Topic: 2 year old - Cries himself to sleep every other night - page 2. (Read 4144 times)

Umm, he sleeps in one of those travel cots (we're tight for space, but fortunately it's decent enough).  So it's just 6 inches off the floor.  The walls are fabric stretched over a light aluminium frame and, on one end, there's a door that zips up.  A bit like a tent, I suppose, only being a cot there's no roof, and being a cot for small people (i.e. < 5 years), it would be a pretty small door for a real tent -- unless, I guess, if it was a tent for similarly small people 

Well, he walks proudly up, unzips the door, and climbs into bed. I need only zip the door closed again, put the covers over him, and voilà, he's done, all ready for sleepies. Admittedly, the first time he did this I was speechless. Didn't even know he knew how to operate zips. But, not wanting to lose the initiative, I took it in my stride and made him opening his own cot-door a part of the night-time routine 

No image I can come up with in my mind to explain this makes sense.

I used to sit beside or lie on the toddlers' bed and make up a story. Once I made up a really nice story about a little bird that lost a feather and couldn't fly any more, until a friendly spider spun a giant web and caught the feather in it! They *LOVED* to hear made-up stories. It was the one sure method of getting them to calm down and listen. Sometimes they'd even make up their own stories.

After the little story I would chat to the kids about this or that, or sing a little song. Then, sooner or later, I would interrupt with some reason to leave like, oh, I need to pee (kids understand that), I need to wash the dishes, I need to do a make a phone-call, something, anything, but *ALWAYS* with "wait there, I'll be back in 5 minutes".  9 times out of 10 they'll be asleep when you get back. If not, rinse & repeat. Eventually you won't have to go back no more.

Apart from that, the earlier message about developing a routine is vital.

Instead of having the young ones in your bed, much preferable is for you or your SO to squeeze into bed beside them - obviously it's better if you just sit there, but I'm considering the hypothesis that you're dead tired and need to sleep. You'll get uncomfortable soon, wake up, and can then go to your own bed. That way, they will become used to sleeping in their own bed.

Our bedtime ritual is now pure joy. We bring 'em upstairs, they climb into bed (the youngest even unzips the door on his own cot and voluntarily climbs in!), a short song or story, kisses all around, and awaaaaayyyyyyyy!

I have hree kids: 9, 6, 2 years old.

I can only repeat:

NO SUGAR AFTER 5pm
sugar hypes them up. sugar is pure energy. it prevents them from calming down.

GET THOSE EARS CHECKED
just because listening to mom or dad can be calming.

ROUTINES
develop routines that indicate a while before they go to bed that "it's time."
in this house:
- 6pm dinner
- 7pm, all kids are changed and have their toothbrushes in hand
- 15min of taped TV with their fave show (pocoyo, pingu, what have you)
- 8pm, all kids are in bed
- as story is read to the kids
- 9pm, lights out.
of course, this might be off as much as half an hour or an hour, even, if exciting stuff happens or we've been away for a day trip or something.

but: THE ROUTINE IS ALWAYS THERE. and it helps.


of course, there are times when the little one (mine just turned two) needs more attention.
last couple of weeks, he required extensive cuddeling and soothing before sleep.
it will go away, but please, please, PLEEASE do not make him suffer for it, it's not his fault AT ALL.

Promise me?

http://youtu.be/CseO1XRYs9I?t=48s

Shit, I just remembered the last time my son did something like this(cry like a looney cause he didn't want to go to bed), the neighbours called the cops saying there was a child being abused on the upper floor...

Moral of the story: Forget about the whole "I'll give you a real reason to cry" thing

Nothing special so far. All ... ok most kids do so now and again.
They experience all of a sudden a strange thing: Own personality.
Never had that before and its confusing makes unhappy.

First of all do not take it as an offence.
The little chap doesn't know how to help himself.
That is where you are coming into the equation, help him.

Kids like rituals!
A regular going to bed procedure is the best cure for all ... ok most kids.

This thread is so full of win.

