2 Year Old Refuses to Go to Bed

The same issue drives me crazy!!! My 2 yr old absolutely refuses to sleep PERIOD!!! Even when I lay with her she waits until she thinks I'm asleep and then tries to sneak back to the TV. It's just a phase, she will grow out of it...But in the mean time, the closest I ever came to breaking this habit was buying her Care Bears bedsheets. She loves Care Bears! It worked great until my ex let her carry the blanket around the house, now she just pulls the pillow and blanket into my room at bed time. I've just kind of let it go because I'm single now but I've got to get back onto her about it. The other thing that works as far as getting her to sleep at all is not letting her take a nap. Ablsolutely do not try buying something she really wants and giving it to her only at bed time because she'll use it as an excuse to stay awake! Good luck! :)

I used to let my little one sleep in my room until she felt sleep and then I will take her to her bedroom after her brother was sleeping. It was easier because I had a crib in my room and she wouldn't get up. Try to put her down in your room and if she cries/get up you take her back, it is going to take time, but if this doesn't bother the other kid, it might work. ...and start at a reasonable time when she usually falls sleep so it doesn't take you all night.

Good luck

I had the same problem, my son wouldn't go to sleep in his own room, im a single mom. for years I had one bedroom. now i have two bedroom, he wouldn't sleep in his room. I had to let him know that mom need her privacy. and ask why he is scared I had to buy a nightlight. have a one on one conversation with her and ask why she don't want to sleep in here room. let her know that mommy and daddy need time together.

First off let the child know who is the parent and who is the child. Be stern and say you are gonna sleep in your bed tonight. If she cries oh well. Let her cry and put a night light in her room. hope this helps

I went through the same thing with my twins. They share a room and my son would alway fall asleep before my daughter and she would take him. They've been in toddler beds for about a month now, so she would get up and wake him up or play or whatever. What helped me was keeping them up alittle bit later. I was very strict about them having a 7 oclock bedtime. But now, they go to bed between 8 and 9. Also, try to not let her nap as long.

Hi Amanda my name is P.
I just recently had a very similar situation with my grand baby who lives in chicago. A bed time story might help. Momma while you and the children are engaging in this story let daddy go to bed, The two of you should have never went in the room in the begining, that is to much power for one baby. It is a power struggle Sissy might have to have some sleepless nights but the power that this two year old has gained must be broken.
If there has to be a little sacriface on every ones part then so be it. It will break. Beofre you read your story you let the baby know what is going to happen once the story id over. (I'm going to go to my bed where I'll sleep with daddy and you'll stay in your bed). End of story. Don't take down

Hi Amanda,

I have a two year old also and a newborn at that so I can relate when you say that no one is getting any sleep when the two year old doesnt. My mother gave me some good advice that helped me and has worked like a charm. Since I am alone and do value my sleep, she told me to allow him to lay with me in bed until he fell asleep, once he does pass him over to his bed. I do this now and he always wakes up in his own bed. I know that it is not exactly what we would like, in a perfect world they would go to sleep when we tell them to and stay in there own beds, but the realty is that they are two years old and they are just now becoming aware of there surroundings this why the sudden change. I tried this for about 2 weeks then I slowly started to show him how mommy sleeps in her bed, his baby sister in her crib and he sleeps with Elmo in his bed, I leave his bedroom door wide open so that if he calls for me I run right in and say see mommy is just in her bed but is still here if you need me. Elmo needs you he wants to sleep with you would that be okay? He loves the idea of taking care of Elmo. I have not had a problem since and he now sleeps in his bed. Hope this helps.

I was having a similar problem with my son at 2, and I bought a great book called Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth.
Here was his recommendation, and it worked well for me. If you could relocate your son to your bed for a week, it might work better, so that she's not disturbing him, or put her to bed earlier than him. Start it on a Friday and by Sunday you may be able to revert to your normal routine.
Anyway, go through your usual routine, bath, story, whatever, and then tell her that you have new sleep rules, and that she will have to stay in her bed after you say goodnight. Turn out the light and walk out of the room. Of course, she'll be up in a flash! When she comes out of the room, calmly take her hand and return her to her bed. Here is the important part: DO NOT SAY A WORD TO HER! You must not speak to her, either in a negative or positive fashion. Be very UNemotional. When she gets up again, do the same thing. You may have to repeat this many times the first night, but you will very quickly see improvement.
The first night I tried this, my son probably got out of the bed 20 or 30 times, with all sorts of reasons why he couldn't stay in his bed. He finally collapsed (I think) from shear exhaustion. This was a child who had NEVER slept though the night. On the second night he was up only 2 times, and went back to bed very easily.
The key is to not speak to the child; any speaking is a reinforcement for the behavior. Be very unemotional...
Good luck!