Son won't sleep and I'm going to lose my mind

I work full time and we pay my sister in law to babysit. She said he hasn't napped on a week which I believe because he won't nap on weekends! Not only that, but I have been running on 2.5-3 hours of sleep a night for the last 2 weeks. I'm at my breaking point. I try to wear him out, give him lavender baths, snuggle and watch a movie. I even took him to the doctor on Black Friday and that said he's fine... I can't keep going like this. I feel half alive, severely run down, exhausted, and I've cried multiple times tonight.
Has anyone else ever had a toddler that just won't go  to sleep? 
😔
He just turned 2 a few days ago btw...
433 views • 0 upvotes • 11 comments

COMMENT (11)

Je

Posted at
I'd try melatonin. It's perfectly safe, but still consult your pediatrician first.

Mo

Mommy💏again • Dec 2, 2015
I second this

Ma

Posted at
My boys grew out of naps before they were 2. I just made bedtime a little early. I kept an active schedule for them, and stuck to a loose routine so there was a flow to the day. A bedtime routine especially helps them fall asleep faster If they weren't tired at bedtime, I allowed picture books with a night light or classical music. But I would leave them in bed just like any other night. And check on them before I went to bed. If they were still awake I used to sit with them and pray out loud or recite a poem in a soft voice. A dark, cool quiet room does make a difference. No tv.

Mo

Posted at
Melatonin is a natural sleep aid

Ka

Posted at
My daughter was like this at this age it was terrible she is 4 now and has been sleeping maybe consistent for a year... Here's what worked for me sometimes... Glow sticks or glow in the dark toys I told her she could play with them as long as she stayed in her bed and usually would fall asleep.. If she woke up she would reach for them and go back to sleep...I have a camera in her room to watch her...also a light show on her ceiling it turns off in 15 min on its own..plays music and projects two different pictures and she can turn it on herself if she is still awake... I travel with that thing it works so good. 

Ka

Posted at
My son turned 2 in August and he's recently mostly stopped naps. But he's tired by the time bedtime rolls around, so he actually goes to sleep easier if he hasn't napped. Granted, without a nap he can be extra whiney and extra drama, but sometimes he's still chill.I would suggest taking him to the park or even just running back and forth outside chasing a soccer ball or something. Tired toddlers don't fight sleep as much as ones still full of energy. :-)

Al

Posted at
I feel your pain! My son stopped taking naps at 12 months and only sleeps about 4 hours a night now at 20 months. Believe me we have tried EVERYTHING and not much has helped. The only thing I can say is that it does seem to be worse when he is teething and giving him teething gel helps immensely. Other than that I can only say you are not alone and good luck lady

An

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My daughter is the same. She's two. Her doctor has us giving her melatonin drops, which has helped so much and she's so much happier now. 

Co

Posted at
My son is 2 and he has frequent growth spurts and eats a lot and doesn't sleep as much. His dr told me that their little bones are growing and sometimes they can get achy and irritable. Maybe that's what it is? If Oliver is having a tough time I give him a tiny bit of Motrin and it helps him relax. 

🥰

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My daughter stopped napping at 2 years old. Nothing I did could get her to nap anymore. I have no advice though lol. Hoping my son likes naps better than his sister did. 

Ma

Posted at
Sounds like he may need more of a nightly bed routine to calm him down and get him in the mindset that he's going to at least be in bed. My sister reads a book, brushes teeth, sings a song says a prayer and that seems to work well. That's the only thing I canthink of. I'm sorry you're not getting sleep!