Early Waking! Help please!
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Forum Name: Toddler Times
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Topic: Early Waking! Help please!
Posted By: Peanut
Subject: Early Waking! Help please!
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 10:32am
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My DS is 17 months and has always been an early waker. It is usually between 5-5.30am. I am finding that I am starting to get exhausted now and was wanting some tips and advice.
He only started sleeping through at about 12-13 months and still has one or 2 nights a week when he wakes once. We have the same bedtime routine every night - dinner, bath, bottle, bed. Bottle at night is anywhere between 200-300mls. Eats great during the day so isn't hungry. Wakes wet through at least once a week - so wakes at 5am rather than closer to 5.30am. Goes to bed at anywhere between 5.45pm - 6.30pm most nights. He is in full time daycare so is often ready for bed then - will take himself off to bed e.g stands up his cot, arms up waiting to be put in. Has 2 x 1.5 hour sleeps in the day. Right any advice or tips please  -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 10:40am
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Hi Peanut!
Will be good to get this sorted soon! Gabriell was 17months when I had Tane and she was on pretty much the same sleep routine - 2 1.5hr sleeps, but she would go to bed at 7 and wake at bout 6. It's about the age that toddlers usually drop on eof their sleeps. It can be pretty hard transitioning from 2 down to 1 and lots of trying times in between but will be great for you to do before #2 arrives 
I would try and keep him up for longer in the morning and work towards getting him to have one longer sleep at around midday or early afternoon. Then see if you can keep him up till 6:30-7. There is also a chapter on sleep problems in the baby whispere solves all your problems and has a theory called 'wake to sleep' but can't remember what to do on that one... Good Luck! |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 10:43am
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Opps, should have added in that I have tried keeping him up later at night but it makes no difference and he still wakes at the same time.
Have also tried the one sleep thing during the day but will only sleep for an hour - Do i perserve with that? -------------
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Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 10:48am
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I would - it was so hard when Gabz was 'transitioning'. Maybe look at some more ideas on how to drop the second sleep. we weren't a good examplpe as Tane had already arrived when we went through it all and I just took each day as it came. Sometimes she would have her one sleep and then fall asleep really early at night only to wake with a second wind. It took a good month to get into the sleep routine we have now which is
7am wake up 12pm nap for 1.5 hours (sometimes 2 if lucky as) 7-7:30pm bed We usually have quiet book time in the afternoons if she gets a bit ratty or quiet cuddles - it's usually enough to 're-charge' without needing a sleep. |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 12:25pm
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yeah I would try just having 1 sleep during the day as well. We went through a stage when Ella woke up 5/5.30 every morning and once I dropped one of her daysleeps she started waking at 7 again. I found that by 11 Ella was really tired so often put her down for her sleep then and she had a late lunch afterwards- (however if he in daycare that might not be possible, as I imagine that would wait until after lunch). ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 12:39pm
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Sam dropped one of his sleeps at about 15 months old and a few months ago dropped the other one which sucks, but I find if he wakes earlier than 5AM then there is a better chance of him going back to sleep until at least 7-8AM, but if it's any time after 5:AM there is no chance.
There is a theory that if you go into their bedroom, rouse them a little bit and change them at around 4-4:30AM then they will sleep longer, but I've never tried it as I don't want to get out of bed at that time!! Sam is a heavy wetter during the night and wets through at least once or twice a week which causes him to wake extra early too, but I haven't been able to stop him from doing that. Also, on the mornings he wakes at 5:AM, it's still dark so I make sure not to turn the light on, speak softly to him and put him back to bed quietly and leave the room. (Only sometimes does this work) |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 1:39pm
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Try the sleepstore website for some tips. I personally wouldn't change his naptimes til he begins not settling. Jake only dropped his morning nap about 3 months a go but absolutely needed it until then. He also woke up regularly at 5.30 (not that I'd get up for him lol no way) but we used the sleepstore sleep tips to move his bedtime and extend his waking up time IYKWIM.
Hope you sort it out though! -------------   
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 1:45pm
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I just had a quick flick of "The sleep store" articles but didn't really find too much that was of help to me - do you remember what article it was?
