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Any tips on dealing with early waking?

15 replies

llamallama · 13/11/2012 05:58

My 13 month old DD finally sleeps through the night! Yippee!!

But normally wakes up between 5.30 and 6am and can not normally be persuaded back to sleep. She goes to bed at 7pm and it really would be lovely if she woke closer to 7am.

Is there anything we can do to encourage this? I'm not sure later bedtime is the answer as she always seems tired and ready by 7pm.

I have stopped breast feeding for everything other than her first morning feed. Do you think it would make a difference if I swapped this feed to a cup of cows milk? Maybe she is waking early for me but would be less interested in a beaker? That's essentially how we got her sleeping through the night as I was feeding her at least once a night then DH started going in to settle her rather than me and I think over time she forgot about waking up for boobies.

Any tips?

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Suchanamateur · 13/11/2012 09:19

None I'm afraid but watching with interest. My DD-9 months- chose to start today at 5am. I'd give my right arm for 6.30...

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LaCiccolina · 13/11/2012 09:22

There's clocks that light up at the time to get up but I think r for older kids....

I think unfortunately its age. Dd used to do this at the same age. At nearly 2 now she's happy to wake at 7 and play in cot for few mins. I couldn't have done anything, it's simply been growth. Wish it has been otherwise!!!

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VisualiseAHorse · 13/11/2012 19:19

Does she still have an early morning nap? About 9ish? If so, cut it down or out completely.

Do you feed her when she wakes at 6am? I would stop this feed completely if you do.

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llamallama · 13/11/2012 22:25

Yes she is still on two naps a day and is fed when she wakes.

New plan : move lunch 45 minutes earlier, cut out morning nap and just have one afternoon nap starting earlier. Also wont feed on waking, not sure what to do instead though. Maybe offer a beaker of milk rather than breast around 6.30 ish?

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VisualiseAHorse · 13/11/2012 23:14

I would try not to feed her at all until the actual time you'd like her to wake.

When I was sleep-training mine, the last part I wanted to master was the early wake-up. What I had been doing was as soon as he woke, pulling him into my bed, and feeding him.

I changed it, so gradually I moved the time I fed him forward every couple of days. So first few days, fed at 6am, next few days, fed at 6.15am etc until it was 7am. He now normally wakes around 7am, lies in his cot chatting for a few minutes, then I feed him around 7.15am.

Even if he woke at 6am, I wouldn't feed him untill 6.15am. Then once he was waking at 6.15am, I moved it to 6.30am. It did make for a grumpy few days, but it worked.

Also, when it hit 7am, I'd stick him back in his cot, leave the room for a couple of minutes (go to the loo, make a cuppa), then go back in and say very loudly and cheerily "Here comes the sunshine!! Good Morning!! Time to wake up!!" and turn on the lights. I think that helped.

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milkysmum · 13/11/2012 23:18

My 14 month old is an early waker so watching with intrest! I immediatley feed whatever the time Confused and think I certainly need to stop this but not sure how without having ds wake the entire house up screaming!

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llamallama · 15/11/2012 20:49

Well for the last two mornings I have given her a cup of milk rather than breast feeding and she didnt bat an eyelid sobs about baby giving her mum up so easily but she wanted her milk as soon as she was up.

This morning she woke at 5.30 but I went in and stroked her back and she lied down again, I thought I could creep out but she was only settled while I was in there stroking her, I gave milk at 6am. Hopefully she will start waking closer to 6am and then I can move it back. 6am is still so early but feels so much better than 5 something!!

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TENDTOprocrastinate · 15/11/2012 23:34

Sounds like you are doing the right thing (basically cc but in the morning)

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ingse · 16/11/2012 05:56

Watching with interest as my 5 month old DD started waking up between 4.30 and 5am. She is a twin and they sleep in our bedroom, which means getting up as soon as she is awake in order not to wake DS up.

She is bottle fed from the beginning and also started solids 3 weeks ago. She usually wakes up once or twice a night and would not settle without abottle. When she wakes up in the morning, tried soother, patting, bringing to our bed, eventually a bottle, but nothing helps. She looks sleepy, she's rubbing her eyes, but does not fall asleep. Most of the mornings she is just chatting away for a few minutes before I get up, but then noise escalates to the point where nobody else can sleep.

I am seriuosly sleep deeprived and would be really thankful for any tips...

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Namechangeforapropertythread · 16/11/2012 06:07

My 11 month old wales at 5 each morning and I bring her in for a feed just to delay me not having to be vertical.

I'd wondered about just one nap but have a pre school run at 12.45 so will be quite late.

I've night weaned over the last week which has surprisingly worked with the night wakings but now she does a poo at. 5 and wants up. Can't leave her to cry as shares a room with sister.

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Convert · 16/11/2012 06:36

I have this problem too with 15mnth dd. it's driving me fucking mad. What time does your dc eat tea? I made sure she had a big tea at 4.45 last night, then gave her some toast before bed and that seems to have helped. She's been waking about 4.30 but today was sleeping peacefully until bloody DHs alarm went off at half 5 and the bastard put it on snooze so it went off again and then stamped round the house getting ready. Fucking fucking bastard.
So I left her in her cot til about six which is much better than usual!

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Fairylea · 16/11/2012 06:51

In all honesty I think young babies are programmed to wake up about 5-6 so those with older children at school actually have half a chance of getting out on the school run on time! :)

I have a ds 5 months and dd 9 years. Both (well 9 yr old when she was a baby) wake up at 4.45-5.30am everyday whatever I do / did. I just went with it through gritted teeth and got up wihbthem.

They do grow out of it eventually.

I'd also be careful about trying not to feedthem on demand or when they wake as in my experience if they don't get all the milk they want during their waking hours they will start night waking again ! I'd rather get up at 5 !

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Namechangeforapropertythread · 16/11/2012 06:54

I'm not sure I could eat that early. We've always eaten 5.30 then bed at 6.30for 11month and 7 or 7.30 for pre schooler.

Pre schooler wakes at 7 usually but baby at 5 recently :-(

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wewereherefirst · 16/11/2012 07:09

Ds1 used to wake between 4 and 5.30 for many many years, now he's 6, he knows to stay in his room and try to go back to sleep, play quietly or read.

Ds2 at 9m has just done his first single night waking and was ready for the day at 0530.

I agree with a PP who says they will probably wake in the night if they're refused food/milk when they're wanting it. It's a case of riding out the storm and it's not too bad!

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Bicnod · 20/11/2012 12:39

Watching with interest as DS2 (16 months) is not only still waking once or twice a night Confused but has now started waking for the day anywhere between 4.45 and 5.30.

It's killing me :(

Have tried cutting his daytime nap - doesn't seem to work.

Today I'm trying letting him nap for as long as he wants in case he's overtired - bet that won't work either.

ARrrrrggghhh!!

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