Toddler sleep

[bakewellbride]

My youngest child wakes me up almost every night, multiple times. She's 2 and a half.

When did your child start sleeping through?

It's so difficult being tired all the time, I truly hate it.

I came down with a sickness bug yesterday and looking back all the warning signs were there but it didn't register with me that I was actually unwell until I was being sick. Until that point I thought it was just sleep deprivation. It makes me sad that i thought I was 'ok'. Being so tired for so long makes it impossible to read your own body.

Please only words of kindness, I don't need a bashing or to be told to leave her to cry etc.

My 1 year old is the same. He sleeps for about 3 hours at the start of the night then is up every 1-2 hours until 5:30-6:00 am. I completely understand how you feel about your body. I feel fairly ‘numb’ most of the time because I’m just so tired. No words of advice but I sympathise. X

It's awful isn't it. When my toddler was a baby things were much, much worse and I had postnatal depression and much less sleep than what I get now so I am thankful that is over. But it's still not how I want things to be either. Sorry to hear you're struggling too x

I have a 2 year old who's the same, i havent had more than 4 consecutive hours sleep sinde she was born. I know exactly what you mean about not recognising when you're unwell because you're so used to being exhausted. I was prepared for six months or so of bad sleep with a newborn but I had no idea I'd still be in the same boat two years down the lines. No advice I'm afraid, just sympathy and solidarity.

@wfcats got that must be so difficult. I've decided that in 2025 I'm going to a local travelodge alone for a break. It was meant to be this year but it just didn't work out but next year I'm determined it will happen. First time and my eldest will be 7 that year so I think it's due!

I also hate it when everyone just says go to bed early. That time in the evening is precious to me and I don't want to just use it for sleep!

At 2 and a half send her back to bed when she wakes up. Why grind yourself into the ground like this? You deserve to sleep and be well.

I do send her back to bed - every time - and I'm not grinding myself into the ground! Really unhelpful, sorry. Always one on threads like this.

Hang on...

You said you are so worn down you didn't know you were sick until you were physically vomiting 🤷🏻‍♀️ that sounds completely ground down to me.

I'm saying you deserve more sleep. Sleep train your child so that you can get more sleep.

I really sympathise, my 2 yo was the same until recently, she would come into my bed halfway through the night with both of us sleeping lightly or just wake up multiple times at night, I know exactly what you mean by not feeling the difference between tiredness and being ill it happened a few times.
She started sleeping through a few months ago after me just being fed up of the constant tiredness, I'm pregnant and just felt like I needed my sleep as I was getting really run down, one night I did just let her cry after explaining to her that she has to stay in her bed until morning and I won't be coming to get her anymore... She cried for 20 mins and fell asleep and has been sleeping well ever since. She does sometimes wake up once in the night but quickly goes back to sleep after I go in to comfort her.
I felt awful doing it but I was at the end of my tether and needs must but looking back it was the right thing to do, we've all been happier and more rested since then.

Do you like reading? New Toddler Taming by paediatrician Dr Green has a chapter on toddler sleep. You don't need to read the whole book.

I'm ground down because nothing I do will get her to sleep, you make it sound like I'm martyring myself for no reason and that the solution is so simple. It's not that simple! Trust me I'm strict with her, she gets sent back every time and never ends up in our bed. Nothing works and honestly you've made me feel dreadful so well done for that. I'm hiding this thread now as there are others out there like you and even though I stated in my op no shitty comments or advice you just don't listen

Elizabeth Pantley wrote a few books on no-cry solutions. Real tips by real parents. Sending you the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Toddlers-Preschoolers/dp/0071444912/ref=asc_df_0071444912?mcid=70326f65d05231569102ba2e617d12c3&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697216353069&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12032446962504401434&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9193121&hvtargid=pla-464519077364&psc=1&gad_source=1

My comment is not shitty and you didn't state that you don't want advice. You didn't say in your OP what you do or don't do to tackle the situation.

You are projecting. I gave advice and said you deserve sleep so if you think that's unkind then you just need to choose the comments you like and ignore the ones you don't.

I haven’t read all of the posts on here but co sleeping has saved my sanity. DS - now 5 was a terrible sleeper and even now wakes in the night and comes into bed with me. He does usually go straight back to sleep.

DD is aged 2.5 and still wakes once a night, again I just bring her into bed with me and she will resettle and go back to sleep.

I have spent so many hours with DS sitting by the cot, gentle sleep training etc etc and I just cannot face it with DD. It was soul destroying. Therefore if they wake up they sleep in my bed. There are some nights they don’t wake and sleep through but more often than not they wake up at least once.

My 3 year old is an awful sleeper... I hace a 1yo too.

Just as 1yo's sleep is improving my 3yo is waking with nightmares and needing a wee. 😭

My DP tries to ‘help’ by sending me off to bed early but I’ve literally just eaten dinner and also would like to have some time for myself! I know they’re trying to be kind but it doesn’t help whatsoever, just takes what little time I have away from me.