to expect a full nights sleep?!

[pjmama]

My dt are just about to turn 3. One is a good sleeper, 12 hours a night - wonderful. However, the other wakes up 3 times on a good night and 5 or 6 times on a bad one. It's usually just a case of chucking the covers back over him so we're not up for long, but for myself and dh it means we haven't had an unbroken night's sleep in 3 years! I'm not a good sleeper anyway, so most days feel like I'm never fully awake!

Was I totally naive to expect that they'd both be sleeping through most nights by this age? Is this really common and normal? Most advice you find on night waking on the internet talks about establishing a good bedtime routine, but we have one so I'm not sure why he does it. I'm just fed up of feeling tired all the time.

Are we getting something wrong or is this just what some kids do?

these threads always depress me, cos I know when I open them the story will be about young kids
my ds aged 8 caME into bed with me last night and I'm knackered

YABU. If you give into it, you'll get used to it far quicker than if you fight it.

I haven't had a full night's sleep for 6.5y now, what with having more babies, and it doesn't bother me at all now.

Also, the natural age for children to sleep all night long is 3-4y, so expecting it to happen before then is only going to set you up for disappointment. Babies and toddlers haven't read the same books you have!

ps. DD1 is now 6 and has slept through for about a year now. DD2 (4.5) wakes once or twice, usually with bad dreams (she's got a very active imagination). DD3 (2.5) wakes once or twice but she's on a mattress on the floor next to DH so he just shhes he til she's asleep again. DD4's only 11m and she wakes once or twice for a feed.

If it is his covers falling off that is waking him you can buy clip things that go under the mattress and hold the duvet in place.

like this
Or put him to bed in a snuggle sack.

I?m not sure if YABU or not, I know lack of sleep kills me though, I feel constantly tired and can?t help feeling grumpy so I sympathise!

Anyway, I saw these a while ago (I?ve ordered from the company before and they are good), bit pricy but if it helps?.it does say in the blurp that it ?leads to a better night?s sleep for all!?. Might be worth a go?..

www.bumpto3.com/category.aspx?DISPLAYCAT=sleep&CAT=Products&CATGRY=Bedding_sets_an d_duvets

...sorry.....I seem to be carp at doing links.

Message withdrawn

I think I'll give the duvet clips a go, thanks very much for the tip!

some kids are like this. dd1 didn't sleep the night till 5. dd2 is now 5 and needs turning 3 or 4 times a night. Forgotten what sleep is. So YAB to expext it but NU to want it despertaley.