Changing Early Morning Wake Up!!!!

My trio did the same thing and it was a phase they went through. If I recall correctly it was right around the time their nap schedules started changing from two to one nap a day. It's brutal but it doesn't last forever. Good luck!

Hi M.!

My son did the same thing at that age....
I used to get up with him, & we would lay on the couch & watch cartoons!
You didn't say what time he goes to bed?
Maybe he needs to stay up later if that continues?
Good Luck-

Deb G.

You're not alone, my little guy has been up at 5:30 AM no matter what time he goes down. He is also 18 months old and was sleeping from 8:00pm to 7:00AM up until a week ago. Not sure if this is a deal with the time change or what...but he needs his sleep! I guess I will be consistant with a later bed time. I thought I needed to put him down earlier, so he'd sleep later, that has always worked for me in the past,but not in this case.

My 10 month old has been doing the same thing since we turned the clocks back, a person would think by now they would have gotten used to it. I'm also at a bit of a loss with this, if you put him to bed later you risk him still getting up early and then wanting an earlier nap, earlier to bed at night-it gets to be a vicious cycle. My pediatrician tells me to put a pillow over my head, that I need rest too, but with other kids in the house it's not so easy when they are waking everyone up. So we've been just getting up and hoping it will be over soon. Good luck, I look forward to seeing other responses.

It's too bad parents with kids are subjected to daylight savings time. Internal body clocks are strong, aren't they?

Sleep does beget sleep! Try putting him to bed early or on time, and eventually he should sleep in a bit later.

That said, some kids are "5am babies". Horrible, but true. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, and that will help you cope. It could be a phase, so just be patient and see what happens.

Good luck!
M.

Sounds like this started with the time change. I suggest a few minutes later to bed. It was difficult for us to get through the time changes at that age. It's gets better as they get older. You might want to try getting more sleep yourself if this continues. If possible too, skip the afternoon nap or shorten it a bit.

My two boys are early risers, too, and I/we have adjusted accordingly. They wake up rested and in good moods. Some experts will say don't let them get up before six. However, all kids are different. In all fairness, both my husband and I are teachers and have to be out of the house between 6:45 and 7, so... the kids have adjusted to our schedule, as well.

M.,

My daughter has done this to us a few times. It usually lasts a week, maybe 10 days and then she goes back to her normal schedule. Is your son showing signs of teething or a cold or anything like that? My daughter often did this when she was teething. The worst times were when she got her molars.

I don't know what time your son normally wakes up but my daughter normally sleeps from 8 pm to 6 am on the dot and around those times she would wake up between 4:30 and 5 instead. Like I said though, it usually stopped after about a week. I would just go to bed early for the rest of the week myself so that I could get up with her.

I am a morning person as well and 6 am is the time we all get up anyway. I figured those weeks I got a little extra time with her since I work and don't usually get a lot of time with her in the mornings.

Good Luck,
D.

You don't mention what time you put him down at night, or if he has a nap(s) during the day. You may need to cut out a nap or try putting him down later in the evening. It's all about adjusting the time.

C.

Hi M.. :)

Have you tried to give him a crib-safe toy or book to play with while the rest of you finish sleeping? This might occupy him and even make him content to the point of falling back asleep. This has worked for us. :)

Good luck! :)
K.

I just wanted to say thanks for posting this question! I did not realize how normal this "early-rising" was and I thought I might have had a crazy kid on my hands!

My 16 month old has been waking up early for the last month, and after the time change he did have a 5am set wake up time in his little head. At first I got up with him, fixed him breakfast and started my day, but after a few days of exhaustion I started pulling him in bed with us and he did fall back asleep after rustling around for bit. He would sleep until almost 8am (which he has never done). His naps were shorter but that was fine with me.

I am happy to report that last night he went to bed at his usual 7p and did not wake up until 7a!!!!! So hopefully this gives you hope if nothing else!

Good luck!

