​If your toddler just turned 2 and suddenly refuses bedtime, fights naps, or wakes up crying at night… you’re likely facing the 24-month sleep regression.
This one’s a doozy—because at this age, your toddler has opinions, words, and stamina to push back on sleep in a whole new way. As a pediatric sleep consultant, I see this regression hit even the most sleep-trained toddlers.
The good news? There are clear, effective ways to work through it.

​At age two, your toddler is in a major leap of independence and development. You’ll likely notice:

• Increased independence (“I do it!”)
  
• Strong will and boundary testing
  
• Nighttime fears or imagination taking off
  
• Ongoing language development
  
• Possibly a new sibling, potty training, or a move to a big kid bed—all common at this age
  

These stressors can all lead to sleep disruptions, even if your toddler was previously sleeping well.

​Like most regressions, the 24-month sleep regression usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks—but only if handled with consistency. If you start laying down with your toddler every night or bringing them into your bed, those habits can stick around a lot longer than the regression itself. 

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• Stay calm and consistent
  Toddlers thrive on routine and boundaries—even when they act like they don’t want them. Keep your expectations clear and consistent.
  
• Don’t rush the crib-to-bed transition
  If your toddler is still in a crib and sleeping well, keep them there! Moving too early can worsen regressions.
  
• Use bedtime charts or visuals
  Toddlers love a sense of control. A simple bedtime routine chart can give them structure and a sense of power (in a good way!).
  
• Offer comfort, not negotiation
  Validate your child’s feelings while staying firm. “I hear you want another book, but bedtime is all done. I’ll see you in the morning.”
  
• Watch for overtiredness
  Even if naps are shorter or skipped, keep bedtime early to avoid a meltdown cycle.
  

By age 2, sleep can get disrupted by imagination, boundary testing, and life transitions. If your toddler’s sleep has been off for more than a few weeks, it may be time to talk it through.
An Ask Me Anything Call is ideal if:

• You want help adjusting your toddler’s routine or setting firmer boundaries
• You’re not sure if it’s still a regression or a new long-term pattern
• You’re considering a full coaching program but want clarity first

👉 Book an Ask Me Anything Call here
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Let’s figure it out together.

My Sleep Regression Solution Guide will help you handle the 24-month regression and give you tools to keep sleep on track through future bumps.
Inside you’ll get:

• Age-appropriate toddler routines
• Gentle yet firm ways to set sleep boundaries
• Tips to handle bedtime stalling and fears
• Scripts and phrases to use during tough moments

👉 Download the Sleep Regression Solution Guide
The toddler years are full of big transitions—and yes, some big emotions. But sleep doesn’t have to be one long battle. With the right strategies, you can get through this phase and get your evenings (and nights) back.
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You've got this—and I'm here to help every step of the way.
— Erin, B.A. Psychology, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Infant Mental Health, Integrated Feeding Specialist

Sleep is crucial for babies and young children. However, many parents struggle with putting babies to bed and poor sleep quality despite their best efforts. The problem often lies in the nursery itself. There are hidden sleep disruptors that interfere with your baby’s rest. These disruptors can be small details you may not notice at first. This article explains the hidden sleep disruptors in nurseries and how to fix them. By understanding and removing these disruptors, you help your baby sleep better. Creating a peaceful sleep space supports healthy rest habits that last.

What Might Be Affecting Baby's Sleep

Babies often have bad sleep because their sleep cycles and patterns are still developing. Their brains and bodies are learning how to regulate when to sleep and wake. Many factors can disturb this process, including hunger, discomfort, and overstimulation. One common disruptor is moving with your baby and changing the schedule. For example, rocking, carrying, or relocating your baby frequently can interrupt their ability to settle and stay asleep in one place. This movement can confuse their internal cues and delay their learning to self-soothe. As a result, inconsistent routines can make sleep more challenging for both the baby and the parents.

Baby Needs Routine the Most

Maintaining a consistent sleep routine is essential for helping your baby learn when it is time to rest. Regular patterns help your baby’s body and brain recognize sleep signals. When juggling bedtime routines, including frequent moving during falling asleep or sleeping in different places, your baby can become confused. Consistency provides security and supports the development of healthy sleep habits. This stability helps your baby feel secure and makes it easier for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.

