So fed up and lost.

[tiredsosotired]

Morning, I've got a 3 year old and an 18 month old. Neither are great sleepers but this mostly stems from the 3 yo waking the baby.

He is up 3-5 times a night, these can be 45 minutes to 3 hour stretches. We have tried every sleeping arrangement possible but nothing works, he has white noise and a night light. We've tried no noise, night light, no night light etc etc. The wakings generally wake the whole house as he will scream cry for most of the time awake. Then waking for the day crying at 5am, moaning all day and generally unhappy as so tired.

I have absolutely no clue what to do, I spend most days barely getting by on 3/4 hours sleep. I work full time in a stressful job and the sleep situation is breaking me. I'm not expecting anyone to be able to fix this for me but maybe a handhold in this dark period that things will get better?!

God that sounds rough. Will he sleep if he's in bed with you? It might sound counterintuitive but if he will, I'd move him in temporarily to give you all the chance to get some sleep. Then when you're all a little less exhausted you could try the No Cry Sleep Solution?

Is DC 1 eating enough during the day too?

@PolaroidPrincess no he doesn't sleep in bed with me, that would be a lovely solution.

Yes eating enough and always give a banana/toast 30 mins before bed. We have a set bedtime routine that we've been doing since he was born. We've tried his bed in our bedroom but that doesn't change things.

I will have a look, thank you that's very helpful

It just might be worth doing this simple progress checker, just to see if he's on track.

Have a look at this on bedtime snacks.

And I'd also read if this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust. One of my DF's was in a very similar situation and on the advice of her HV made a few teals with her DD's diet and amazingly she started sleeping through.