Those with early rising toddlers, question about routine (if that exists)

[OriginalHugsy]

What do you do with them in the early hours after waking.... I feel it's too early to go out before 9 round here as there will be school traffic or people commuting on public transport. Then if I wait until after 9 then she gets tired soon after. Which leads me to ask what time your early riser has there nap?
DD is 20 months and wakes anywhere between 5.30-6.00 and I'm trying nap at 11ish and lunch when she wakes

[Embolio]

Mine are 2 &3 so a bit older, ds1 doesn't nap usually, ds2 has a nap after lunch (always must be woken before 3pm). To be honest I come downstairs, get them dressed, have breakfast and then just let them play while I have a cuppa and do a few chores until it's a less ungodly hour and we can go out. Sometimes I stick kids TV on for an hour, needs must!

Mine wake early every day, but on work days I've got to be out before seven so I'm pretty used to it by now! DH and I take it in turns for a lie in at the weekend though!

[clearsommespace]

At that age DD still had two naps. She would get up at 5ish and have a nap at 9 ish. Early lunch when she woke. Then a short second nap in the middle of the afternoon. I can't remember when bed time was but we are on the continent so probably 8 something. I also had older DS who was rising at a more sociable hour and napping directly after lunch. It was difficult to get out of the house. Usually we did so around 4pm, between afternoon snack and dinner. Luckily we had a garden and on the plus they got lots of one on one time!

[gubbinsy]

My 20 month old gets up generally between 5 and 5.30 (yawn) so I know that feeling! On days when I'm off work, we tend to potter upstairs till 6.30 ish then breakfast at 7 then just play/watch telly (usually early on till I've had at least one cup of tea)! Like you, don't tend to go out before 9. I make things like getting dressed take half an hour by letting him help! Quite often do housework etc too. Then home around 11 ish, lunch and usually asleep by 11.45/12!

[tiredtothebone]

My DD 18 mo gets up at 6am. Breakfast first, we play until around 7.45 then go out for a walk. Then back home for quick snack (usually banana) and tv, nap at 9.30. Do you have anywhere quietish that you can walk? I find getting fresh air first thing really sets her (and me) up for the day.

[Imeg]

On mornings when I'm on my own I also try to get out of the house asap - we have been known to be in the garden at 7am (with puddle suit if raining). Alternatively the local playpark opens at 8am so we sometimes go there.
When husband is around, toddler goes into the bedroom with him between 7.30 and 8 while I have a shower.

[Lozzapops]

21 month old wakes anywhere between 5:30 and 7am (thankfully currently having a few more 7am starts), two days a week she is at nursery, so she gets whisked off there in the morning. On the remaining weekdays, she is looked after by grandparents, who have a fairly set schedule of activities! So one day it is soft play at around 10am, another day it's toddler group at either 10 or 10:30, and another day it is a trip to the library around 10:30. Before this, they play with her toys in the house, read books, do play doh, out in the garden, etc. Then she usually sleeps either on the way home from the activity at around 12 or 12:30, or else she'll stay awake, have lunch then go down for a sleep at around 1 or 1:30ish.
Weekends are more relaxed, so if she is up early, we take it in turns to go downstairs with her, read books, play toys and often will have an hour or two of cbeebies and cuddles. Then try and head out somewhere at around 10ish, e.g. park, to meet friends, etc.

[Littlef00t]

I'd be trying to push for a later nap, nearer 12 after early lunch, giving you more time to do something. My dd wakes between 6-7 and goes til 1:30 with the cm (16mo).

I found keeping really busy for a week or two made it easier to push the nap back.

[OwlOffshore]

Mine are the same. We have play in the kitchen first thing while I drink essential coffee. Then we are often in the park by 8.30. My 2 yo still naps 10.30-12.30. Lunch after the nap.

I have tried to push it later but that just turns him into a misery.

The major downside is that this routine doesn't fit with other people or the majority of toddler groups. So it feels a bit anti-social at times...

But it seems to work for the DCs.

[fattymcfatfat]

DD is 18 months and gets up with her brother (6 yo) at the crack of dawn. 5.40 seems to be standard at the minute. She doesn't nap...I'm due to give birth to DC3 in a week. I'm knackered! And cant help with naps, as even the 6 yo had dropped naps by 12 months. I have very active children