Do you wake your baby in the mornings at the same time?

[Singsongmama]

Interested to know your morning routines...do they start at the same time every day? Even if they've slept badly etc or do you get up when they do and follow their lead? DS could be up at 5am some days or as late as 8.30 if he has had a bad night but falls asleep eventually and is left to it. Should I be getting him up at the same time daily? He's 6 month and still demand feeding.

[Nowaysis]

When you have 1dc, I think most people go with the flow. It's easier. Shit nights sleep equalled lie in for both of us!

I only have 1dc so have never needed to get up in the morning for a school run etc but obviously with other children, it helps them get everyone up and into a routine.

The same time waking in the morning is derived from Gina F and her book. It works for some. In my experience, it isn't necessary - baby will find their own pattern eventually.

[JonSnowsPout]

Good god no. I leave my two to sleep. School days if tjey dont wake up on their own i wake them. But they natryally get up between 5:30- 8

[Singsongmama]

A friend who does gina ford did say something about setting her alarm and I did wonder whether it was part of that or just what all parents do. Her baby eats, sleeps, burps and breathes on cue.

[Panzee]

Just popped in for a hollow laugh at the concept of me waking the baby. :o

[Fairylea]

Well I have had two dc and both slept through from about 12 weeks and for me part of it was waking them at 6.30 am every single day regardless of what happened before. I think it encourages a good routine and helps them to be ready for bed at 6.30pm which is my preferred bedtime for them.

One dc is 11 now and one is 2. I still get the 2 year old up everyday at 6.30 and he still sleeps 12 hours from 6.30.

I know it sounds madness to many but it really does work for us!

[QueenOfThorns]

I'm not sure why on earth you'd want to! If my 6 month old wants to have a lie in, I'm just incredibly grateful!

[Panzee]

With my first so I very much just went with the the flow and he sleeps brilliantly. Second son is terrible. I really don't think it's got anything to do with what we do!

[Needadvice5]

I've never woken my dc! they naturally wake for school but weekends and school holidays not a chance unless were having a day out somewhere.

[scarlettsstars]

Another here Also reeling from notion may one day have to wake my children. Omg! I'm so looking forward to that! Sweet revenge!!!!

[insancerre]

My 2 are now 25 and 17.
I never had to wake them as babies.
I only had to wake them once they hit the teenage years.
If a baby or young child is sleeping then I would leave them sleeping
They need their sleep to grow and develop properly.

[Fairylea]

But surely if you have a young(ish) baby / toddler and you let them sleep till 9/10 am then there's no way they're going to be ready to go to sleep for bedtime at 6.30 / 7 so that's your evening messed up.

I'm always surprised when people complain their little ones don't go to bed at a reasonable time and then they say they're letting them sleep till 10 ish because they had an awful nights sleep. It's a knock on effect isn't it. Often anyway.

[EhricLovesTheBhrothers]

Why would you wake a baby if you didn't need to get up? If they have a lie in just. Adjust naps and they should still go to bed on time.

[Picklepest]

Why in gods name would you WAKE a SLEEPING BABY????

One thing when older and reducing naps to get all night but otherwise.YABVVVU. And this isn't even aibu!

[PlaydoughGirl]

I've literally never had the opportunity to wake mine. They're up before the sun most mornings and are now 5 and 7yrs old. I am desperately looking forwards to the teenage years.

[JacktheLab]

Fraid so, especially if we've had a late bedtime or disturbed night, I think it helps to get ds back to his regular sleep pattern faster.

I went back to work full time though so don't have the luxury of being able to sleep in very often

[Standinginline]

With my first I think I let him sleep for the first 6 months and then when he started getting into a routine I would wake him at 8 every morning. Don't know why ,think it's because I was always by that time ,anyway ,and if he slept too late he wouldn't have his nap which is the time I could get everything done. Of course ,if hes had a rough night then I leave him. Same goes for daughter as well now that she's a year.

[JuniperTisane]

Oh to have a morning sleeper!

To answer your question though, if they aren't awake by, ooh, 7.15am at the latest (never happens, its normally DS1 running in at 6am) I do tend to start banging around in the bathroom etc and they soon take the hint. Mainly because I like to get on and out in the mornings, if we are going somewhere I like to be there at opening time and beat the crowds, especially now the holidays have started.

First baby though? Nah, bugger it. Stay in bed and leave them be.

[milkjetmum]

Let sleeping babies lie! I would say only reason to disturb them would be if you had to do school run etc. Otherwise enjoy the rest! (Can you tell I am another one who has never had a baby/toddler sleep past 7...)

[CanISayOfHerFace]

My DS is five months and feeding on demand. I never wake him in the morning. Sometimes he will sleep until 10:00 as will I if I've been awake a lot in the night feeding him.

He doesn't have a set bedtime though as he feeds a lot in the evening so is up with us until we go to bed. This doesn't mess up our evening... My DH would not see DS if he went to bed at 6:30 every night.

This is our first baby so no other children/routines to consider.

[CripesItsTheGasMan]

Fairy, when my dd was between 8 weeks and 5 months she slept until 8.30/9.30 every morning but was still ready for bed between 6.30 and 7. I may be one of the lucky ones though .

She's settled into 730 til 730 now and she's 10 months.

Ive never woken her up unless we had to go somewhere very early.

[weegiemum]

Mine were all natural early risers, but I never woke them if they did sleep in!

Now dd1 sleeps until at least 10 in the holidays (14), dd2 until 8-9 (10) and I've had to wake ds for lunch! (12).

[Rox19]

Yes since birth set alarm for 8am, she goes to sleep 9pm so later gina first routine.
Fed at 5am when born & 630/7 now and we are not early risers so go back to sleep!

[turkeyboots]

I'd loved to have the chance to wake mine. They woke me from day 1.

[Nowaysis]

Well I have had two dc and both slept through from about 12 weeks and for me part of it was waking them at 6.30 am every single day regardless of what happened before. I think it encourages a good routine and helps them to be ready for bed at 6.30pm which is my preferred bedtime for them. One dc is 11 now and one is 2. I still get the 2 year old up everyday at 6.30 and he still sleeps 12 hours from 6.30

fairylea I'm curious, what happens if the routine is 'out'? For example, a meal out for a birthday that kids come to, holidays or a day trip out and back late? Is it easy to manage, or do the kids struggle being out of their routine?

I'm not criticising your methods at all, like you say, it works for you and your family, but I would feel regimented if we stuck to a time to wake up and put to bed. I don't like going to bed at the same time each night, so haven't set this for dd. She takes herself off to bed when she's tired (could be 6.45pm or 8pm).