https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:21:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2838100 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 07:27:25 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2838100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: goofing around is what got my LO kicked out of my bed. My son likes to cry and whine, but has responded well to being told if he continues then he will not get the outcome he desires. Could you try that? Tell him you’ll leave if he doesn’t get in his bed and close his eyes. If he persists then leave. Eventually he’ll tire himself out and go to sleep. Then try it again the next night and his behavior may get better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2838081 Sun, 05 Aug 2018 20:50:49 +0000 buttermilk 2838081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: my DD did the same thing around that age. I was really frustrated and not sure how to handle. In the end I just decided that since I knew she knew how to go to sleep well normally, this must just be something she was going though and she must need me. So I usually stayed by her bed until she fell asleep or I just couldn’t take it anymore (tried to balance), and in the end it was just a short phase. Maybe 2 weeks. She would do it off and on again throughout year 2-3. Currently at age 3 I’m dealing with her getting out of bed 5-6 times before falling asleep with every excuse under the sun. I try to supernanny that sh*t and avoid talking too much. Just lead her back to bed. But also she wants a million hugs and kisses and how can I say no!? Ugh parenting! Not sure I’ve actually given any good advice here lol. Hang in there mama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2837996 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 21:47:21 +0000 ShootingStar 2837996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DS was this age bedtime was a nightmare. I’d lay with him and he’d settle down and I’d think I could escape but he always knew when I was trying to leave and we’d rinse and repeat. I was pregnant and DH and I decided he’d take over bedtime. And man, he totally showed me up. He instituted a Strong bedtime routine and stuck to it and just got up and left when it was done. </p> <p>We both do this now with both kids and my DD’s starting this difficult going to bed phase. But with her I’ve learned I can’t stay with her while she sleeps. She doesn’t really sleep if I’m there and screams immediately if I leave. So now I do our routine and walk out and she still screams but usually for about 30 seconds. By the time I walk down the hall to our room and go in the closet or bathroom or whatever, she’s done crying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2837983 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 20:18:31 +0000 gotkimchi 2837983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: definitely the middle of the night is going better so that’s a relief. It’s the actual going to sleep part that is frustrating for me - he wants us to stay with him but then is basically goofing around. I leave when he does that and he cries repeat repeat </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2837982 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 20:13:16 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2837982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I noticed when LO wakes up sometimes in the MOTN it’s after faster breathing in his sleep, and his face looks agitated. Perhaps your LO is experiencing a bad dream. I’d just go and comfort him during the wake ups. When we were transitioning back to LO sleeping in his crib, I slept in his room for several nights and it wasn’t that bad. You may just need to show him his room is okay and where he needs to sleep before taking off to your room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2837962 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:17:28 +0000 gotkimchi 2837962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: he is sleeping better - more through the night, but bedtime is still a joke </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2837940 Sat, 04 Aug 2018 13:50:23 +0000 pachamama 2837940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: oh poop. How is he? Any change? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836186 Thu, 26 Jul 2018 09:52:25 +0000 gotkimchi 2836186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: he’d prob cry over an hour :sad: I ended up sitting by him until he fell asleep which only took a min cuz he was exhausted by then but of course then he was up at 10:45 so I know it’s not helping </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836176 Thu, 26 Jul 2018 09:43:26 +0000 snowjewelz 2836176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first went through a sleep regression at 2 also, compounded by the arrival of her baby sister! No real advice; we just kind of stuck it out and did what we had to do to get sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836175 Thu, 26 Jul 2018 09:39:31 +0000 pachamama 2836175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: My son would absolutely do the same- visits and check ins soothe him but really rile him up an he'd scream as soon as we put him down, so they were detrimental to sleep. Can you maybe just not check in? How long do you think he'd cry? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836111 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:39:43 +0000 Mrsbells 2836111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: my son is 22 months and he was really hard to put to bed for a long time. He also yells and screams like he is being tortured. What we do is tell him that we only stay with him if he closes his eyes and is quiet. I'm not sure how well your LO communicates. If he cries i tell him i'm leaving the room and it eventually worked after a few days ..so now he falls asleep really quickly.<br /> If he wakes up in the night we so not go back in there and after a few days he just got it and doesnt cry when he wakes up at night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836101 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:02:31 +0000 gotkimchi 2836101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh so I put him in bed at 7:17 and he’s just been screaming, won’t even lay down just sitting up. I’ve gone in every 10 minute to try to settle him and he wants to rock and sing our songs and then when I put him down it’s back to screaming. He also said he wants his sleep sack off and to leave his bedroom. Any advice??? Any way for him to go to sleep that doesn’t involve me sitting there for 45 min or him screaming?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836091 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 19:24:49 +0000 gotkimchi 2836091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well everyone he’s currently crying like I’m ruining his life and it’s only been 7 min.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836080 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 18:04:36 +0000 caitcat 2836080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter went through spells of that kind of nighttime waking around when she turned two. It stinks! Looking back, I think it was a phase that she just grew out of, but we did get her some light up turtle toy that projects stars and plays lullabies to keep in her crib for reassurance when she woke up in the middle of the night after a week or two of interrupted sleep (desperate times!). At the time, it felt like a lifesaver because she took to it almost immediately - and stopped calling me. Now, a year and a half later...we still have that darn turtle and I hear it turn on all through the night. I’m convinced it now keeps her awake rather than puts her back to sleep. But at the time when we gave it to her, it felt like the best thing ever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836066 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 16:55:06 +0000 gotkimchi 2836066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: nothing that I can think of that would be out of the ordinary </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836064 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 16:49:33 +0000 Mrsbells 2836064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: has he had any changes to his diet in thr past few days? