Please help, fellow mothers 🙏 I desperately need advice about my 2-year-old son's sleep.
I am a mother of a 2-year-old boy (10.5 kg), and I am struggling terribly with his sleep.
He sleeps only 2–3 hours at night and then stays awake for almost the entire night. During the day, he sleeps around 3 hours, so in 24 hours he is sleeping only about 5–6 hours.
I have consulted multiple paediatricians, but unfortunately, we haven't seen any improvement so far.
The biggest problem is that he doesn't sleep without continuous cradle movement. If we stop moving the cradle, he wakes up. So, throughout the night, someone has to keep moving the cradle, and I have to stay awake almost the entire night.
He also makes repeated “aaa… aaa…” sounds while sleeping, which worries me.
We have tried changing his routine and reducing his daytime sleep, but we haven't been able to successfully change the pattern yet.
As a mother, I am completely exhausted. I had a C-section and still have back pain.
Answers (5)
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Have a scheduled sleep time. Let him have early dinner and try putting him to sleep early. The room should be dim lighted and white soothing noise if he is comfortable. Cradle rocking should be gradually decreased if needed you can hold him close to you or next to you patting his back until he sleeps.in the daytime let him have more of physical activity, reduce screen time. This might take time but eventually you will get there.
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Greetings
I hear how deeply exhausted and overwhelmed you are, and please know you are not alone in this struggle.
The image shows a forum post detailing a toddler who wakes immediately when cradle rocking stops and makes rhythmic vocalizations during sleep.
This continuous motion dependency is a strong parent-controlled sleep association that must be gradually reduced, while the vocal sounds are often benign self-soothing behaviors or transitional phase noises.
To begin breaking this cycle, you can try the following structural steps:
The Pause and Resume Method: Slowly decrease continuous movement by pausing the rocking for a few seconds when he is relaxed, then gradually extending those motionless gaps night by night until he can tolerate a completely still mattress.
Habit Stacking: Introduce a new, stationary sleep cue such as a continuous white noise machine or a soft, comforting back rub before you stop moving the cradle so he associates comfort with something other than motion.
Drowsy But Awake: Transition him into his sleeping space when he is heavy-eyed but still slightly aware, allowing his brain to practice the final step of falling asleep without active movement.
Increase the physical restlessness i.e make him tired while playing any block games or like that.reduce the screen better to avoid the screen time.and day time as usual reduce the sleep.slowly decrease the cradle moment not at once.better to keep atmosphere sound less and keep the bed light only.switch off all high voltage tube lights and for this to achieve u parents also have to go early to bed.
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Dr Faisal Zoheb
MBBS , MD PAEDIATRICS , PGPN (BOSTON), FELLOWSHIP IN NEONATOLOGY ( Newborn and vaccination specialist )
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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