Techniques to Help a 2-Year-Old Sleep Through the Night

When your child was born, you expected her to keep you awake throughout the night, but you may not have been ready for this to continue into the toddler years. It's common for a 2-year-old to wake up in the middle of the night, often setting up camp in your bed. With some patience and determination, you can work to help your toddler sleep throughout the night.

  1. Alleviating Fears

    • Some 2-year-olds have problems falling asleep or staying asleep when they feel afraid. This may be especially true if you've recently moved him to his own room. Allowing him to fall asleep with the light on or using a nightlight can help with this. You can also help him check closets and under the bed for monsters before going to bed or set up a teddy bear who will watch guard over him. Treat his fears seriously and find solutions to them, rather than simply saying, "There's no such thing as monsters."

    Sleep Training

    • For some people, sleep training is the right solution. Currently, your toddler wakes up in the middle of the night and expects you to cuddle her or take her to your bed. You can break her of this expectation. When she wakes up in the middle of the night, give her a few minutes to go to sleep on her own. If this doesn't happen, you can go in and comfort her for a few minutes, then leave. Expect a lot of screaming and crying for the first few nights, but after she becomes used to it, she'll be able to comfort herself to sleep.

    Getting Enough Sleep

    • Web MD states that a 2-year-old needs between 12 and 14 hours of sleep per day. Typically, this occurs with one nap and a much longer period of sleep at night. Though it seems counterintuitive, if your child is not getting enough sleep, it becomes harder for him to fall asleep and stay asleep. Put him to bed at night so that he'll get at least 10 hours and ensure that he has an afternoon nap or quiet time. Every child is different, though, and you may find that your child does better with no nap and a very early bedtime.

    Keeping Comfortable

    • Some children wake up throughout the night when they feel uncomfortable. Do your best to keep her comfortable in the night time. For example, if you eat an early dinner, you may want to serve a small, healthy snack just before bedtime. If the house gets cold at night, give her an extra blanket just before you go to bed. These little things can make a big difference.

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