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Original poster

How long does it take your 2 year old to fall asleep?

17 replies

sarahb083 · 25/07/2023 20:14

I have a 2.5 year old. We have a very regular bedtime routine. She's a happy, healthy kid.

However, it takes her at least 30 minutes to fall asleep at night and sometimes much more. Is this normal?

She usually cries when we initially leave her room, and then plays quietly for a bit before falling asleep.

OP posts:

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 25/07/2023 20:16

Well currently my two year old is 40mins and counting- jumping on her bed and emptying drawers - doesn’t nap, doesn’t need a hand hold, just plays around until she passes out!

Original poster

sarahb083 · 25/07/2023 20:17

Glad it's not just us. We're 45 mins in as well, and mine is currently singing happy birthday to herself..

OP posts:

Purplefoalfoot · 25/07/2023 20:18

Mine falls asleep in minutes but he is either breastfed or cuddled to sleep. I don’t know if he’d ever fall asleep if left alone!

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Skinnermarink · 25/07/2023 20:19

Ours will shout for a few min then dick around singling Wheels on the Bus and chatting, 30 min? Sometimes a bit longer. I think it’s fine, as an adult I sadly do not fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, my thoughts don’t just Turk off like a tap. I presume it’s the same for toddlers/young children.

PurBal · 25/07/2023 20:20

I think 75 minutes was a recent record. Similarly cries when we leave the room (always wants one more book). He tends to get up and play for a bit at the moment. But tonight was probably only 15 minutes.

Pastaf0rbreakfast · 25/07/2023 20:24

Same as pp, mine falls asleep in minutes but is breastfed lying down on his bed and then cuddled to sleep. Can’t imagine he would ever fall asleep if left to his own devices, he’d still be playing at 3am.

Original poster

sarahb083 · 25/07/2023 20:27

Thanks all, sounds pretty common.

Interesting about being cuddled to sleep. Can't imagine that would work for me - she wouldn't lie still for long enough.

OP posts:

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 25/07/2023 20:27

Ok I think she’s passed out- so an hr- that’s not bad going.
Some nights are quicker than others- but her sister was and is like a light switch, straight to sleep no issues- I miss that!

Glitterstars · 25/07/2023 20:30

Normal up until my little girl turned 3 she would happily sing to herself for half an hour to 45 minutes before settling. As she wasn’t crying it didn’t bother me was just her way of winding down. At first we used to go in and be like come on now it’s bedtime but we relaxed going back in just made her do it for longer/ wanting more cuddles etc if we just left her she was fine. She is now nearly 4 goes to bed has a little 5 minute chat/sing and goes to sleep

Hazelnuttella · 25/07/2023 20:31

A few seconds (goes to sleep on his own in cot).

If she’s happy / playing quietly it’s not a problem is it?

Emmacb82 · 25/07/2023 20:32

Mines just turned 3 and can either be immediate or he can mess about for ages! If he’s not napped and I’ve tired him out then he can fall asleep pretty quickly. If we’ve not done much and he’s napped then he shouts for us constantly ‘I need a poo’ or ‘I need a drink’ or ‘my bottom is cold’ or some other ridiculous crap 🤣 we have only just stopped laying next to his bed though so he’s doing pretty well!

ouse · 25/07/2023 20:42

Mine takes about an hour, to be honest. She likes me to lie next to her (small double bed) and chats away to me for about 45 minutes until she’s ready to sleep. It would be nice if she went to sleep a bit more easily but I don’t see her much during the day (work) and I like hearing her little stories.

CalistoNoSolo · 25/07/2023 21:08

It's a long time ago now, but DD was a terrible sleeper. Up to two hours to fall asleep until she was 5 or 6. I'm a terrible sleeper too though, and some nights really struggle to sleep even when I'm bone weary, so I assumed she was like me and did whatever it took - basically feeding to sleep and co-sleeping. Your DD sounds very normal, as you say, she's happy and healthy which is the main thing.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 25/07/2023 21:13

My DD is 3 now but has always taken a while to get to sleep (once she no longer used a bottle of milk to settle).

She used to spend a lot of time singing to herself until she fell asleep.

No better now at 3. She's spent over an hour tonight talking and singing to her doll. The range of voices she does is impressive!

Just been up to remind her she's got to be up at 6:30am for nursery and she told me her doll is full of energy so can't go to bed 😄

Quoria · 25/07/2023 21:34

Under 10 mins if they've not napped, more like half an hour+ if they have. Hs yours dropped their nap yet?

Quoria · 25/07/2023 21:34

Under 10 mins if they've not napped, more like half an hour+ if they have. Hs yours dropped their nap yet?

Nodeepdiving · 25/07/2023 21:40

Half an hour is good going, an hour is normal and up to two hours is not unheard of. It does my head in tbh. He definitely still needs his nap - if he doesn't have it he will wake up every 45 minutes until midnight as he's too tired to go into a deep sleep. But with a nap it's just no end of pissing about. We need to sit with him or even cuddle him as well, otherwise he'll have a complete meltdown. 30 minutes to doze off is a bad night for his big brother, so this has been a bit of a shock to the system.

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