How to Deal With Toddler Sleep Regressions
Just when you thought your toddler had finally mastered sleep, everything changes. Suddenly, nap time becomes a battle, bedtime stretches into a standoff, and peaceful nights are replaced by wake-up cries. Around 18 months, even great sleepers can start pushing back hard.
Experts explain these toddler sleep regressions as a normal part of development, not just a setback. While not every child will show the same sleep struggles, many experience signs of sleep regression as they grow. Learning about why these changes happen and what families can do about them can help make this stage a bit easier for everyone.
Understanding the 18-Month Toddler Sleep Change
At around 18 months, many toddlers experience noticeable changes in their sleep habits. These changes, often called sleep regressions, happen as children hit key milestones like teething, beginning daycare, or moving from a crib to a regular bed. As they become more independent, toddlers may test boundaries, which can make bedtime more challenging.
They might prolong the winding-down process—what once took 15-20 minutes may now stretch to 30-40. Some may become clingier at night or more sensitive to small disruptions. These behaviors often lead to overtiredness, making it even harder for them to settle down and stay asleep.
Naptime can become just as tricky. Instead of resting, toddlers sometimes play or fuss, which can cause skipped naps or naps that are too late in the day. These disrupted sleep patterns during the day can affect their ability to settle down at night, leading to more frustration for both parents and children.
Tips for Managing Sleep Disruption
Sticking to a predictable bedtime routine helps toddlers feel secure and ready for sleep. Families may use a simple pattern each night, such as a bath followed by one story, to set clear expectations and help children wind down. Short and familiar routines often make it easier to avoid bedtime battles.
Parents should set limits and stay consistent during this stage. If sleep difficulties continue or concerns arise, a pediatrician can offer helpful guidance.
Creating a Consistent Sleep Pattern
A steady sleep routine signals to toddlers that it’s time to rest. After putting on pajamas, calming activities like reading a short story, singing a lullaby, or practicing deep breathing can help children wind down. These rituals, paired with soft lighting or white noise, support a soothing bedtime environment.
If your child gets up, try using a bedtime pass or a secure baby gate to maintain boundaries in a gentle way. Keeping consistent nap and bedtime hours also helps, though small shifts are fine. For naps, mirror the same quiet cues used at night to make transitions easier.
New ideas like “bedtime sweet talk” or “twinkle interruptus” add comfort and fun, helping toddlers build confidence in falling asleep independently.
Teaching 18-Month-Olds to Sleep on Their Own
At 18 months, children can start developing strong sleep habits. If a toddler wakes up crying in the night, parents can give them a few minutes to see if they fall back asleep alone. This helps the child learn self-soothing skills.
If the child does not settle, parents may quietly enter the room at intervals of five to 10 minutes, offering calming words or gentle back rubs without turning on lights or picking up the child. Keeping any reassurance brief helps the child understand it is still time for sleep.
When a toddler is in a “big kid” bed and leaves their room at night, parents have a few options. Instead of letting the child sleep in bed with them, parents might set up a sleeping bag or cot on the floor of their room. Another way is to calmly walk the toddler back to their own bed and sit close by, perhaps in a chair. Gradually, this chair can be moved farther from the bed over several nights until the toddler feels safe sleeping alone.
A steady and consistent approach helps the child gain confidence and fall asleep without extra help. Families may choose to use gentle reassurance or popular sleep training methods, like the “cry-it-out” approach, depending on their child’s needs.
Navigating Two-Year-Old Sleep Challenges
At age two, children often show increased independence, which can affect their sleep. Many have expanding routines, such as preschool or playdates, leading to more excitement and sometimes fear of missing out (FOMO) at rest times. Because of this, nap refusals may happen more often, especially if parents or caregivers become inconsistent about offering naps. Children might believe naps are no longer necessary and start to resist them.
Changes in daily schedules or new activities can cause transition troubles around sleep. Skipping naps can trick some caregivers into thinking the child doesn’t need them anymore, though most two-year-olds still need daytime rest. Skipping naps might seem fine at first, but it often leads to fussiness or trouble falling asleep at night.
Practical Sleep Strategies for Two-Year-Olds
Sleep disruptions at age two are common so keeping a regular routine is important. Families should aim for a consistent bedtime and naptime each day. Even when a toddler refuses to nap, having a quiet period helps the child relax and signals that rest is still expected. If naps are skipped, an earlier bedtime by 30 to 45 minutes can prevent overtiredness.
Children at this age may use stalling tactics like asking for another story or drink, but keeping boundaries firm helps maintain the routine. Some families choose co-sleeping during regressions, but it should be done in a way that works for everyone. Practicing patience stretching—by waiting a short time before responding to requests—can teach children to settle themselves and fall asleep more easily.
Helping Two-Year-Olds Learn Bedtime Routines
Managing bedtime for a two-year-old can be difficult when a child keeps getting up after being put to bed. Some children want to come out of their rooms again and again.
Parents have two main choices for handling this pattern. One way is to calmly and simply bring the child back to bed without fuss, only saying, “It’s bedtime,” before leaving the room. This method keeps things clear but simple, without giving too much extra attention.
Another approach is for a parent to sit quietly outside the child’s bedroom door with a book or another calm activity. The key here is to ignore most of the child’s efforts to get extra attention. It is better not to argue or try to force the child back into bed because this can quickly turn into a power struggle. When parents do not react, most children eventually give up and return to bed on their own.
Parents can allow children to have a book or toy in their room until they feel ready to sleep. This lets them wind down without extra interaction.
While these strategies require a lot of patience in the first days, keeping calm and consistent can be effective over time. Using these gentle and firm approaches helps teach two-year-olds to understand bedtime limits and settle themselves to sleep independently.
Helpful Tips for Improving Toddler Sleep
Good sleep habits can make bedtime easier for toddlers and their parents. A predictable bedtime routine signals that it is time to wind down. Activities such as reading, colouring, or listening to soft music can replace screens for at least an hour before bed, since bright lights and fast-paced videos make it harder for children to settle.
Many families introduce a favorite stuffed animal or soft blanket that the child can cuddle during bedtime. This special item offers comfort and helps toddlers feel safe if they wake up at night. Unlike a parent’s presence, a transitional object stays with the child all night, letting them fall back asleep more easily on their own.
Visual cues also support better sleep. A bedtime routine chart with pictures reminds toddlers what steps come before sleep, such as brushing teeth and putting on pajamas. An okay-to-wake clock changes color or lights up when it’s time to get out of bed, making it easier for children to learn when it’s morning.
Some parents use quiet background noise, such as white noise, to mask sounds that could wake their child. Staying calm and consistent while using these approaches helps children adjust to new routines, even though changes may take a week or two. Patience and gentle reminders can support the process as toddlers learn new sleep skills.
