2 year olds are delightfully honest, daring and challenging, all in one! They are finally over that needy newborn stage but headed straight into the independent 2 year stage.
You may have found that your child was sleeping well and any signs of disrupted sleep were behind you. But then all of a sudden, they are becoming clingy, showing signs of separation anxiety and their sleep is falling apart.
You will be pleased to know that it’s nothing that you’re doing. It’s purely that your child is experiencing the 2 year sleep regression.
Yep, that’s right! The phases of regressions aren’t over just yet, but you’re almost on your home run.
WHAT IS THE 2 YEAR SLEEP REGRESSION?
The 2 year sleep regression is a sudden yet brief negative change to your chid’s sleep due to the changes that are happening with their motor skills and cognitive developmental. It is also associated with a wave of separation anxiety. Luckily, this is the last of the age-based sleep regressions. It is very common to see your perfect little sleeper turn into a child who cries for you at bedtime and wakes through the night.
SIGNS OF THE 2 YEAR SLEEP REGRESSION
You may have recently noticed that your previously good sleeper is now:
Crying at bedtime
Clingy during the day time
Abandoned naps
Delayed sleep onset
Night wakes
Nap refusal
The biggest complaint I see is the night wakes and the crying at bedtime. This is all linked with separation anxiety which comes as a wave through this regression.
SLEEP NEEDS
As the regression presents with nap refusal, many parents make the mistake of dropping the nap when their child isn’t ready. The nap refusal during the regression isn’t a sign to drop the nap, in fact, the day sleep really needs to remain in tact to support easier bedtimes and healthy night sleep.
At 2 years of age, most children need 2-2.5 hours total day sleep and 11-12 hours night sleep, split between 5.5 hours awake windows.
If your child isn’t getting the recommended amount of sleep, it’s likely that they are overtired and this will exacerbate the impact of the sleep regression.
WHAT CAUSES THIS REGRESSION?
There are many reasons why your child may experience the regression but ultimately, these causes are identified as motor and cognitive advancements.
At this age, many children experience a big development in their motor and physical ability, their language output and their social abilities and concerns.
Separation anxiety will continue to be an inconsistent presentation through-out childhood and the thought of being left alone at bedtime will be sure to make your toddler upset. This presents with lots of crying at bedtime when you are trying to leave the room, even if bedtime used to be a breeze.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS REGRESSION
The best way to approach and manage the regression is to nip it in the bud as soon as you notice the signs. If you can continue to follow your usual nap structure and bedtime approach, then you will show your child that although they are experiencing changes, they are on a safe and consistent journey.
If your child is in a cot, making the change to a toddler or big bed will not typically improve their sleep. In many cases, this creates more sleep challenges due to the lack of cognitive ability to understand and follow bedtime guidelines.
At this age, many children develop a fear of the dark so if you feel that your child may be scared, you can introduce a red night light to help alleviate any fears.
As for the separation anxiety, this is the biggest impact on a child’s sleep. During the regression, I recommend you sit in your child’s room with them at bedtime and each night waking to help alleviate the separation anxiety. Staying with them until they fall asleep will regain their confidence that you are close by and help them to settle into sleep without added stress or anxiety. This is just a temporary step whilst you navigate the regression, and you can revert to independent bedtime and sleep once the regression passes.
HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Each regression lasts for approximately 2-6 weeks, providing you stick to your usual approach to bedtime and overall sleep plan. If you create new unwanted habits and associations during this period, you may find that these temporary sleep issues become permanent and you will need to actively work on re-establishing your preferred sleep presentation.
If your child’s sleep is still disrupted after 6 weeks, you may need to speak to a professional to establish a plan to identify what is truly causing the upset sleep and receive a personalised sleep plan.
TAKE HOMES
If you’ve found yourself in the thick of this regression, follow these simple tips to ride the wave and come out the other side:
Remain consistent with your settling and resettling approach
Continue to offer a nap
Stay with your child until they fall asleep
Be calm and relaxed when supporting your child
Allow 2-6 weeks for this to pass
If you’re struggling with your child sleep and you think it’s time to ask for some professional help, then I’m here for you.If you’d like to chat about your child’s sleep, book in for a free 15 minute chat:
Shereen Nielsen xx
I'm Shereen Nielsen, a certified Sleep Consultant specialising in infants and children from birth to 15 years old. With over seven years of experience, I've assisted over 4000 families in achieving better sleep. Additionally, I serve as a lecturer and mentor, guiding aspiring sleep consultants on their path to certification through my internationally recognised online Sleep Consultant Course.
Phone: +61419820474
Email: hello@shereennielsen.com
Website: www.shereennielsen.com
Facebook: @shereennielsen.sleepconsultant
Instagram: @shereennielsen_sleepconsultant
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