Help

My daughter has started doing something similar & she's been like it since Feb, right after she turned 2. Although once she's asleep, she's normally fine to move but does end up coming into bed & cosleeping in the early hours of the morning. It takes at least an hour if not longer to get her to go to sleep in the evenings & at nap time. It's exhausting & I'm curious to see if anyone has any tips or if it's just a phase that you have to ride out

Hi mandi 👋🏼 sleep consultant here. With older toddlers, consistent rules and boundaries around sleep is most important, just like at any other time of the day. Studies have shown when a parent has to lay next to a child or hold them to fall asleep, the child experiences higher sleep related anxiety, so it’s best to get away from that. If a child is tired enough, they will sleep. A suggestion I always give us to keep them up extra late for a couple of weeks as they adjust to falling asleep in their own crib/bed (also, it may be time for a toddler bed-often giving more responsibility helps with a toddler’s behavior). Give him lots of bedtime jobs/responsibilities and choices as you go (choice of 2 books out of 5, choice of pajamas out of 3, etc, closing the curtains, turning off the lights). You can also play a bedtime game for 15 minutes in his room where he ticks different stuffed animals in and you and him lay on pillows and get cozy with blankets. Say lots of “night nights” (1)

and reminders that bed is coming (a hatch sound machine with changing lights and sounds to signal transitions really helps). Then once it’s bedtime, let him know you will give one big a hug and kiss and then leave the room. You can keep checking in if he’s upset, but stay firm on the fact that he needs to sleep in his own space. After a few nights, he’ll be totally fine (2) if you need more help, head to my website hhsleep.com