It’s 2 a.m. and you hear it: the little voice calling, or the soft patter of feet across the landing.
But instead of drifting back off, your toddler is suddenly wide awake. Cheerful. Chatty. Sometimes for over an hour.
If your toddler keeps waking up at night and not going back to sleep, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.
Often, the real reason lies in your child’s body clock and how sleep pressure builds and releases during the day.
These are what we call split nights: periods when your toddler wakes up in the night but isn’t distressed; they’re genuinely alert and ready to play.
They usually happen because of a mismatch between:
How much day‑time sleep your toddler is getting
When that nap is finishing
What time bedtime falls
A nap that ends too late, lasts too long, or hanging onto two naps for too long can all leave your toddler’s body clock expecting to be awake in the middle of the night.
Parenting a toddler can feel relentless – especially when every nap, bedtime or boundary turns into a battle. Maybe you’ve read all the blogs, tried every tip, but nothing seems to stick. You’re tired, frustrated, and just want someone to tell you what will actually work for your child.
That’s where my Troubleshooting Call comes in. What’s included:
By the end of the call, you’ll walk away with:
💡 Fresh insight into why things aren’t working right now.
💡 Confidence in your plan and the reassurance that it aligns with your gentle parenting values.
💡Reassurance that you’re not doing anything “wrong”, and clear steps you can implement straight away.
💡 Realistic, achievable strategies you can start using tonight.
You don’t need to feel stuck in survival mode.
Book your troubleshooting call today, and let’s find a calmer, more settled rhythm for your toddler (and for you).
Once your toddler’s body has got into the habit of being awake at 2 a.m., it often takes:
✔️ Gentle tweaks to nap timing and length
✔️ Gradual changes to bedtime
✔️ Watching how your toddler copes each day
✔️ Keeping the new routine consistent for at least a week or two
What makes it even harder is that every toddler’s sleep needs are slightly different, so it usually isn’t fixed by copying a schedule you found online.
It’s about noticing the pattern, then adjusting carefully so you protect night‑time sleep pressure without tipping your toddler into overtiredness.
🧠 Big changes, like starting nursery or potty training
🦷 Teething or minor illnesses
✈️ Holidays, travel, or moving house
⚡ Skipping the nap but keeping bedtime too late, which can lead to overtiredness and lighter sleep
Often, it’s a blend of several things , which is why it can feel confusing to work out on your own.
If your toddler is waking up at night and staying awake, you could try:
✅ Capping the nap to around 1–1.5 hours after 18 months
✅ Finishing naps by around 2:30 p.m.
✅ Bringing bedtime slightly earlier (yes, earlier often helps!)
✅ Keeping night‑time wake‑ups calm and boring: no lights, no play, no snacks
✅ Tracking sleep for a week to spot patterns
These changes can take time to work, and it’s normal to need a little trial and error.
Resetting a toddler’s body clock often needs small, detailed adjustments and real consistency, which is hard when you’re sleep‑deprived and second‑guessing every step.
Getting gentle, personalised support doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it simply means you’re human, and you care about your family’s sleep and wellbeing.
When my own toddler started waking up at night and not going back to sleep, I thought I’d cracked it by shortening her nap.
But she still woke, because what she really needed was an earlier nap and a slightly earlier bedtime.
It took daily notes, tiny tweaks and patience… but eventually, her body clock adjusted, and we all slept again.
If your toddler is waking at night and staying awake, know that:
You haven’t done anything wrong
It can get better
Gentle, expert help can make it easier and quicker
I’d love to help you untangle what’s going on and build a calmer, predictable routine that truly fits your child.
Explore my Taming Toddler Sleep programme or send me a message, and let’s start working towards peaceful nights together.