There are all sorts of possibilities if you have a toddler who doesn’t want to go to bed — anything from fear to illness to testing boundaries. Your toddler could be afraid of the dark, dealing with separation anxiety, or just missing you. “Sometimes when children are sick with a runny nose or fever, it may be harder to get to sleep so they fight it,” says Dr. Abelowitz. “When toddlers hit certain milestones like walking or talking, these can lead to sleep regression or fighting sleep for a few weeks.” Stress caused by changes in their life or disruption to their daily routine could also be the culprit.
Do your best to create and follow a consistent routine. “Parents find that when their children have a structured sleep schedule, they’re much easier to manage,” says Dr. Bertz. Plus, well-rested kids are often happy kids — and that means happy parents.