Being parents of a newborn can sometimes become hectic. One of the worst things to experience as a new parent is the middle of the night uncontrollable tantrums by a 2-year-old.
If you have ever experienced this situation, you know that it can be very dreadful especially if you were in a deep sleep. You need to understand that this situation happens for multiple reasons.
So many factors take place for a 2-year-old to throw uncounterable tantrums in the middle of the night. Finding out the right reason is important because different problems require different solutions.
Why Your 2-year-old Throws Uncontrollable Tantrums in the Middle of the Night
The first step into determining the cause of the tantrums is to remember and document what is happening during the tantrums. Identifying the reason is what will lead you to finding a solution.
The good news is that many 2-year-olds can communicate with their parents enough to get the point across. If you are in a position where you can understand why they are throwing tantrums, it is now time to find a solution.
If you’re 2-year-old is still struggling with being able to talk or communicate, this issue needs to be handled soon. There are many ways to help a 2-year-old become a better communicator with the proper lessons and guidance.
1. They are Hungry
Many tantrums are thrown due to hunger. The child can start feeling hungry through the night and they end up hungry enough to throw a tantrum.
If this is the case, you need to prepare better when it comes to their food consumption. Many parents don’t feed their kids right before bed and sometimes the kid ends up hungry.
Feeding your 2-year-old before they sleep can be beneficial because they will be able to go through the night without having any sense of hunger.
Another reason why it is essential to feed the 2-year-old before bed is because when you feed them and let them stay up after, they will be burning through their energy. By the time they hit the sheets, they will start feeling a sense of hunger. This is why even a snack before bed can be beneficial and can eliminate this issue of your 2-year-old feeling hungry in the middle of the night.
2. Scared
Another reason why children might be throwing tantrums would be because they have woken up and are scared. This is very common for children that are sleeping in a different room than their parents. The ones that sleep in the same room as the parents are usually not scared because they know and can see that the parents are in the room.
If your child is sleeping in a different room, there is a big chance that they are scared and are trying to get your attention. A great fix to this problem would be to have a night light in the child’s room.
I have been in situations where my own 2-year-old was throwing tantrums because he was scared. When I installed a night light in his room, he was able to sleep in peace and not be scared anymore.
Many parents have used this strategy and it works well because a nightlight will offer visibility in the room so the child can wake up and be able to see around them.
Adding a night light in a 2-year-olds room is something that is recommended for every parent to do if they are dealing with tantrums in the middle of the night.
3. Can’t Fall Asleep
There are times where the child isn’t scared but they would just bored and can’t fall asleep. When adults are in this situation, they can lay down and think or daydream till they fall asleep. Many 2-year-olds don’t have the capacity to do that and so they will try to get the parent’s attention.
This is the most annoying situation to deal with because if you are a hard-working parent that has to go to work in a few hours, this can take time away from your sleep.
If you are in a situation where your toddler is throwing uncontrollable tantrums in the middle of the night because of boredom, you will have to think of ways to get them back to sleep.
This might mean playing with them, reading them a book, or doing a quick activity that can get them fatigued enough to go back to sleep. It will feel dreadful to do this in the middle of the night but that is what it takes to be a good parent.
What to Do in The Situation
When the situation arises where you are sound asleep and you hear your child crying up a storm, there are steps to take to calm the situation down.
1. Stay Calm
The most important thing to do is to stay calm when approaching the 2-year-old. They are in distress and are not feeling good so you need to present yourself in a calm way.
This will make them feel more secure in the situation and they will start to feel a little better.
2. Avoid Anger
Another tip that goes along with staying calm is to avoid being angry. Many parents yell at their 2-year-olds whenever they wake them up and that is wrong.
Yelling adds to the anxiety the child is feeling and it is not in the best interest of the parent to show anger if they want to de-escalate the situation.
As much as this can make your blood boil, the 2-year-old is looking up to you and needs your attention. Accepting the situation and spending time fixing it is a better option than yelling and showing anger towards the child.
3. Calming Down the Child
The next step is to try and calm the child down. That can be by holding or hugging them. Just being around them will make them start calming down.
Another way you can calm your child would be by distracting them. Distraction works well because at 2 years old, the child’s attention span isn’t great so they can easily become distracted from a situation completely.
If they have a favorite toy or teddy bear, let them hold it because these types of objects bring peace to the kid. Do everything in your power to make the child feel peace and calm.
4. Take Them For a Walk to Drink Water
After throwing a tantrum, it is important to take the 2-year-old out of the setting they were in. It is also important to give them water because after all the crying and screaming, the child is most likely dehydrated.
Drinking water would also calm down the 2-year-old. It has properties that help with anxiety which what your child might be experiencing.
This is why it is recommended to take the walk to the kitchen to drink water. It serves 2 positives at the same time.
Final Thoughts
Parenting can be something hard to do but with proper steps and guidance, it doesn’t have to be that hard.
Those middle of the night uncontrollable tantrums thrown by a 2-year-old can be one of the most annoying duties to deal with as a parent. It can be an ongoing problem that can become very tiring if it occurs regularly.
If this is a situation you are dealing with, you need to remember that there can be many different reasons why this happening. Finding out the reason why this is happening is important because like I mentioned, different problems require different solutions. Being ready and prepared for tantrums is a must when you have a newborn.
With that being said, remember to stay calm and collective in during the whole situation because it will help you a lot.