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836057 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:49:16 +0000 MrsRoo 2836057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dd2 is just coming out of this phase (27 months). She didn’t do the wake up in the middle of the night, but suddenly just after she hit 2, she started being a TERROR to put to bed. Like trying to flip herself out of my arms to not walk to her room. For her it was all about the transitions, so I started setting the timer.” Okay, K 5 more minutes to play and when the timer goes off it’s time to brush teeth” it’s worked really well for us. We read our set number of books, set a gentle timer for snugggles, and then I lay her in the crib and say goodnight. She sometimes will still resist, but nothing like she was doing before the timer! She hasn’t woken up in the middle of the night, so I don’t know how this could help with that, but seriously, the timer has helped soooo much with bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2836026 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 13:24:43 +0000 Shantuck 2836026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: I'd avoid sitting with him as he falls alseep, if at all possible. We did this with my now 6 year old and the problem is that when they wake and you are no longer there, they get upset. We got to the point where we were laying with him for 2+ years until he fell asleep and that turned into him coming to our bed and crawling in. We just recently kicked that habit. My husband and I vowed that if our daughter starts giving us trouble with falling asleep (she's only 1 right now), we will not start down that path again of sitting/laying in the room until she falls asleep. It creates terrible habits. I'd try to just keep up the normal routine as much as possible and hope the phase will pass soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835992 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 11:26:28 +0000 gotkimchi 2835992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: i know and your probably right but i hate when I get frustrated and then I feel like I’m not even being nice or understanding anyways! I’d be willing to sit with him if he’d go to bed, but the two nights I tried it he rolled around, sang, poked me - it’s really unsustainable. I also have an older child that I need to get ready for bed so I really can’t sit in his room for 45 min every night </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835972 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 10:28:01 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2835972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this is probably going to be the least helpful thing for you to hear, but it honestly sounds like a phase that will pass. It might take a while, but it will pass. My daughter is 5, and when I think back on all the weird sleep issues we delt with over these years, I remember being really worried about them, but they all turned out to be phases. He could be going through a major development spurt right now, which makes it harder to stay asleep. He could be processing something new that he's learning that's making him anxious and thus the want for company. There's so much that happens for them developmentally that can rattle them. It's exhausting, I totally get it, but I think as much empathy and comfort you can give him right now, the better. I feel like things like this are rarely actual issues, but I totally understand how exhausting and frustrating it all is. Hang in there, I hope it passes soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835970 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 10:22:15 +0000 gotkimchi 2835970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: he language is pretty good but I don’t think he’d be able to explain anything, he’d just say want mama or no bed something like that. I did talk to him during the day about sleeping in his bed and he said “got it” but that did not actually do anything for the behavior lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835949 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:16:06 +0000 MamaCate 2835949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: how is lo’s language? If you talk to him during the day about why he is upset at bedtime could he tell you? I would rather do some problem solving/discuission/positive reinforcement at that age because there is some more comprehension. (I am not a fan of CIO personally so that is not where my head goes).</p> <p>I would set clear expectations and be ready to put in some work to reinforce in the short term. My DS is now 3 but he did want me to sit in the room for a while earlier. I just tried to do it shorter and shorter times. I would stay for like 2 minutes, tell him I had to go do something fast and I could only come back if he was quiet and in bed. Then come back fast, praise him, stay a few more minutes, leave again and spread out the intervals. He is pretty cooperative though. He knows I leave so I can make the lunches, do the dishes etc etc so we talk about that too.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835946 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:02:43 +0000 gotkimchi 2835946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: hmmm maybe I should try it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835945 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:00:45 +0000 pachamama 2835945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no! I went through this actually a few times since my son has been 2. He was a dream then starting begging for us and I was like oh crap, it's all over. I know this doesn't work for everyone and esp maybe not for your little guy, but we did have good success with CIO :-( For him, he wasn't too hysterical. 15 mins one night, 10 then 5 mins and he was good from then on. At age 2 they have more understanding you're not abandoning them like maybe they do as infants with CIO! Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835944 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 08:56:27 +0000 tinyperson 2835944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: Moving bedtime early has never worked for either of my kids...if they go to bed later, they get up at the same time, so I just have tired cranky kids. My 2yo goes down easily at 7. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835937 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 08:36:37 +0000 gotkimchi 2835937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tinyperson: this is totally my life! I’m getting so frustrated and he also is an early riser so I’m really not willing to give up my small amount of time at night by moving bedtime later </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835913 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 07:47:41 +0000 tinyperson 2835913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no suggestions, but I can commiserate!</p> <p>We're in a similar situation. My daughter is 26 months, and goes to bed really easily, but is waking up 1-4 times a night screaming "out, mommy." All she needs is a quick cuddle and her soother popped in, but it's really wearing on me. I deal poorly with nighttime wakeups (always have), and I get frustrated. Plus, she wakes up between 5-6 (usually on the earlier side), which leaves me no time to get ready before she gets up (unless I get up super early). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835911 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 07:43:23 +0000 gotkimchi 2835911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: it is dark, we did add a night light and he doesn’t care about it at all </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835906 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 06:58:27 +0000 Adira 2835906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it dark in his room? Could he be afraid of the dark? Maybe adding nightlights might help?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-2yo-bedtime#post-2835897 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 06:16:30 +0000 gotkimchi 2835897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Until recently my 2yo went to bed like a dream (he’s just turned 2) but the past week he won’t go to bed, screams and cries, wants me to lay down with him, is waking up during the night yelling for me - how do I deal with this? I don’t think regular cio will work because he gets sooooo upset and is a real screamer. Is this a case where you sit next to the bed for 2 days then by the door for 2 days etc? Any other ideas or options?? I’m tired and I want to sleep alone :silly: </p>