Parent Says Toddler Son Switched from Being the ‘Best Sleeper’ to the ‘Worst.’ Now, They’re ‘Desperate’ for Their Time Back

A parent turned to an online parenting forum for advice after their nearly 3-year-old abruptly went from being an excellent sleeper to struggling through the night.

In the post, the parent explained that their toddler had previously slept soundly in his crib all night and regularly took long naps. That routine suddenly unraveled just days ago.

“We now get no naps from him and getting him to sleep is a battle,” the parent wrote. “He goes to bed around 10, but we have to stay in the room with him. Once he’s finally asleep, he wakes up at 1 or 2 a.m. screaming at the top of his lungs for us.”

Those nighttime wake-ups are especially difficult because the household also includes a 10-month-old who wakes once a night to feed and is often disturbed by the toddler’s cries.

The parent said attempts to soothe the child have only added to the challenge. Lying down with him in his “big boy bed” doesn’t work because he treats it like playtime. Bringing him into the parents’ bed has the same result, and the baby sleeping in the same room risks being woken up as well.

“We are at a loss and have no idea what to do,” the parent admitted. “We haven’t been able to get our time at night back — or the precious few hours we used to get during nap time. We’re desperate for our sleep and some normalcy. What can we do?”

Other parents quickly chimed in with reassurance and practical suggestions. One commenter emphasized that while the phase feels endless, it is temporary.

“I get it — we’ve been there,” they wrote. “Even though it feels like it’ll last forever, it really is just a phase, and it will pass. For us, nothing magically fixed it. We just had to ride it out.”

They shared that with their own child, they set a clear bedtime but allowed quiet play in the bedroom until sleep came naturally. “Most nights we just hear her quietly playing. We give her crayons, coloring books, magnet tiles, and small toys to keep things calm.”

Another commenter advised keeping bedtime routines as predictable and uneventful as possible.

“Try to make bedtime super boring and consistent,” they suggested. “Go in, reassure if needed, then leave with minimal talking or lights so it doesn’t turn into playtime. Stick to the same routine every night and avoid naps if possible to help reset the schedule.”

While the advice varied, many agreed on one key point: consistency, patience, and time are often the most effective tools when navigating toddler sleep regressions.