Will three really be the magic age for him to sleep through the night?

[Rox5266]

My ds still wakes up 3-6 times a night, and sometimes it takes HOURS to get him back to sleep.:irked: Every time I have a night where he lets me sleep a rare 4-6 hours without waking I think,"Is this it, will he stop waking so frequently and needing me to get back to sleep?" But, but alas, it is just not to be (sigh). I've read posts here from mother's saying, "Don't worry, it will happen, my toddler is 3 and does not need to be nursed/rocked/walked to sleep and does not wake or need help to get back to sleep."

I guess I just need some encouragement, I feel so hopeless right now. :(

[Kira's mom]

I want to say 'yes, it's the magic number' but i don't think there is a magic number. Dd has just recently started sleeping 8-9 hour stretches.It's still not everynight though. She worked her way down. For a while it was 2-3 times waking.I usually nurse her back to sleep within minutes,but once in a while she just wants to get up.We cosleep and the other night dh was asleep in the other room. dd wakes at 4 am and says ' i need to talk to my daddy right now!" lol. Sometimes I wake up and can't fall asleep again either, so it makes sense that children would do the same.The one bit of suggestion i have...I have tried to explain to dd that sleep is good,pointing out to her how great we feel after a good nights sleep and how much nicer the next day is when wake up happy and rested.She's mentioned this to me a number of times, so i know it made an impression on her.Hope three IS your magic age!I noticed a big difference in the past 6 months. ps everytime i comment on how well dd is sleeping now she inevitably chooses that night to wake repeatedly!hope i didn't jinx it- Hali

[True Blue]

If it is, DS only has 2 more months to prove it LOL!! He's been nightweaned since 18 months and that obviously did not work. Even having him fall asleep on his own at the start of the night doesn't help. We have though been giving him magnesium every night for the past 5 nights, and on the 4th night he slept 8 hours straight and was in his own bed until 6am, I couldn't believe it. Of course last night he slept like crap again. But maybe it will be a slow trend. I'll have to let you know in a few weeks LOL.

[Kira's mom]

Is magnesium supposed to help with sleep?I've never heard of that.I've learned one thing and that is to always keep your sense of humor!!!:wink

[True Blue]

Do a search on here...there is lots about it. It helps you relax. I have to say, even though DS hasn't slept the whole night again yet, he sleeps MUCH more peacefully. He used to be up a lot even in our bed, and be really fidgety and clingy and kind of annoying when he slept, and he has gotten infinitely better.

[IncaMama]

ds just turned 3 on friday. and every night since then has been CRAP. but he HAD been sleeping well! he had nightweaned, he was sleeping totally through the night in his own bed....and now he's changed his mind. LOL

[Girl Named Sandoz]

For my son, it has been. He night-weaned himself around his 3rd birthday. He actually sleeps 10 hour stretches now. :)

There is an article by Katherine Dettwyler which talks about 3-4 years as the average age of 'sleeping through'. I'll see if I can find it for you.

[Girl Named Sandoz]

Here it is:

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepthrough.html