Toddler sleep issues - could someone please remind me......?

Question

how long this phase lasts? My 20 month old daughter has started fighting bedtime and pitching major fits, sometimes crying for a long time before falling asleep. I know why - starting separation anxiety issues, more vivid dreams that may freak her out, etc. - my oldest went through this too and I know it's normal. I just can't remember how long it usually lasts before the crying and night waking stop again. Can someone refresh my memory? Thanks!

Answer 1

Please tell me it won't last until age four. Lol, I accidentally started this phase with my 20 month old daughter by taking away the nightime bottles. But every night it seems to get less emphatic and whatnot.

Although I can't tell you when it stops, I'm right there with you!

Good luck!  

Answer 2

Ah the joys of toddlers!! I have a son who turned 2 yesterday and at about 20 months, he too did the same thing.  Now funny as it sounds, I tried to remember what supernanny said on a show I watched.  So I tried it.  First we established a routine every night and stuck to it as much as we could.  Bath time, then a small snack and turned the lights dimmer and read a story.  Then we tucked him into bed and simply sat on the floor facing away from his bed and didn't talk to him.  The first few nights there was a lot of screaming and crying, and a lot of lip biting from his parents to not turn around and hug him.  When he climbed out of his bed and came over, we just simply picked him up, and put him back in bed, gave him a kiss and said goodnight.  Then went back to sitting on the floor.  It really only took a few nights of inching further and further away from his bed before he realized that it was bedtime and mommy and daddy weren't going to give in.  The same routine followed if he woke up with a bad dream.  It was a drink of water, a hug and kiss and then back to his own bed.

At 2 years old now, he asks to go to bed, doesn't cry and sleeps ten plus hours a night.  So I would say, be firm, consistent, but loving and it won't be as bad as you think....Good luck

Answer 3

Well my daughter is going to be 4 in Nov and still fights going to sleep. She doesn't cry for long but it still takes us about an hour after she goes to bed for her to fall asleep. She is still doing the night waking and it has become more common the last week. So it comes and goes.  

Answer 4

It will last as long as you make it last. Be consistent! every night! same bedtime routine, same bedtime, everything the same every night. the more you go in there when she cries and the more you get her out of bed when she cries, or give into what she wants the more likely she will do it again and again. then when you don't answer to her she will get worse. You are responsible for how long it last you have to keep her on a schedule and be consistent! when you put her to bed don't do back in there, and don't get her out of bed when she wakes up at 3 am!

Answer 5

Til age 4, I think?

lol

Sorry. My three year old is still stalling. The other night while she was settling down but got up to use the toilet, it was taking longer than usual and I went in to check on her, and she was using a washcloth to clean the toilet. She said, "Mommy, I can't go to bed, I have to clean the bathroom now." Crazy kids will try anything to get out of sleeping.

Ok, so it doesn't last forever. It just morphs into other more creative stuff.