​Here are some tips to maintain a consistent sleep routine and reduce disruptions from moving with your baby:

• Establish a regular bedtime and nap schedule.
• Use the same soothing techniques in the same place each time.
• Limit rocking or carrying your baby to sleep gradually.
• Keep the sleep environment calm, quiet, and familiar.
• Avoid changing sleeping locations frequently.
• Respond to your baby’s needs while encouraging self-soothing.

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Lighting and Noise: Silent Sleep Saboteurs

Two major disruptors in nurseries are lighting and noise. Bright or inconsistent lighting confuses your baby’s internal clock. Harsh overhead lights or night lights that are too bright can delay sleep onset. Use blackout curtains to block outside light during naps and bedtime. Choose soft, warm lighting if a night light is needed.

Noise can also interrupt sleep cycles. Sudden sounds, like doors closing or loud voices, may startle your baby awake. Constant background noise, such as a fan or traffic, may also prevent deep sleep. Try using pink noise, white noise machines, or soft music to mask sharp sounds. Maintaining consistent quiet helps your baby settle faster and stay asleep longer. These are two common but often overlooked hidden sleep disruptors.

The Role of Temperature and Air Quality

Temperature and air quality significantly affect sleep quality. Rooms that are too hot or too cold cause discomfort. Experts recommend keeping the nursery between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20-22 Celsius). Too many blankets or heavy clothing can cause overheating. On the other hand, dry or stale air can irritate your baby’s nose and throat. Use a humidifier in dry climates and ensure good ventilation.

Poor air quality may increase coughing or congestion, which interrupts sleep. Regularly cleaning dust and allergens from the nursery also improves air quality. These factors quietly disrupt sleep but are easy to fix once identified. Pay attention to temperature and air to avoid these hidden sleep disruptors.

Crib and Bedding: Comfort and Safety Matter

The crib and bedding are central to your baby’s sleep space. Uncomfortable mattresses or bedding materials can make it hard for your baby to settle. Choose a firm, flat mattress that fits the crib exactly. Avoid soft bedding such as pillows, quilts, or stuffed animals that pose safety risks and may disrupt breathing.

Fabrics that irritate sensitive skin or cause overheating can wake your baby. Use breathable, natural materials like cotton for sheets and sleep sacks. Regularly check for wear and tear on bedding and mattress covers. Comfort and safety together create a sleep-friendly environment free from hidden sleep disruptors.

Electronics and Screens: Invisible Barriers

Electronics are also one of the hidden sleep disruptors in the nursery. However, they are more obvious. Devices like monitors, tablets, or phones emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, the sleep hormone. Even if your baby doesn’t look at the screens, the light exposure affects their internal clock. Keep screens out of the nursery during sleep times.

Notifications or alerts from devices create sudden sounds or lights that disturb sleep. Consider putting devices on silent or turning them off at night. Using electronics only in common areas and keeping the nursery tech-free supports better sleep habits. These hidden sleep disruptors are easy to overlook but important to control.

Clothing and Diapering: Simple Changes That Matter

Your baby’s clothing and diapering routine can impact sleep quality more than expected. Tight or uncomfortable clothing restricts movement and causes fussiness. Choose soft, loose-fitting pajamas suitable for the season.

Nighttime diaper changes can also wake a baby fully if done improperly. Use dim lights and quiet movements during changes. Keep diapering supplies within reach to avoid prolonged disturbances. Clean and dry diapers prevent discomfort that may wake your baby. Small adjustments in clothing and diaper routines help minimize hidden sleep disruptors and improve overall rest.

Conclusion: The Hidden Sleep Disruptors Lurking in Your Nursery

Recognizing the hidden sleep disruptors in your nursery is the first step toward better sleep for your baby. Lighting, noise, temperature, crib comfort, and electronics all play roles. Additionally, how you move with your baby and manage clothing or diapering affects rest. Addressing these factors creates a calm and safe sleep space. This supports healthy sleep habits that benefit both the baby and the parents. By focusing on your nursery environment, you can reduce disruptions and help your child sleep soundly through the night.

