Is this normal for a two year old....

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My daughter has always been an awful sleeper! At just over two, she now settles in her cot and sleeps for two or three hours. She then wakes up crying and saying 'mummy bed' I take her into the bed but she will only settle on me. I then have to shuffle her off and she stays asleep in my bed (normally wakes once in the night demanding milk). Is this normal behaviour? I've never left her to cry or sleep trained her. I'm a single mother and work full time and just wonder if this is normal or if something medically could be wrong with her.

I doubt it's anything medical causing it - it's learned behaviour. It sounds quite unusual for a two year old to be consistently sleeping so poorly. You are probably going to need to put in some time and energy (and accept some crying) to change her patterns of behaviour. It might be worth speaking with a sleep consultant for guidance as you've got a few different issues (not wanting to sleep in own bed, still wanting milk at night), but I'm sure other people on here will be able to make suggestions too.

It's normal for a child who hasn't been sleep trained/weaned, yes.

Not all two years olds are like that, but it's not massively unusual or suggestive of a medical issue.

Sounds exactly like my 2 year old unfortunately. Didn’t do any sleep training and wish I had persevered with his own bed but the exhaustion took over.

My 2 year old still wakes for milk and we co sleep as it’s just easier and we both get more sleep this way !

My ds does similar. Every night without fail he will wake crying and won’t resettle until he’s in my bed, where he instantly goes back to sleep.
Personally I’m not worried about anything being wrong, it’s just a phase (unfortunately for us a verrrry long phase). My elder child was totally different with sleep but still had her awkward phases.

Yeah it's pretty normal - she's never been taught how to sleep by herself, so she can't.

Such a relief to read this. My nearly two year old still wakes up two to three times a night. Often will only sleep when held and always wants milk. I am slowly watering down the milk more and more to make it less attractive as a drink to wake up for. Have no idea what to do about the clinginess at night though. He shares with his older sibling so can't leave him to cry with sleep training because he'd wake them up. We're both exhausted. But nice to read we're not the only ones! You have My sympathies OP.

I have one like this too but is reflected in his day time persona too - kid does not stop

Yep, normal for us. I’m hoping my DC will gradually grow more independent at night…

Of course it’s normal. What on Earth suggests a possible “medical problem” to you?!

Yep and I'm expecting my 3yr4month old to be coming into my bed later. He does it every night and falls asleep straight away again.

I'm a soft touch but they're only little once

She just wants her mum and has got used to being with you when she needs comfort. My 3yr old pretty much sleeps in my bed most of the night. We usually put her back in her bed when we go to bed unless she wakes up then she in with us all night.

She now usually sleeps in her bed for a couple of hours and comes through during the night. I also have my 5yr old trying to get in the bed a couple of times a night. Often I end up in her bed with her until the 3yr old is screaming for her mummy 🙈 It's probably all my fault I'm too soft but they just want a wee cuddle. It wont last forever.

They would both just love to sleep in bed with me every night. They sleep well if they r beside me.

I cannot remember the last time my 3yr old slept through until morning must have been maybe once in the last year! She still wakes a few times in the night looking for a cuddle or her dummy. We plan to get rid of that soon after the last failed attempt as no one was getting any sleep!