The change of the clocks may have something to do with this. Try keeping him awake an hour longer at night by playing with him (not t.v. time). Keep him active for that extra hour then see if that helps. Good luck.

this is prime example of how the time change on the clock effects the internal time clock! Just put the kid to bed at the regular bedtime on the clock. soon, the child will adjust.
I have always hated the effects of switching from daylight savings time!

My 17 month old is the same way! He gets up between 4:15 and 4:45 every day. The good part for me is that he goes down for his first nap at around 7:30-8:00 a.m. This gives me a chance to get the others ready for the day and shower myself. He usually takes a good morning nap...until 10 or 11!! Then he goes down again around 2:00 and sleeps until 3 or 4. We put him down for bed at 7-7:30.
I have tried putting him down later and it makes NO difference! I have even cut down to only one nap but that just makes him overtired and then he does not sleep well at night.
Just be glad he is sleeping sound through the night! I just go to bed before 9 every night to keep up :) I have 5 boys...so a lot of testosterone here too!
J.

I had that problem with both of mine for months unfortunately! But, good news, they grew out of it. My youngest, now 2 1/2, was the worst and we still go through days when he'll get up super early, but now he understands that he's not allowed to wake up anyone in the house! One thing I realized about him waking up is how much he's eaten the night before. If he had more liquid than solids, he wakes up hungry and they can't fall back to sleep without a full stomach. Keep a weekly log on what he eats and how much, it may be the solution.

I remember those days. My girls are 7 and 10. It might have something to do with what time you put him to bed?... But most of all, here, I believe your little man is smarter than you. Crying is his only way to communicate, he has nothing else to do and he knows if he cries for an hour, he'll get his way. It's tough, but I'd tough it out. Good luck.

I haven't read all your responses but I went through this with each of my 4 kids at one time or another. Each of my kids has a cd player in their room that we play quiet music on when they go to bed (Linda Rhondstat - This is Dedicated to the One I Love - great CD for young ones and tolerable for an adult). When my 2 yr old wakes b4 the rest of us, I go in without lights (his room has darkening drapes) and very quietly tell him it's still night night time and that everyone is asleep and to be very quiet. I turn on his lullaby cd very softly and leave the room. Because he knows he hears that at bedtime, he goes back to sleep. If this doesn't work for you, you could try rocking him back to sleep or giving him some warm milk and then back in the bed. Whatever you try you will have to give some time to see if he catches on. Just one more idea for you. Good luck. Get some sleep!

My 16 month old has been going through this with the time change as well. The rest of her schedule adjusted but she was waking up between 5-530am. We set a time we would go in her room and stuck to it. She would have to cry or entertain herself until that time. For us it was 630. I just in the last couple of days pushed it back to 645. Now she understands reagrdless of what time SHE wakes up, we are not going in her room until 645. My hope is that she will eventually start sleeping until 7am again. her sleep has adjusted a little with this method and she's now waking at 615-630am. Good luck!

Hi M., Two of three of my kids went thru periods of early rising. They were wide awake and ready to go ....clearly letting them cry did nothing. We just adjusted our schedules accordingly. My and husband and I took turns getting up early. THe whole sleep schedule moved back so that nap times and bedtimes were early. We used to put kids to bed before 6:00 on occasion. At least you'll have your evenings back!
Also remember that since we just had to change our clocks everyone's schedule is a little off. Both my early risers grew out of it within a year.
As for your 4 year old I would get a fan or some white noise so that he doesn't wake up.
GOod luck!

Yikes!!!

How about trying to put him to bed a little later? Move bedtime back slowly (15 minutes/day).

I think sometimes people just have different body clocks but this may help!

Hi M.,

What I've read from the sleep experts (Dr. Mark Weissbluth, etc.) indicates that going to bed at an earlier time can actually help children stay asleep later in the morning. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it has really worked with my daughter. I think Dr. Weissbluth suggests moving the bedtime gradually (like 10 min. earlier each night.

Also, having room darkening shades/curtains in your son's room might help a bit.

Best of luck -- I hope you get more sleep soon!
R.

Go to sleep earlier and become a morning person! If you can get up earlier than him and have some quiet time it is truly awesome!