Help! can a 2 yr old put himself to sleep?

[DMBaby]

I am 6 mos pg and my goal is to get DS (2 yrs old) to fall asleep on his own by the time #2 comes around. Is this a realistic goal?

We made excellent progress from bedsharing>crib>big boy bed>rocking to sleep>laying in bed only in just 4 months. I currently still have to lay in bed with him and rub his back in order for him to fall asleep. We tried the past 2 nights to say good night and leave him in his room for 5 minutes at a time - BIG FAIL - and I can't bear to hear his desperate screams.

Please tell me there is another way. I need some real help on trying to get him to fall asleep on his own. Any advice is helpful. Thanks so much ladies...

[MsFortune]

Yes, they can.

I'd try putting him bed but not rubbing his back.  So you are there, but not interacting with him.

[Mama Mko]

It depends on the child, in my experience. Neither of my boys was ready at 2 years old to put themselves to sleep. It happened at 3ish with one (didn't require back-rubbing anymore but still liked us to be near him) and hasn't really happened yet with my almost-4 year old. He wants to be right next to me when he goes to sleep. I'm okay with this.

[Annie21]

I'm in the same exact situation, except my little one is 17 months. He wants me to lay down with him (which I don't mind), but then takes sometimes over an hour to fall asleep. Before, it only took about 20 minutes, which was perfect, but the hour plus is driving me crazy. Any ideas??

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by DMBaby 

I am 6 mos pg and my goal is to get DS (2 yrs old) to fall asleep on his own by the time #2 comes around. Is this a realistic goal?

We made excellent progress from bedsharing>crib>big boy bed>rocking to sleep>laying in bed only in just 4 months. I currently still have to lay in bed with him and rub his back in order for him to fall asleep. We tried the past 2 nights to say good night and leave him in his room for 5 minutes at a time - BIG FAIL - and I can't bear to hear his desperate screams.

Can you stop rubbing his back and get him to lay still while you sit in a chair near his bed?  Thats what I did with my ds, and he now wants me to lay down with him for a few minutes, which I do most nights, and then I can get up and leave and I don't hear another peep.