How Do I Get My 2 Year Old To Sleep At Night

[sbrown1450]

My 2 year old will not go to sleep at night, it doesn't matter what I do he will not go to sleep,
With having a 9 year old and a 8 month old I am shattered.
Has anyone any ideas?

[DTCwordfan]

a bath, good night story and lie with them, patting their bums, used to do it with mine...ten to twenty minutes of the latter but don't rush it. Also watch sugar intake from three hours out - inc drinks - avoid.

[Zacs-Master]

Routine. Tea, bath, bed time story.

[saintpeter48]

Routine - bath, bedtime story, plus DO NOT let him have any sugary drinks, sweets with lots of E numbers or anything that contains caffeine. Good luck.

[andy-hughes]

All answers are sound advice.

Getting him into the routine of knowing it is sleep time is essential.

When you put him down, leave a very low light on, and when he is quiet and still, leave the room. If he cries, go back in, so he can see you, but don't make eye contact, and don't speak to him.

If he carries on crying, give him some gentle strokes down his back until he settles.

He will soon get the hang of it - although it doesn't seem like it!!

[Mosaic]

Poor old you. It's just that little bit of time for yourself, beytween them asleep and you asleep - and you're not getting it. You can take the world on if you get a sit down and night's sleep but at times it's like there's nothing but feed, change nappy, burp, repeat.....
Here's the thing. Child will sleep if very tired. So what does s/he need to get tired. Does s/he attemd nursery? If not, try for every ay to get a subsidised place (if this is your need). We are genetically ntended to live in herds, where the babes and toddlers would crawl about together. No mum on her own no matter how super can substitute for this. So kid might be ratty from under stimulus.
And fall-back number two - sleeplessness doesn't last forever. As child develops and runs about more, they will sleep more.
it just feels like forever when you're n the middle of it.
Lastly, if there is an underlying cause you can ask at your GPs for help. Help to say there's no underlying cause or advice on how to cope.
Like others have said, a household where regular routines are observed is a fundametal, so hopefully this is the case with you.

[Mosaic]

God knows, slow internet in a hotel.....
"try for a day nursery place"
My post reads like god knows what

[TopKat]

He needs to learn this skill of self-settling - for his sake as well as yours - a good night's sleep is essential! Bath, story, bed is a good routine to start with, but after that, you need to be firm. Tell him it's bedtime and leave him to go to sleep. If necessary, keep putting him back in bed. He'll complain and it may take a while, but stick to your guns and he will learn. My youngest took a week to get the message, but we never looked back and it was totally worth it. Apart from the improvement in our life - she was much happier once she was getting enough sleep! Good luck!

[chrissa1]

If you're putting him down for a sleep during the day then, don't. Everyone else's advice is very sound.

[jourdain2]

Echo Chrissa. My tinies loved having a book with them to read (eldest started reading at 18 mths)even if they couldn't manage the words they loved the pictures and used to fall asleep over them. I would remove several loved, chewed books later in the evening.