2.5 year old wakes in the night and won't go back to sleep

[Anotheronesoon]

Please if anyone has any advice!
My son wakes in the night, typically around mn or 0100 and it takes him 2-3 hours to go back to sleep. I have just spent an hour on his floor lying by his bed and he just can't seem to go back to sleep. So I left and now he is having the biggest tantrum ever. I am so so over this - it's now been going on for months and his baby brother will soon wake so it means I get no sleep and a very grumpy and tired boy the next day. He has never been a great sleeper but I just do t know what else to try. I'm getting so cross with him but that's probably not fair. Any advice please?!!'

Ds often woke at god awful hours for a lively chat, I just got into bed with him (thankfully he had a normal sized bed) and fell asleep. This encouraged him to shut up and sleep too as no one was entertaining him and the snuggly feeling of someone warm and zonked out made him sleepy again. I much prefer being in my own bed but better that than the floor and at least I didn't lose much sleep.

DS does this every now and again (like now . He's nearly 1 and I just sit beside the cot playing candy crush and mumsnetting and don't engage with him at all. Just sssh and pay him if he's crying and if he stands up, just keep putting him lying down. Works better some times than others...I'm here since 1.39 so today not so much!

Pat him, not pay him - bit young for bribing!!

I have been up since 1 with my baby too! Have to go to work tmrw as well.

Does he still nap could it be time to shorten or drop it?