Forgot about this step!  This was key to the transition out of our room into her room.  My daughter slept in our bedroom until she was just over 1 year old... but getting her to sleep in her own room was a challenge.  She didn't like not having us right there with us.  At first, we tried the "just ignore and let her cry herself to sleep" approach, which would eventually work, but she hated it (obviously), and it made us feel awful too.  Then we went with the "stay in the room until she falls asleep" approach, which worked wonderfully.

One of us would stay in the room with both kids, just doing our own thing (I would either be on my laptop or phone), but just having us there while she fell asleep was enough to comfort her into doing that without too much fuss.  At first, she wanted to be held, but I'd just gently remind her that it was time to sleep, and tell her to lay down, and she would.  I'd keep repeating that each time she would stand up in bed.  She eventually got the idea, and stopped even asking to be held, just understood that it was time to sleep, but that I would be in the room with her.

Once we got that down (took several months), we started leaving the room when she was almost asleep, but not quite there, of course, always coming back in for a minute if she asked to reassure her that we weren't just abandoning her to the bed.  Then, we started leaving earlier and earlier, and now, we can just leave the room as soon as we say goodnight.

the mother suffers from asthma and so do the kids, closing doors and ignoring my kids can lead to them suffocating (sudden death syndrome)

Mine turned 2 in September.

Tell him, night night, put him in the bed, close the door, ignore his cries.
He will fall asleep soon enough

You still bottle feeding, pacifier? I got rid of both around 10-12 months ago.

Had the same issue with the eldest, now 4, and still ocasionally throws a tarntrum here and there. I love drinking herbal tea and there is a relaxing tea from manzanilla leaves.

I made the tea let it cool, then mixed the milk formula right into the tea. It would relax him and then he would on his own ask to be taken to bed to sleep.

Then I started reducing the amount of tea to water until I completely removed it.

Has worked very well for both kids. Night lamps help and an open door policy (easy access to mama and papa) if they get scared at night.

Sitting with them in their room, either singing or just letting them blabber away and making them think you are paying attention to them helps also.

Initially you will have to put time towards that, and just transition until the bedroom is sleep time.

yep, pro advice from jgarzik. Nothing to add really.

Making sure your little guy is really active during the day helps too..


possibly cut afternoon naps down a bit.

This is very good advice.  The routine is especially important.  I have a 2 year old and 2.5 year old... now, sometimes they will complain and cry when we say it is time to go to bed, or during the routine (because they know bedtime is coming), but they don't usually cry when they are in bed anymore.  If my 2 year old daughter cries when we say goodnight and leave the room, then one of us will go in and reassure her that it is time to sleep... I usually make her agree that it is night-night time, and then she's fine.  I suppose that wouldn't work well with a toddler who isn't talking yet though, unless he at least acknowledges your questions with a head-nod or something.

I see the problem! Derek has only those big colored plastic toys to play with, while daddy has a shining mining rig. I suggest buying him a toy reflow oven and when he starts crying tell him daddy needs some new parts FAB.

My little guy is starting to say a couple words at once... bed time, My truck, mommy and daddy, car ride, bike ride. fire truck and plenty more. MINE


Make sure you read to him on a regular basis. Couple times a day. Start with little books with tiny sentences.


Is he not in a crib anymore?

Yeah my little guy is about 2 and a half years old now.. Lately he has  been doing the same thing.. Not wanting to go to bed.



Just let him scream... he'll get tired and go to bed.. worse case I bring him to bed with me.... Last night we both passed out and he was still running around.


It was pretty cute every time he would get close to me or my wife he would start being really quiet and start making the sshhhh sound

"Terrible twos"

Yep let him do it and feel the consequences of his overnight binge, unless he's completely stupid and it doesn't seem like he is to me he'll realise why humans need sleep, children are like a blank slate a lot of the time, but if you let them learn on their own they'll learn stuff faster than if you try and beat it into them without any reasoning oh yeah and myrkul's right, get him to brush his teeth really early, show him google if he doesn't believe you when you say it hurts like hell if you don't.