Changing toddler sleep habits

Anyone's toddler recently change the way they sleep? My DD used to be a fabulous sleeper and now she won't go to bed. First it was that the door had to be open, then the light had to be on ... and now she wants one of us in the room with her until she falls asleep. She also wakes up in the middle of the night sometimes crying saying she is "scared".

My DH and I have been going through some stresses lately ... could that be it? Do they get scared from nightmares at this age? (She is 2).

I don't want to blow her off if she is really scared but I'm concerned that I'm creating really bad habits.

Any advice?

Re: Changing toddler sleep habits

DD#1 is 2 1/2 and has been crawling into our bed in the middle of the night for the last 4-5 months. we fought it for a while, but i was preggo, exhausted, and needed sleep so we gave up.

now that DD#2 is in the picture and sleeping in the co-sleeper in our room i don't want to rock the boat and make DD#1 "feel bad" that she can't sleep in our room as well. she goes to bed in her bed no problem, but when she wakes up in the middle of the night she comes straight to our room. my plan is to redirect her back to her room once i start having DD#2 sleeping in her crib in her room.

i haven't been able to change DD's sleeping habits, but i haven't tried too hard. like with everything she goes through phases. once she hit 2 and the summer kicked in her bedtime became later and later. i was hoping it would revert back to earlier once the fall/winter hit - no such luck. she starts nursery school next week so i'm hoping that tires her out and gets her on more of a schedule...

Re: Changing toddler sleep habits

My DD is 2 also and her sleep habits are definitely changing. She says "no naps mommy" and fights going to sleep. I'm lucky that she will play in her crib for over an hour and eventually fall asleep.

At night she tends to wake up more crying out for us (I still have her in a crib.) I usually fight the urge to run into her and she settles back down after a few minutes. Sometimes when she's too hysterical I go in and she always says a particular boy at daycare is hurting her (I fought that battle and he has been pulled out of the program by NYS) but even after 3+ weeks of him being gone she's still in some distress about him.

Last night she was doing her usual "I want my mommy" at 2 am and I tried to ignore it but she wouldn't let up. She wasn't crying, just kept asking for us. Turned out she vomited and wanted me to clean it up

I spoke to my ped about the night wakings and he said this is the age they start to "dream" or realizing they are dreaming and are very confused and scared by it. He said it doesn't necessarily mean they are having nightmares. The dream itself probably just scares them because they don't realize what is going on whether it is pleasant or not.

I'm sure stress in the family could have something to do with it, just as this boy in daycare has affected my DD - but it could just be the age.

Try to keep things for her normal and on a routine. I wouldn't give in too much as it could be creating bad habits, but definitely reassure her everything is ok and try your best (easier said then done) to keep your stresses away from her.

Message edited 1/2/2009 3:22:01 PM.