2 year old has never slept through night

[donjag]

I have a daughter who is 2 years and 1 month old. She has only ever slept through the night a handful of times. My husband has to be in bed by 8pm every week day night as he gets up for work around 3-4am and our daughter always wakes up at least once in the night for milk. It's got to the stage where we have to try and get her to sleep around 5pm as it takes us hours to get her to go to sleep. We get her into her bed and leave her with a night light on. She usually wakes at 12-1am and comes into my room for milk and a nappy change. My husband sleeps downstairs just to try and get enough sleep as he drives all day long. I then try and settle her down in bed with me, not ideal, but she will not go back into her own room, and when I have tried she has made such a fuss she has woken all of our neighbours. I keep a food/drink record for her and I have tried to figure out why she doesn't sleep. Giving her tons of exercise doesn't really help much as she never wears out. She doesn't and never has slept in the day. Some nights she will only sleep around 3 hours. Doctors won't help. Any ideas I would be grateful as I work 3 days a week myself and it is always up to me to see to her. I need some sleep myself as I have an operation coming up soon.

Thanks
Donjag

Stop the milk. She shouldn't need it if she is eating well during the day. Gradually water it down and she will probably stop waking for it when she realises it's only a glass of water.

She can do it as she has done it (even if only a few times). She just needs to get into the habit.

And personally, I'd stop her getting into your bed. Is she in a cot or a bed? If the former, try putting her in her own "big girl" bed. Then you can doss down with her if she insists, still be quite comfortable, then slip away when she's asleep. If she's already in a bed, insist that she doesn't come in with you and soften it by saying you'll get in with her. My DD1 soon tires of it as it quickly gets too squashed for her with me there too!

Hope that helps. But I'd start with the milk.

Thanks. I do want to stop the milk so I will do as you suggest and water it down. She is in a cot-bed which is quite small and not enough room for me but I will try and get her back into her own bed. Thanks for your advice, much appreciated.

Donjag

Can I ask how you got on? I have an identical problem! I would appreciate if you could give me some advice. My little one goes to bed with no problems (unless it's me trying to put him down - that's daddy's quality time with him). He ALWAYS wakes up without fail. It has got better and he will now sleep until 4-5am but wont go back off without milk

Sethborn - When mine was two and a half (perhaps a bit younger) I think he could understand me saying no milk in the night. Told him to stay asleep as well. For about 9 or 10 night he woke. For the first 3 nights there was crying, then just abit of a moan for the next few nights. He then got the message.

I didn't really mind before as he never really woke up and cried. He just asked for milk and went back to sleep.

But looking back now, I wish i'd done it sooner.

I tried watered down milk but it seemed to upset him more and i'd end up getting him milk anyway. All or nothing.
good luck.