What should you do during this time?

Here are some tips for helping your toddler during sleep regression:

1) Get them used to a regular routine. Make sure that they have a daily schedule so that they know what’s coming next. This will help them feel more secure and less anxious about falling asleep.

2) Try to have them nap for at least an hour. If naps aren’t long enough, then have an early bedtime so that they can hopefully sleep longer at night.

3) Make sure bedtime happens at the same time each night; this will help prepare both you and your toddler for bedtime so that when it comes around, everyone knows what’s expected from them. If your toddler wakes up during the night, go back into their room after about five minutes and try to settle them back down again so that they’ll sleep for longer periods of time throughout the night.

4) Stay calm when it seems like nothing is working. Don’t try to force your child into bed when he doesn’t want to be there — even if it means staying up all night with him on your lap (just kidding!). Instead, calmly encourage him back to bed.

5) Be patient with yourself and your child — remember that this too shall pass!

Try not to worry about the way things were before; every child develops at their own pace, so there’s no point comparing one child’s development with another’s. Your child will catch up eventually; just give him or her time.

Final Thought

Parents of toddlers have probably experienced something along the lines of a 2-year-old sleep regression, which (at least for those children) is typically marked by bedtime resistance and separation anxiety. Parents, when your child reaches this stage, be patient—they’re only going to get more independent in the coming years. You can help them through this process though by establishing clear boundaries at night, confirming that they love you and that they’ll see you again soon in the morning. It’s also a good idea to limit screen time before bedtime, as studies have shown that it can lead to delayed bedtimes.