4 am, seriously, 4 freaking am...

[hairymonkey]

Morning!
My ds1 is 4, just started school and is up between 4 and 5 every morning. I'm soooo tired I feel physically ill.

We have a grow clock, which we began by setting to before he woke and increasing by 5 mins a day, but he just reverts back to stupid o'clock within days.

He wakes his brother and then it's up for the day. He's tired all day and just has meltdown after meltdown. He goes to bed at 7, any later it takes him ages to get to sleep and he still gets up at same time. Would really appreciate any advice as I feel like somethings got to give and would prefer if it wasn't my sanity!

[ninjasquirrel]

Not much advice, but sympathy - I thought DS's 5am starts were bad enough. What about moving his bedtime forward 5 minutes at a time?

[ninjasquirrel]

or do I mean backwards? Later, anyway.

[parentfailure]

My kids get up at stupid O'Clock (but then, so do I, so it doesn't bother me so much!)

My only rule is that NOTHING happens before 7:30am. Nothing. If they are awake, then fine, we will talk, look at the computer, read books, maybe watch a DVD. BUT I AM NOT getting out of bed, going downstairs, making toast etc., etc.,

So now (kids are 2 and 3), even when the kids are up early, the rule is bedroom until 7:30 (I have a potty so not even toilet visits are required... maybe TMI!)

Since we've done this, I've noticed them sleeping later and later, and (even when they are awake, more relaxed as they KNOW nothing is going to happen.

Is this something you could try?

[DecapitatedLegoman]

We had similar problems. I bought multipacks of mini crap sugary chocolate-flavoured e number-packed breakfast cereals and if he slept until his rabbit alarm clock popped up he got one for breakfast instead of the usual boring porridge. Did it gradually and it worked well. But he's totally driven by his stomach. If that doesn't work what about trying a nap (assuming he's still on short days) so he's not so overtired? Worth a shot.

[DecapitatedLegoman]

I should add that it would be really unusual for a 4 year old who's also started school to be getting enough sleep on only 9 hours. Really unusual. So worth sorting out one way or another.

[Sillyoldelf]

Hairymonkey I completely empathise. We have the same problem . In fact yesterday we were supposed to go away for a long weekend but I was sooo tired I couldn't face it . I felt really irritable and upset all day , we will try again today . I agree that nothing happens before 7am- we refuse to get out of bed and despite their constant hamperings for breakfast we make them wait until 7am.

[RumpledTitSkin]

I think Parentfailure's is spot on.

We had the same, including the meltdowns and early bedtime as she couldn't stay awake, and I mentioned one day to the teacher that I was exhausted from getting up between 4 and 5 each day with dd as she was waking so ridiculously early and she just said "why are you getting up too?"
She told me to stay in bed and tell dd if she wants to get up that early she can, but noone else will be so she'll be on her own, the telly won't be working and the playroom door will be locked.

I was dubious, as dd has a temper and can be v v noisy when doesn't get her own way.

I worked like almost magic though! She sat on the stairs shouting at us to get up with her and we ignored her. Took about half an hour and eventually she got bored and went to her room and plyed with playmobil.

Since then, she still rises early, 6ish, but pretty much entertains herself reading and playing in her room and is much less demanding and has fewer meltdowns during the day.

Good luck!

[hairymonkey]

Thank you!
will try the staying in bed! waking his brother and the whole street is a bit of a concern. Our neighbours must hate us! I thought he might of been worried about starting school, but seems fine there. He starts full time next week so hopefully will be more tired.

If he sleeps at all during day he doesn't fall asleep until 9 and then is up at the same time. I think he needs the early bedtime as his sleep during the night seems pretty good.

I just know he's not himself when he's like this, grumpy, manic and pretty hard to be around.

Thanks again for response.

[Sillyoldelf]

I agree with you - to some people a 7pm bedtime seems early ,but for some early risers ( including my dc) it's pointless putting them to bed later as they still rise at the same time . And early risers need the early bedtime to cope with the early start . I personally couldn't cope with putting my dc to bed any later anyway . I do find it more bearable ignoring any requests before 7 am ( we allow them to watch Peppa pig etc in our room but they have to sit in total silence ) and definetly no breakfast before 7am.