2 yr old sleep regression?

[NicaG]

My dd willbe 2 in a month, and suddenly she seems to have intense separation anxiety at bedtime. I used to be able to put her in her crib after the bedtime routine or at naptime, and she would fall asleep. Now when I put her down, she clings to me and cries, so I lie down on the floor next to her. But she's a very light sleeper, and if I try to tiptoe out when she's asleep, she wakes up. And it often takes 1.5+ hours to get her to sleep at night. I thought maybe she was teething, but tylenol doesn't help. Any ideas? It's hard when I have an dee ds to take care of, and I'm just feeling burned out. When will this pass

[zoe77]

My son just turned 2 this month and we dealt with this about a month ago also. He was going down so easily. We would nurse and read a few books and then I would lay him down and he would go to sleep. Then we went on a trip and he had a major regression. When I would try to leave he would get upset and want more milk. First I would try sending daddy in to read a book and sometimes that was enough. If he was still upset when daddy went to leave I would go in and let him nurse some more and then usually by then he was ok to go to sleep. Different things worked on different nights (sometimes all daddy had to do was go in and say it was bedtime and he was fine, other times daddy had to give him a toy or book, sometimes he had to read a book, and sometimes I had to go back in for more milk), but he is now going to sleep very easily again (we nurse and read books and then it is night-night time).

BUT, now he is waking 2-3 times a night and up for the day as early as 5AM. I'm hoping it's teething molars and once all those teeth are in I'll get some relief.

It's always something . . . I find that as soon as you get used to whatever it is they are doing, they then change it all up on you again

[Jend1002]

Sounds like we are all in the similar stage - my son also turns 2 next month and very suddenly he has become extremely clingy and only wants mom. He was starting to sleep a little better but he is now back to waking for extended periods at night and gets up for the day around 5 am. He has been so terribly cranky and whiny too. I do think about molars but I can't actually see anything coming in. I wish I had an answer for you, but it is a relief to hear that others are experiencing this stage...

[munchymum]

Oh my gosh, we are having exactly the same problems. DD is nearly 2. She used to nurse to sleep fine and, even though she'd often wake again an hour later, she would go back to sleep easily with some more boobie. The last two weeks have been a nightmare - she's going to sleep OK but if she wakes up she will just not go back to sleep. We've tried nursing, not nursing, singing, daddy going up instead of mum - everything we can think of. She only goes to sleep properly when I give up and go to bed with her (we co-sleep).

It's totally stressing me out because my man and I are not getting any time together - one of us has to be with her all evening. I feel like I have no choice but to leave her to cry if I want a break. But I'm against that and I hardly think that would make me any less stressed. I just don't know what to do. Of all the sleep issues we've had, this is causing me the most anxiety. I don't really think I want advice, just a shoulder to cry on.

[CI Mama]

Count me in. My DD will be 2 in October, and getting her to sleep has become an epic journey every night. My DP and I try to share the bedtime routine, but DD just wants me, me, me. Specifically, she wants to nurse. A lot. I don't mind nursing her for 10-15 minutes, but I am way past the point where I want a marathon nursing session with a toddler every night. So we are trying other things to get her down (reading books, stroller rides, wearing her). Not having a lot of success with any of them. Every few nights she goes down "easily" (within an hour of starting our nighttime routine). Some nights it takes 2 hours or longer. UG!!!

I work full-time and I really need that hour between 9:00-10:00 pm to wind down, hang out with my DP, pack my lunch, maybe read a magazine for 10 minutes or something. It drives me crazy when DD doesn't fall asleep until 10:00 pm or later and then I have no time for anything.

We're thinking about reducing or cutting out her daytime nap to see if that helps.