Sleep regression 🥱

My little 2yr old is going through sleep regression, but a little different. He falls ok well, but he often wakes up at 1am or 2am and wants to jump into bed with us. He also used to be able to fall asleep unassisted, but now he needs to fall asleep next to me and I put him in his cot. Does your little one still have day time naps? Are the naps finishing too close to bed time, maybe he isn't that tired?

He’s still having day naps but we’ve been capping them at an hour/hour and a half. We usually don’t let him sleep past 2 and he goes to bed at 7.45/8. He also wakes up in the middle of the night and comes into our bed. That doesn’t bother me too much as he goes straight back to sleep then. It’s just the initial bedtime that’s the hassle.

The nap timing sounds right to me, and what I aim for aswell with my son. So it sounds like he would be tired enough by 8pm. The only other thing that might help would maybe add a song or a book to bedtime so he knows its time for sleep. Or a special soft toy that's reserved for night sleep? Those things helped me.

We have a toy he sleeps with. Well it’s now 3 toys 🤦🏼‍♀️ we’ve started doing music and a book for bedtime and that seems to get him settled but he isn’t closing his eyes and falling asleep with that. I end up lying next to him and then he eventually thinks I’ve fallen asleep and goes to sleep. It’s like he’s forgotten how to fall asleep. We also might have to spend more time in his room as he always wants my bed instead of his.

Yeah sounds like you are on the right track, he might just need more of you to help him. I just try and enjoy the extra cuddle time at night because I know he will grow out of it at some stage. But thats just me :) I've heard that www.karitane.com.au are good with sleep support. They offer free support for families in NSW.