Two Years Old.. Not sleeping through

[DaynaS]

Hi All,

Probably a subject more often that we'd like!

My daughter is just about to turn two years old, she's doing really well but she's never consistently slept through the night. We've had a small handful of nights, but nothing regular or that you can rely on.

It's a bad time to write this as I'm fairly sure the second molars are on the way and I know she's got a bit of a cough and cold, but I'm asking this more for when she's "normal" rather than at this moment (I know sickness and teeth will always cause disruption).

She tends to go bed between 7 and 8 and we have a pretty consistent bedtime, where we chill play, have a bath, blackout blind, sleeping bag, white noise, bed spray and then a bottle and bed with a dummy and a comforter. Normally Daddy would do the feed, but she's recently rejected that and demands me so I'm doing it.

We then have at least one night feed, some times two, and various shout outs for Mummy and Milk, or a lost dummy, etc. I can be up anything between 1 (rare) or 5 times.

She'll wake between 7 and 7.30 (we get her up if not awake by then) and she has one nap (tried one day of missing it - horrific!) which is usually 1.25hours at 12-13:15 which again, we limit.

I'm really not a fan of the Cry It Out method and don't want to do this. I know whilst she gets milk she'll ask for it, but as I work full time, it's also the quickest way for us both to get back to sleep! She does self settle, i.e. at bed time she'll be awake and get herself to sleep, and often in the night she'll briefly wake and go back to sleep (perhaps after an argument with herself about something first, lol)

She eats fairly well in the day, breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. Maybe the odd snack too but we tend to have a main meal every 2-3 hours.

I'm starting to really struggle trying to work, maintain a household, and continue with disruptive nights - I already go bed early just to survive. Any idea of a life or social life has completely gone out the window!

Suggestions welcome, please.. I know at the moment it'll be hard due to physical changes, but if there's something you'd recommend (other than letting her cry it out) I'm open to it!

Many thanks,
Dayna

82% of two year olds still wake. 70% of three year olds do too. It’s rough, but it’s developmental. Can your partner help do some of the wakes, or take weekend nights so you can at least sleep through then?

My son would never accept that so it’s been me every night for the last two years, but he’s now three and we’re at one short wake up a night most nights, so it’s not too bad.

It’s biologically normal for her to wake.

Mine also wakes once or twice a night, it's very normal! He's on a floor bed so one of us just goes in and gets in with him and he goes straight back to sleep. He was 2 in November and I'd say the last 4-5 weeks or so the wakes have become a lot easier. Hang in there

I do agree that it's biologically normal but that doesn't mean that you can't try a few things

If she's having milk at night, it doesn't sound like she's getting enough calories during the day. There's a good guide on how many calories she should be having, sample menus and suggested portion sizes here.

Once she's feeling better, I'd try some gentle night weaning. This method is aimed at parents who BF but can be easily adapted if you are bottle feeding

And have you read The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers?

I had one who didn't sleep through until age 2.5.

It was rough. You have my sympathy.

She's old enough to have an insulated water bottle that won't spill in the cot with her. Would you try that? It could be warmish water so she wouldn't be jolted fully awake by icy water. Water is better than milk for her teeth anyway.

She could have several dummies strewn around the cot too so she could grab one. Though it might be an idea to have the fairy come to collect them at this point. She's still very young and would get used to the new reality quickly.

I'm following with interest as in the same boat. My eldest just managed to wean herself off of bottles and I would just give her one on the odd occasion if she woke, but it wasnt a regular thing so I didn't care!!

My youngest turns two in a couple weeks and like you, majority of nights is at least one wake up 😭

I managed to wean off bottles in the night around October by going cold turkey and doing the furber method, but then she was ill and it all went out the window.

Keep telling myself I'm going to stop the bottles but it's so hard when you know they'll go back to sleep!!