Guide to Helping Your Child Sleep Through the Night in 2.5 Years: 24 Essential Steps

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By: Emily Jacobs
Updated: Dec. 2, 2020
Originally Published: Sep. 2, 2011

Let me share a small secret: my little one is now sleeping through the night! It’s been a few months of peaceful slumber, but I hesitated to celebrate, fearing I might jinx it. Today, I realized it has been ages since my child woke up at night, so perhaps it’s time to embrace this new reality. If you’re struggling with a restless baby, here’s a comprehensive guide on my journey to establish a good sleep routine. Follow these steps, and in just two and a half years, your child may also enjoy uninterrupted nights.

1. At five months, introduce a dream feed. Gently wake your baby around 11 pm for a feed, even if your inner voice questions your sanity. Overdo the effort to wake him. Spend an exhausting hour trying to resettle him.
2. Attempt this again the following night—maybe last time was just a fluke.
3. Repeat this process.
4. When your baby turns six months, conclude that the noise from one parent is disrupting sleep. Transition him to his own room and eagerly await a night of peaceful rest.
5. At 3 am, groggily cross the hallway to soothe your crying baby, regretting the decision to move him. This leads to multiple trips back and forth before you finally bring him to your bed, where you continue to be kicked in the face.
6. The next evening, convince yourself last night was an anomaly and let him sleep in his room again.
7. At 3 am, step on a stray Lego, whispering curses as you rush to pick him up, trying to avoid waking your other children.
8. This cycle continues nightly, fueled by a false hope that the noise was the issue, despite the thought of disassembling the crib feeling like defeat.
9. After half a year of midnight stumbling, an ingenious plan arises: set up a travel crib beside your bed for easier access post-wake.
10. Quickly realize the baby despises the travel crib after several unsuccessful attempts and abandon that idea.
11. Conclude that your baby’s feet might be too warm, and in a moment of creativity, cut the feet off his sleep-suits.
12. Retire for the night, hopeful for uninterrupted sleep.
13. Awaken at 3 am to find him crying. Comfort yourself with how adorable he looks in his modified sleep-suits, all while enduring more face kicks.
14. Download a sleep tracking app to understand the phases of his sleep. It’s eye-opening but still leaves you clueless about the current week’s disturbances.
15. Suspect that morning sunlight is waking him and rush to purchase blackout curtain linings, ignoring the nagging thought that the sun doesn’t rise at 3 am.
16. Attach the blackout lining, only to realize it’s backwards. Frustrated, you redo the task and take a moment to appreciate the newfound darkness.
17. At 3 am, stub your toe on the crib in the pitch black. Stay determined with the blackout curtains, believing they will eventually work.
18. Fast forward to 18 months, and desperation sets in. You scour online sleep forums, searching phrases like “my toddler won’t sleep.” You stumble upon the concept of bimodal sleep—two sleep periods with a wakeful phase—but discover there’s little you can do about it.
19. A friend recommends white noise as a sleep aid. Download a white noise app, ensuring your phone is charged for the night.
20. At 3 am, rush into the nursery, fumble for the app, and place your phone near the crib. It seems to be working—he’s calmed down and appears to be sleeping soundly.
21. Attempt to stealthily exit the room, making no noise.
22. Just as you reach the door handle, your baby with supersonic hearing begins to cry. Resign yourself to the chair; this will be your new post.
23. Now at two years old, transition him from the crib to a bed. When he stirs, climb in beside him. You notice that the face-kicking is less frequent. Sleep comes, but the reason remains a mystery.
24. Finally, progress to sitting on the floor beside his bed when he wakes. Consider bringing a cushion and maybe a drink fridge as you prepare for this new routine. Commit to this for as long as necessary, even if it takes months. Eventually, rest will come.

And there you have it! Just follow these straightforward steps, and by the time your child is two and a half years old, you might find them sleeping soundly through the night—or not. No guarantees!

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Summary

This guide provides a light-hearted yet informative overview of the journey to help a child sleep through the night. It outlines a series of steps taken over two and a half years, highlighting the challenges and occasional successes along the way.