Has anyone out there found a solution to EMW? (17m waking at 5am - urghhhh!)

[1500mmania]

The little brighter just won't sleep past 5.30am (& that's a good day) - it is blooming exhausting.

He is at childminders most days but she tells me he usually sleeps 1.5-2hrs at there's - often in the morning though. On the odd occasion he falls a sleep in the buggy on the way to there's (so he is definitely exhausted and needs more sleep).

Routine
7am breakfast
1.5- 2hr nap in the morning (last two days 9.30amish, but usually more like 11am to 1pm
Lunch 1ish
Dinner 5- 5.30
Bath and in bed asleep by 7am

He sleeps through to 5 but then just wants to get up. Can't settle him at all. It is just toooo early. He is such a nicer little boy when he has a proper sleep.

Has anyone found the solution? Tell me the answer! Going to try putting him to bed later tonight.

I think i need to ignore him and let him cry so that he understands that 5am is not the time to play but unfortunate my neighbour upstairs bangs on the floor if my DS cries in the morning which means I feel like I have to go in a try to settle him (which actually just makes everything worse!). I am willing to write an email to my neighbour to tell him I am going to leave him and to buy some earplugs - but I'm just not sure if it will work? Anyone out there who has done CIO/ CC for EMW?

[girliefriend]

Hello, your routine sounds fine. I wouldn't put to bed any later if anything (I realise this is going to sound strange) I would try earlier, maybe 6.30pm as then he is more likely when he comes into his awake sleep say at 4.30am to go back to sleep iyswim?!

I always treated any wakings before 7am as I would the middle of the night, so keep lights off, avoid eye contact or talking, check nappy (change if sodden) and offer water, then say night night and leave him to it!! If he cries firmly say 'its night night time'.

Not sure what you can about your neighbour though sorry!

[omama]

I had this with my ds at similar age, the key thing i found was that the ew is linked to the timing of the nap. An early nap (esp if its the only nap of the day & is in the morning) wi encourage the EW to continue. I found that gradually pushing the nap later by 15mins per week til it started at 12.30 really helped. Took 6 weeks & ended up going from a routine exactly like yours to this

Up 7am
Nap 12.30-2.30/3
Bed 7.30pm

It takes consistency & patience but it really does work. Ds woke early for a whole year & this was our magic cure & we've never looked back. Hth.x

[Mampig]

Have you heard of 'Wake to Sleep'?
It's where you purposely rouse your baby approx half hour before their normal wake up time. The theory is that they fall back to sleep, sleep thru the normal wake up time, and you get extra sleep. Google it got the details, as I don't have a handy link, but it's supposed to get great results!

[Shakey1500]

My DS was like this. Eventually I just had to resign myself to the fact he was an early riser

[BrianButterfield]

Agree that a later nap works. DS did this for a while in the Christmas holidays - when he started back to nursery (he goes full time) he started waking later again - I think he was just not tired out enough pottering at home with us. He needs a lot of physical play and stimulation, more than his tired old DPs can give him! Unfortunately, he does still wake early but falls back to sleep after a little cry - now however it's a still-tired sort of cry rather than a "I want to get up!" sort. Doesn't help you with a grumpy neighbour though.

[1500mmania]

Thanks folks - I tried the later bedtime it didn't make a jot of difference he was up and ready to play at 5.20 but tried and very grumpy by 7 and looked ready to pass out by 8 am when I dropped him at the childminders. It was basically another morning of tears

I have decided to try and get this nap later and have discussed with the childminders to try and stretch him out. This early waking is making everyone miserable.

I am too terrified of the waking to sleep method but may give it a go if all else fails.

Shakey - did it finally settle down for you at some point?