I am kinda hesitant to drop one of his sleeps as he goes back down at about 8.30 as is beyond help by them. with his day sleeps he is out to it in about 5 mins so not sure he is ready for one. Does anyone know what the signs are to drop a sleep? -------------
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 3:17pm
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Jake used to be a really heavy wetter when he was still having a bottle at night (has had a cup since 18 months so drinks a bit less) and I had to use a cloth nap over huggies so he didn't wake wet through! You could try that?
It sounds to me like he is in bed a little early - you can only expect him to sleep about 11 hours over night now at his age (12 max) so what he is doing is normal. If he was in bed about 7/7.30 for at least a week, you'd probably find he starts sleeping later. I also think he should probably be down to one nap. Jake was "by the book" and dropped his just over 12 months .... and I found we just gradually pushed it out til after lunch and the nap got longer as he was more tired, and eventually his bedtime could be extended to 7.30pm too which helps with the early wakings (he wakes at 6.30 now, instead of the 6 it was when going to bed at 7pm). Hope that helps! ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 3:22pm
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I think I agree with what Nikki said.
Daniels routine has been forat least the last 8 months... get up sometime between 7-8, nap straight after lunch and bedtime at 7-730 The reason hes buggered by 830 is that he's up really early. Like Nikki said it might take a week but if you pushed out that bedtime and cut back to one day sleep it shoudl right itself. It would mean probably 1 grumpy day but hopefully after that it should start to improve as he gets used to it. |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 3:25pm
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I think I agree with what Nikki said.
Daniels routine has been forat least the last 8 months... get up sometime between 7-8, nap straight after lunch and bedtime at 7-730 The reason hes buggered by 830 is that he's up really early. Like Nikki said it might take a week but if you pushed out that bedtime and cut back to one day sleep it shoudl right itself. It would mean probably 1 grumpy day but hopefully after that it should start to improve as he gets used to it. |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 7:06pm
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another suggestion is to reduce his afternoon nap, as this is the nap he should eventually drop. I let her sleep as long as she wanted in the morning and then the afternoon I started waking her after an hr. Gradually she started having the morning sleep later and later and didn't need the afternoon nap. In regards to the early bedtime, Ella goes to bed at 6.30 every evening so I don't know if this woud make a huge difference, but may be worth a try. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 8:47pm
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In addition to what the others have said you could try "No cry sleep solution for toddlers", it has a chapter on early waking although I haven't read it as it isn't a prob for us.
I agree with Nikki that 11-12hrs is normal for nighttime sleep and that pushing out bedtime for a week may mean he sleeps later. It takes 7-10days in general to change a routine so it would pay to stick with it for a while. Another possibility is that some kind of noise is waking him at 5/5.30am eg morning traffic, train, someone getting ready for work etc. We found this with Jack. We play music all night (you could set a radio to start just before 5am if you prefer) in Jack's room, it doesn't drown out the noises but they aren't so obvious so are less likely to wake him ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 19 May 2009 at 8:51pm
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Hi Peanut Sounds like Mac generally has a good routine going, but it would be a lot easier for your family if the whole routine could shift forward 2 hours? Have a look at http://www.babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=41952.0 - this page about moving from 2 to 1 naps per day. There are other threads on shifting routines etc. Would you consider giving Mac less milk in his bedtime bottle (and perhaps increasing the amount he gets during the day to compensate)? Jimmy drinks 400ml max per day now: 150 ml at morning tea, same for afternoon tea, then 100 mls just before bed. He hasn't woken up wet for ages (fx). Best of luck |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 20 May 2009 at 9:14am
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Thanks for all your advice, ladies.
At this stage I am going to leave him at 2 sleeps but try and extend his bed time. Attempted it last night but he ended up asleep on the couch at 5.45pm! -------------
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 20 May 2009 at 10:50am
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It's sooo hard to change their routines isn't it... My girl is the same - although not quite as early... she's in bed at 6.30 at night and up about 6. I would sooo much rather keep her up for an extra hour but I have tried many times and she still wakes at the same time in the morning... Holly has cut down to one sleep (despite me trying to continue with her afternoon nap!) - which she has at 9:30 each day and that has made no difference either so I wouldn't rush cutting his day time sleeps back...