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As a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, I understand that sleep training can be challenging for parents and their little ones. One concern that often arises is why babies or toddlers sometimes vomit during sleep training. Let’s delve into the reasons behind this, why it’s usually not a big deal, and what you can do to manage it.
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Common Reasons for Vomiting During Sleep Training

1. Crying: One of the primary reasons babies and toddlers vomit during sleep training is due to crying. When a child cries intensely, it can trigger their gag reflex, leading to vomiting. This natural response to prolonged crying can be more common in some children.
2. Loose Sphincter Muscles: Some babies have underdeveloped or loose sphincter muscles, making it easier for stomach contents to come back up, especially when upset or crying hard. This physiological factor can contribute to vomiting during sleep training sessions.
3. Learned Behaviour: Some toddlers may learn that vomiting gets a quick response from their parents. If a child discovers that throwing up brings immediate resolution and attention, they might use this as a way to get the things they want. They may start to use this strategy in other situations as well.

Why It’s Often Not a Big Deal
While seeing your child vomit can be distressing, it’s often not a serious issue. Here’s why:

• Self-Limiting: Vomiting due to crying or stress during sleep training is usually self-limiting. As your baby adjusts to the sleep training process, these episodes typically decrease in frequency, usually after night one or two of the process. 
• Natural Reflex: Vomiting is a protective reflex that helps clear the stomach of irritants or excess food. It’s the body’s way of managing discomfort.
• Common Occurrence: Many parents experience this during sleep training, and it’s a normal part of some children’s response to change.

What to Do When Your Baby or Toddler Vomits During Sleep Training

1. Stay Calm: Your reaction sets the tone for your baby. Staying calm and composed can help reassure them and prevent further distress.
2. Comfort Briefly: If your baby vomits, clean them up and offer comfort briefly without extending the interaction too long. This helps reassure them while maintaining the sleep training process.
3. Adjust Sleep Training Methods: If vomiting occurs frequently, consider shortening the intervals between check-ins or staying in the room with the child. 
4. Avoid Reinforcing the Behaviour: For toddlers who might be inducing vomiting for attention, it’s important to gently discourage this behaviour without giving it too much focus. Respond calmly and clean up without making it a big event.
5. Hydrate: After vomiting episodes, offer small amounts of water or an oral rehydration solution to ensure your child stays hydrated.
6. Be Patient: Understand that this is a phase. As your baby or toddler gets used to the sleep training routine, these vomiting episodes will decrease and eventually stop.

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Understanding why vomiting might occur during sleep training can help you manage it calmly and effectively. Most of the time, it’s a minor issue that can be handled with simple measures and a bit of patience.


Remember, consistency and reassurance are key. With time, your child will adjust to the new sleep routine, and these episodes will become a thing of the past. Stay positive and confident in your approach; soon enough, you and your little one will enjoy peaceful nights of sleep.

If you are struggling along your sleep training journey with your child and are ready to receive expert guidance and support to get through the difficult process reach out for help. Book your Free 20-minute Sleep Evaluation Call to learn more about how I can help your family transform into one that sleeps well. 

As a parent, it's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when it comes to your toddler's sleep habits. You may find yourself exhausted from trying to get them to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night.

This is where a Sleep Consultant ​like Erin at To the Moon and Back can help. Sleep consultants specialize in helping families create healthy sleep habits for their children, and here are some reasons why you should consider using one:

1. Tailored Sleep Plan: A sleep consultant can create a personalized sleep plan for your child, taking into account their age, sleep needs, and your family's unique situation. This plan can include things like a consistent bedtime routine, sleep training techniques, and strategies for dealing with common sleep challenges.
2. Professional Expertise: Sleep consultants have the expertise and knowledge to identify sleep issues and provide effective solutions. They stay up-to-date on the latest research in pediatric sleep and have experience working with children of different ages and sleep needs.
3. Consistency: One of the most important things for a toddler's sleep is consistency. A sleep consultant can help you establish a consistent sleep routine and provide ongoing support to ensure you stay on track.
4. Support: A sleep consultant can provide you with ongoing support throughout the sleep training process. They can answer any questions you have, offer guidance and encouragement, and help you stay motivated.
5. Improved Sleep: Ultimately, the goal of working with a sleep consultant is to improve your child's sleep. Better sleep can lead to improved behavior, cognitive function, and overall health for your child, as well as better sleep and less stress for you as a parent.

A Sleep Consultant can be a valuable resource for parents struggling with their toddler's sleep. They can provide a personalized sleep plan, professional expertise, consistency, ongoing support, and ultimately, help improve your child's sleep habits.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or exhausted by your child's sleep habits, consider working with a sleep consultant to help create healthy sleep habits for your family.

Book your Free 20-minute Sleep Evaluation Call to learn more about Erin's programs and how she can help change your family's life into one that sleeps well.