If you’re reading this at 2 AM, scrolling with one hand while holding a toddler who refuses to sleep with the other–hey, I see you. Maybe your little one is teething, going through a growth spurt, or just decided that sleep is optional now. Whatever the reason, you’re exhausted, running on fumes, and wondering if you’ll ever sleep again.
I’ve been there. I am there. And if no one’s told you yet, you’re doing an amazing job.
No one talks about how tough toddler sleep can be. People warn you about newborn nights, but they don’t mention that toddlers can be just as exhausting-sometimes even more so. At least newborns are expected to wake up a lot. With toddlers, you start to think, “Aren’t we past this? Why is this still happening?”
Sleepless Nights Have Been Our Normal
For us, sleepless nights aren’t just a phase- they’ve been part of the journey since day one. Our little one has never slept through the night. Not once. I used to wait for that magical moment when it would just happen, like people said it would. But here we are, well into toddlerhood, and sleep still feels like a distant dream.
In the beginning, I thought it was just the newborn phase. You expect the cluster feedings, the restless nights, the unpredictable sleep stretches. But as the months rolled on, nothing really changed. I keep thinking, “Surely this will get better soon.” Then teething hit. Then developmental leaps. Separation anxiety. Growth Spurts. Sleep regressions I didn’t even know existed. Every time I thought we might be turning a corner, we’d end up right back where we started- wide awake at 3 AM, both of us exhausted.
It’s not that we haven’t tried all the things- white noise, blackout curtains, bedtime routines, sleep schedules. You name it; I’ve probably given it a shot. But for some kids, sleep just isn’t easy. And that’s been one of the hardest lessons to learn: not every baby is wired the same when it comes to sleep, and that’s okay.
The Loneliness of Night Wakings
What makes these sleepless stretches so tough isn’t just the exhaustion; it’s the isolation. It’s pacing the floor in the dark while everyone else in the world seems to be peacefully asleep. It’s Googling “Why won’t my toddler sleep” for the hundredth time, hoping to find some magic trick you somehow missed before.
You start to feel like you’re the only one awake- like everyone else’s kids are sleeping through the night while yours is hosting a toddler rave at 2 AM. But trust me, there’s an entire army of tired parents out there, walking those same creaky floors, humming for the same lullabies, silently begging for sleep.
What Helped Me (and Might Help You Too)
I wish I had some magical advice that would fix it all, but the truth is, sometimes it’s just about getting through the night. Some things helped, though- not to “fix” sleep, but to make the nights a little easier:
Keeping bedtime simple and predictable helped more than I expected. Bath, book, snuggles. Nothing fancy, just something consistent to signal, “Hey, it’s time to wind down.”
When my toddler woke up in the middle of the night, I kept the lights low and my voice soft. No long conversations (as tempting as it is when they start rambling at 2 AM), just quiet reassurance. I’d rub his back, whisper, “It’s okay, I’m right here,” and hope for the best.
Most importantly, I stopped beating myself up over it. I let go of the idea that I had to “fix” everything. Sometimes, toddlers just don’t sleep well, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Be Kind to Yourself
If you’re in the thick of it right now, I just want to tell you this: you’re doing a great job. Even if your toddler didn’t nap today. Even if they woke up every hour last night. Even if you’re so tired, you forget what day it is.
You’re not failing because your kiddo isn’t sleeping. You’re tired because you’re showing up, night after night, even when it’s hard. That’s what matters.
This Season Won’t Last Forever
It doesn’t feel like it when you’re in it, but this won’t last forever. One day, you’ll look back, and the details will blur. You won’t remember exactly how many times you were up at night- you’ll just remember that you got through it.
And in the meantime, if you need to vent, share your story, or just say, “I’m tired,” drop a comment below. You’re not alone in this- not even at 2 AM.
Those long, sleepless nights with a child might seem to never end. But one day you’ll wake up, and realize that little one is now 18, and you will yearn for those long, sleepless nights again.