What I have done is put books and things at the end of her cot and she will often wake up and play with them for 20 mins or so before she starts yelling "muuuuuuuuuuuum" ... I hear her happily chatting away  ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 20 May 2009 at 12:36pm
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From what you've said I don't think Mac is ready for 1 day sleep just yet. Just before Liam swapped to 1 sleep he'd take forever (an hour or more) to fall asleep in the morning so eventually I gave up trying.
No doubt he's tiring himself out at DC & really needs to go to bed when he does. Trying to extend his bedtime out til 7/7.30 sounds like it would be a bit tricky... But poor you, 5/5.30 wake-ups are tough when you really need your sleep. -------------    
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 20 May 2009 at 12:57pm
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If you want to try and push out bedtime could you start this on a weekend or a day that he doesn't go to daycare? You could make sure that it is a quiet calm day so that he is not quite so tired in the evening.
Is it possible to push out his 2nd nap a bit so that he sleeps a little later in the day so that he may not be tired quite so early ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 20 May 2009 at 1:36pm
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At the moment he goes down at about 8.30 -9am for his morning nap and then again at 1-1.30pm for his afternoon nap.
I can't really change the time of his afternoon nap as I get there to pick him up between 3.30 and 4. I get so excited about seeing him that I would hate to loiter at work purely waiting for him to wake up. I am not convinced that he is ready for one sleep as he is always asleep in 5-10 mins and is def not fighting it but I def think that is due to being so full on at daycare. I am going to try and extend his bedtime by 15 mins every couple of nights until its about 7-7.30 - then see if that makes a difference. Keeping him up hasn't made a difference in the past but its usually only been for 3-4 nights in a row so will stick with it for a wee bit longer and see how we go. Thanks again for all your input. I really appreciate it!! I am starting to wonder if he is just a morning person and we are not!! -------------
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 21 May 2009 at 9:15am
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Good luck with pushing the bedtime out. It should work if you stick with it for at least a week. But just remember ... he needs about 13 hours or so sleep a day in total at his age ... so if you are letting him sleep for 3 hours during the day, you can't expect 13 hours over-night - that would mean 16 hours in total which is what a young bub needs, not a toddler. I guess there is a payoff for all that day sleep .... and that is he either needs to be in bed late to wake at a decent hour, or he will wake early as he has had enough sleep. And you just have to work out what would be best for your family (less day sleep and more night sleep, or having him up tired in the evening for a while, or continue to get up before the crack of dawn!). Good luck! ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 21 May 2009 at 10:01am
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I set up a clock in Jakes room to go off on white noise at 5am coz thats when he started to go into a lighter sleep, and left books at the end of his bed. We went from hearing him yell straight away to not hearing him til 7.30-8! I was a very happy mummy lol I would suggest keeping your boy awake til 6.30 which is a reasonable time. Jakes in bed by 6.15 and asleep by 7pm at the latest usually and I don't get him up again til 7.30am. Maybe get some earplugs? If you ignore him til you're ready to get up he'll soon get the picture (Jake did ).
As for the day sleep - at 17 months Jake was having 2x2-3hour sleeps and still sleeping a minimum of 11 hours at night. It totally depends on your child as to how much sleep they need. Some just need alot more than others! -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 22 May 2009 at 12:04pm
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i agree with Nikki....
awkward for you caus eof the time you pick him up i guess? but E just suddenly did 1 sleep and for a few days it was an hour then a few days of two sleeps and then a few more 1 hour...(ugh!)!! but he started morning preschool and now does 12-2 or 230 most days.. sometimes he will still do one sleep(about once a week) i agree about them needing 13 hours or so.. if it were me I wouldn't put him to bed later..just in my opinion of course though! I think 630 is late enough for a little one.. so in short that is what i would do but it's much easier said than done when he is at school !!:( but I would get them to sleep him about 11 with an early lunch (or lunch after?) I'm not sure how your DS is but mine once he wants to get up lets us know loudly and that's anywhere from 6-730 but we did find leaving him a bit longer in the mornings helped a little.. as Babe says it's an individual thing both for the child and you and is a balancing act !! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |