Family Case Study: Sleep Training a 2-Year-Old & Overcoming Sleep Regression with Sleep Consultant Ireland

November 28, 2024

When Connie’s parents contacted me as a Child Sleep Consultant in Ireland , they were at their wit's end. Their little girl had been a great sleeper for the first 20 months of her life, but things had recently taken a challenging turn. Adding to their stress, they were expecting their second child, making the sleepless nights even harder to handle. They were exhausted and looking for support to get their family back on track.

The Situation: 

Connie had started struggling to settle down at night, waking up multiple times, and beginning her mornings far too early. She relied heavily on her parents to fall asleep at bedtime and needed them again during night wakings, as she hadn’t yet developed the ability to self-soothe.

Key Sleep Issues Identified:

Short Naps
While Connie was down to one nap a day, her naps were shorter than ideal, often leaving her overtired by bedtime. At her age, we wanted her naps to be closer to two hours to ensure she was getting enough daytime rest.

Late and Lengthy Bedtime
Connie's bedtime was slightly too late, especially considering she was waking from her nap before 2 PM. For a 2-year-old, most toddlers can only manage about 4-5 hours of awake time before becoming overtired.

Sleep Associations
Connie depended on her parents' presence to fall asleep at night. As a result, when she woke during the night, she couldn’t settle herself back to sleep without their help.

The Plan to Improve Connie’s  Sleep:

Connie’s parents enrolled in my 2-Week Sleep Support Package, where we focused on sleep training strategies tailored to a 2-year-old’s needs. The goal was to create a healthy and consistent sleep routine to improve both her naps and nighttime sleep.

1. Nap Schedule: We adjusted Connie’s nap schedule to align with her natural sleep patterns. At 2 years old, toddlers typically need around 2 hours of daytime sleep, with optimal nap times falling between 12 PM and 1 PM.
2. Early Bedtime and Consistent Routine: We shifted Connie’s bedtime earlier to help her catch up on lost sleep and avoid overtiredness. We established a calming and predictable bedtime routine lasting 20-30 minutes. To prevent stalling and negotiating—something toddlers excel at—we ensured all her needs were met before she got into her cot. Choices were offered within limits to give her a sense of control while maintaining firm and consistent boundaries.
3. Provide Comfort and Reassurance: As separation anxiety can peak at this age, we added a little extra time at bedtime to provide Connie with comfort and reassurance.
4. Teaching Independent Sleep Skills: We implemented gentle sleep training methods to help Connie learn to fall asleep independently at bedtime and during night wakings. This involved teaching her how to self-soothe without relying on her parents' presence.

The Outcome:

Within two weeks of implementing these sleep strategies and consistent sleep training, Connie was settling down easily at night, soothing herself back to sleep during the night, and consistently sleeping 11-12 hours overnight. While her naps at home were improving—especially on weekends—she started resisting naps at crèche, which can be a common challenge for toddlers adjusting to new environments. I advised her parents to continue offering naps daily and, once she settled back into her routine, gradually shift her nap to 1 PM, aiming for 2-hour naps. Maintaining this routine will support her sleep needs until she’s around 3.5 to 4 years old.

This family chose my 2-Week Sleep Support Package after our initial call because it was the best fit for their needs.

If you’re struggling with your toddler’s sleep and can relate to Connie’s story, I’d love to help. Book a free 15-minute sleep assessment call with me, and we’ll discuss how I can support you and your little one in achieving better sleep.

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