How long will it take?

[Woollysheepsheep]

2.5 year old has always been a very bad sleeper. I don't really know how to explain it, he just never slept well, woke up at a pin drop. I never did anything different to with ds1 who slept great.

He would at least go to sleep from awake so I had my evenings, even though he'd wake several times at night.

Then around age 2 something changed and he would cry when we left the room and somehow we ended up lying down with him to get him to sleep. This can go on for an hour.

It's driving me mad now, I just want him to go to bed.

I want to get into the habit of putting him to bed awake, after bath, book and milk, if he gets up just to keep putting him back into bed.

He doesn't cry he just thinks it's a big game to keep getting up so I can put him back in. This can go on for hours.

I want to know how long it will take if I persist.

Has anyone had a stubborn child like mine?

[Woollysheepsheep]

I'm currently sat on the floor on the landing ignoring him, he's got no intention of going to sleep is rolling around peeking at me.

If I go he'll just get out of bed so I figure this way at least he's on the bed.

[MigGril]

Is he actually tired? Does he still have a nap in the day?

The needing you at bedtime sounds like a typical separation anxiety thing to be honest and about right for his age to.

[Woollysheepsheep]

He's knackered, no daytime nap. Sometimes he's only getting 8 hours sleep

[Woollysheepsheep]

I wouldn't mind lying down with him, I quite like the cuddles, but some night it goes on until 9.30pm. I have another child I'd like to actually see to. I have to sort lunches for the next day and I'd quite like to actually spend an hour with my husband.

[MigGril]

I'm afraid being constant is the only thing you can do really. Sounds like he's happy to be left ship just keep going with the putting him back to bed thing.

He'll get there, could take a few nights or weeks. I had one bad sleeper one not so bad but he does love an early morning.
They are all different which is what keeps us on our toes and why I'm sure you really can't write a parenting manual.