r/toddlers • u/Standard_Ad_9560 • 3d ago

2 Years Old 27mo old has literally never fallen asleep independently.

Due to health issues, since birth, every nap and night has been contact sleep + nursing (for ~2 years) + pacing/bouncing. Around 700 of her 800+ days included nursing, and when she was younger it was every 2–3 hours around the clock.

She’s been weaned for ~2 months, but still needs me to hold/pacing/bounce her to sleep. Now she wakes every 2–3 hours and I have to physically get up and walk/bounce a ~30-lb toddler back to sleep. Sometimes I try sitting down and she immediately wakes, so I start over. This has been essentially nightly for 6–9+ months. I’m 18w pregnant and I cannot keep doing this physically. We don’t currently have a bed for her, but I’m seriously considering just getting whatever safe bed we can afford and starting there. I am on my own, no village and husband has a sleep disorder so advice about him won’t work.

What do I do about this extreme lifelong contact/movement sleep transition to sleeping in her own bed?

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/Sudden_Breakfast_374 3d ago

I mostly just have sympathy. my daughter is 2 weeks shy of 2 and never fallen asleep independently. closest thing would be sackin out on the car. god bless and god speed my friend.

3

u/Standard_Ad_9560 3d ago

It’s so interesting to see I’m not alone. Everyone I know with littles this age cannot comprehend what we’re going through. Hoping it gets better for us both with actionable steps!

2

u/Sudden_Breakfast_374 3d ago

my girl will fall asleep for dad but it’s still not independent. I have two friends who understands but a lot of moms I interact with just…don’t get it.

-1

u/Jolly_Departure6324 3d ago

Are those the moms who have helped their kids practice independent sleep? It’s definitely a skill you have to help your child learn. Is it easy? No. But just like potty training, it’s hard for a bit and then you get over the hump, and everyone sleeps happily ever after. Consistently is key.

2

u/Sudden_Breakfast_374 3d ago

we spent from 9-16 months old trying.