My 2 year old will not sleep past 2:30 am, what could be causing this?

Question

MY 2 year old goes to bed at about 8:30 pm and she will not sleep past 2:30 am, when she gets up at that time, she thinks its time to play, this has been happening for a week now, is there anything that could be causing this? I have not changed anything about her routine when we get home, she eats dinner at the sametime every night, and gets her bath at the same time every night, but she still refuses to sleep past 2:30 am.

Answer 1

ignore her .. she'll get bored and fall asleep on her own.

Answer 2

You didn't say if she goes to day care or pre-school. Sometimes these schools require 2 to 3 hours of nap time. If that's the case, by 2:30 AM she has had enough sleep! If that's not the reason, then perhaps she is having dreams or is overstimulated by something. Is there any stress in the family she could be reacting to? I'd try putting her to bed later if she is napping too much. If she naps at home, I'd get her up after one hour. Some 2 year olds actually give up their naps. Maybe she no longer needs a nap. She'll sleep more at night if she hasn't slept a lot during the day. I would not encourage her middle of the night play time. I'd tell her it's not morning, soothe her awhile, then put her back to bed. If she simply will not sleep after an hour, I'd give her some books, but make her stay in bed until at least 5AM. It will be a gradual "try this", "try that", but you should be able to help her learn to put herself back to sleep.

Answer 3

Oh, I feel for you. Been there. Sorry to say this, but, you need to leave her alone at that time. If you go in, you will be reinforcing that idea that it's okay to wake up at 2:30 AM ( ouch ! ) You might want to make sure that her crib is secure and that she can't get out. You might want to have a sip cup of water tucked into a corner, if case she is thirsty, she can take a drink without calling out to you. Also, a subtle night lite with some stuffed toys in the crib ( at the far end away from her head ) so that she can play by herself. Hopefully, she will fall back to sleep.

Good luck.

Answer 4

My son went through that for about a month. I had to switch up his routine a little. We get home around 5:30 or 6pm, i let him play for about an hour while i cook dinner (cook or not i still have to let him play outside for awhile which he never did before, there was just not enough time for it, but i learned to make time) then we eat together, then it's around 8 and he watches tv for about 15 to 20 min then gets in the bath. After a bath it's about 8:30 - 8:45 then i tell him it's bedtime, he goes right to sleep. If he was to wake up (he doesn't anymore after i started this) i keep the lights out and lay with him, don't fall for it, ignore it act like youre sleeping, don't let her out of the room. make sure all lights are out throughout the home so she can't find them to turn them on. she may cry, scream, throw a fit but you gotta let her learn its sleep time not play time.
Keep a cup by her bedside so you don't have to leave the room if she's thirsty, keep a snack right there incase she tries the hungry thing. My son tried it all to get up and play at that hour, but i just learned he wasn't wasting enough energy before bed. So a little extra play in the evening time may do the trick

Answer 5

Maybe try putting her to bed a bit later?

If it still continues, i'd remove her toys from her room when its bed time and anything that can cause her to want to get up and play. Is it because she has to go potty or wants a drink? If so i'd leave a sippy cup in her room with some water in it for the water. If its for the potty you can help her to the potty and then tuck her back in bed immediately after. Dont turn lights on or talk to her like normal becaues u want her to know that this is bedtime, not playtime. Use soft tones and as few words as possible and go back to bed yourself.

Good luck!

Answer 6

With my son I would ware him out toward the evening and not let him go to bed until 8:30pm at the earliest, and I also stopped him from more than one nap during the day if he does take a nap I only let it last 1 hour then wake him up, now he wakes up around 6am and I still being tired sometimes will keep lying in bed and just turn his cartoons on in my bedroom and close my door so he stays in there, give him something like dry cereal to snack on while he is watching his cartoons in my room until I make him breakfast.

Answer 7

How long does she take a nap? Have her only take a 1 hour nap. Have her lay down about 12:30. Then lay her down about 8:30 like you do. Tell he it is time to sleep. If she still wakes up don't go get her. There is nothing wrong with her she just wants you to do what she wants you to do. If you have to shut off the monitor then that's what you have to do. I did that with my son and now he tell me goodnight and he sleeps threw the night

Answer 8

If she already has a good routine, (other than getting up at 2:30!)
Then you really should let her be. Do not reinforce her waking up by interacting with her. Say as little as possible, and tuck her back into bed and thats it. She will probably be upset but just be consistant, and hopefully things will fall back into place. Even if it takes awhile! Be strong, I know it's hard! good luck

Answer 9

This happens to my son whenever he is either sick or there is a major change in climate (both are hapening now). Let her play in her crib or toddler bed until she falls back to sleep. We are co-sleeping so we just ignore him and he usually gets back to sleep after about an hour (most of the time we are still awake but sometimes we fall asleep before he does). For us it happens at about 3:30 - very frustrating. i feel for you. Good luck.

Answer 10

Try some Super Nanny tricks:when she gets up in the night,put her straight back to bed,no talking.Seriously DO NOT TALK TO HER.Play with her before bedtime so she gets extra tired.Leave some soft music in her room.Make sure she's full and take her to potty too.Not to worry,she'll get over it,it's a stage they all go thru.

Answer 11

Don't give in to her - ignore her when it is late. She will cry for a bit but will fall back asleep. The more you run to her in the middle of the night, the worse it is going to get. I found that out with my now 4 year old who won't sleep in her own room. uggghh. Good Luck!