Normal for a 2.5 year old??

[Rowlie]

My DD will be 2.5 in March. He isn’t breastfed still, can go off to sleep by himself, doesn’t have a dummy etc but he does not sleep through and hasn’t done properly since around 1 year old. Occasional night he will sleep through but hasn’t done for months and months.

Not sure if it’s teeth (can’t be every night), nightmares or what. Sometimes can be up as much as 6 times a night then up early. We can sometimes ignore but sometimes have to go to him to calm him down if v upset. We’re pretty firm though - no cuddling or getting into his bed with him. Will reassure and comfort then leave.

is the normal? IRL all of my friends seem to have 2.5 year olds that sleep through. Their kids’ sleep has gradually improved whereas ours has just gotten worse. He was actually a good sleeper as a young baby!!

I'm not going to be much help - sorry - as my 2yo sleeps pretty well (for now!). But if there is one thing i've learned it's that all kids are different.

I'm just posting here as we had a couple of unsettled weeks with my toddler where he would wake up crying in the night for seemingly no reason. Based on his age I suspected it might be because his room was too dark (we had it pitch black) so added in a nightlight and he slept better pretty instantly after that. This may have all been a total coincidence, but just in case you haven't tried it yet?

@newtovanlife thanks but we already have a small night light. Had an awful patch of sleep when be turned 2 so we introduced the night light which did help but he still doesn’t sleep through :(

@Rowlie ah I'm sorry. Really hope he starts sleeping through soon - you must be exhausted :( Hopefully others will be by with more useful advice!

My 2y often has loooong periods where she wakes several times a night. I think it’s within normal if that makes sense? Neither of mine have been ‘good sleepers’.

No real advice to give but just wanted to offer a glimmer of hope as I know how exhausting and soul destroying it can be when your kids don’t sleep. My daughter slept through from about 18 months until she was 4 and started school. We then had an awful time of it where she was up and down 5 or 6 times a night and wanted me every time. I felt like a zombie and have no idea how I managed. I thought it would never end. We tried everything. Then one day she just decided she could sleep on her own and started sleeping through again. And now she is almost 13 and can sleep for England! If there’s anything I’ve learned from parenting young children, it’s that everything is just a phase and there will be an end eventually! Teenagers though are a whole different ballgame but we won’t get into that… at least they sleep! 🤣