If you’re anything like me, you’ve Googled “Why is my toddler suddenly not sleeping?” at 3am while rocking a wriggling body who’s wide awake, chatty, and completely unaware that it’s the middle of the night.
Right now, Amelia is going through the final major sleep regression—the one that tends to hit around 2 years old—and it’s honestly flooring us. Ryan and I are completely drained. It’s not just the broken nights, it’s the emotional rollercoaster. One minute she’s cuddly and sweet, the next she’s screaming because I looked at the wrong toy. The sleep battles feel constant. And to be honest, it’s one of the hardest phases we’ve been through since the NICU.
What Even Is Sleep Regression?
Sleep regression—or as I now call it, emotional demolition for parents—is a phase when your child’s sleep suddenly becomes disrupted, even if they were previously sleeping well. It’s linked to developmental leaps and changes in the brain.
You’ll often see regressions around:
4 months – Baby sleep starts maturing. 6–8 months – Teething, crawling, big awareness shifts. 12 months – Walking and talking explode. 18 months – Separation anxiety peaks. 24 months (now for us!) – Big emotions, fierce independence, and imagination can all interfere with sleep.
It’s technically a progression, because it means their brain is developing. But at 2am, it doesn’t feel progressive—it feels like we’re going backwards.
What This Regression Feels Like
There’s something about the two-year regression that hits differently. These aren’t just sleepy whimpers anymore. These are full-blown protests: “No!” “Don’t want it!” “More stories!” and “Mummy cuddle me!” on repeat.
Amelia’s been:
Waking up multiple times in the night. Refusing to go to bed unless we lie next to her. Having meltdowns over things that didn’t even register yesterday. Fighting naps even when she’s obviously exhausted.
And because she’s so active, it’s like her body can’t wind down. Her brain is on overdrive—and ours are fried.
Parenting Through It When You’re Already Exhausted
As parents who are both neurodivergent (I’m autistic and ADHD, Ryan’s dyspraxic), routine is everything. So when Amelia’s sleep spirals, it can feel like our whole world is upside down. The mess, the noise, the lack of time to regroup—it becomes more than just being tired. It’s sensory overload. It’s burnout.
We’ve had nights where we’ve taken turns crying in the bathroom just to get a break. There are mornings where caffeine feels like a lifeline, and we stare at each other, wondering how we’re meant to function like this.
And yet… we do. Somehow, we do.
What’s Helped Us (Even a Little Bit)
Here’s what we’ve tried to hold onto:
1. Stick to the Routine (Even Loosely)
We try to keep bath, books, and bedtime at roughly the same time—even when she protests. That sense of predictability helps us all, even if it doesn’t always work in the moment.
2. Lean Into Comfort
Sometimes Amelia just wants more cuddles, more reassurance, more mummy and daddy. We’ve stopped worrying about creating “bad habits.” Survival first, routines later.
3. Divide and Conquer
Ryan and I try to take turns—even just with 30-minute breaks. One night, he’ll settle her. The next, I will. Some nights, we tag team. It helps us both feel less alone in the chaos.
4. Drop the Guilt
We’ve had days where screen time goes up and our patience goes down. That’s okay. This isn’t forever. Being a “good parent” isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up. And we are.
5. Talk About It
Whether it’s friends, Instagram, or just someone who gets it, sharing the struggle has been a lifeline. Because so often, we suffer silently through this phase thinking everyone else’s toddler sleeps like an angel. They don’t. Promise.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
I know this won’t last forever. Everyone says that, and I know from past regressions that it’s true. But in the thick of it, you need more than a cliché. You need support. You need to know that you’re not alone. That what you’re feeling—overwhelmed, frustrated, bone-tired—it’s valid.
And if your child is neurodiverse, or you are, this regression might look different or last longer. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means your journey is just uniquely yours.
To Every Parent In This Phase: You’re Not Alone
If your toddler is waking hourly, climbing out of their cot, or just melting down from 6pm till midnight, I see you. I am you. And you’re doing better than you think.
This phase is brutal—but we’re in it together.
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We’re all just trying to make it through the night.
References
NHS. Sleep problems in young children The Sleep Charity. Understanding Sleep Regressions Unicef UK. Responsive parenting and infant sleep
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