23 month old waking at 5am

[hypermum1]

Hi all. My little girl has started waking at 5 am and coming in to our room. She's wide awake and full on at this time and it's killing me!! She's slways been a good sleeper but this is not good. I feel jet lagged!! She still has a daytime nap (around 2 hours after lunch) and goes to bed around 7.30. I'm thinking of cutting the nap, if not out completely, certainly down a bit! I would welcome and suggestions?!!

[GenevaMaybe]

Yes I would cut the nap back gradually and see how you get on

[hypermum1]

I knew it was coming......I'm really going to miss that nap time!!!

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

Its usually the nap that causes the early waking, especially at this age. Cut it back by half an hour at first and there might be enough improvement to keep the nap going. A friend was in this situation and they ended up keeping the nap until DD was 4!

[IBelieveInPink]

Just came on to see the advice as we have this problem too. Suspected it was the nap.,. Arghhhhh!

[lanbro]

Hmm I don't know, we're going through this. Previously a very reliable 7-7 but now 7-5.30/6, doesn't seem to make much difference whether she has 1.5hr nap or a 20 minute power kip! I've got a gro clock as this did eventually work with my eldest so just going to persevere with that, fingers crossed

[hypermum1]

Ianbro, was just looking at gro clocks! Do they work for 23 month old or too young do you think? I've no experience of them.....

[addictedtosugar]

63month old here who still thinks 5.30 is morning.
Agree with limiting/ cutting nap.

But it is sometimes easier to shift your browser dtime than adjust kids rising time

Yes yes yes to a groclock or similar.

[Liveinthepresent]

Hi our DS did this and we didn't cut the nap at all mainly because at nursery he was already sleeping less / waking earlier and it seemed to make no difference.
In the end we started going in lying him down and telling him it was sleepy time - he wasn't impressed but he did start to go back to sleep some of the time.
We then got a gro clock which definitely helped as well. I was dubious as to whether he would get it but now if he stirs early ( not often) he often plays for a bit and only shouts when the sun comes up on the clock.
Worth a try !
I did wonder if it was a phase he would have moved past anyway.
You have my sympathy it was absolutely exhausting while it lasted. This morning he woke us at 6.50.

[hypermum1]

Thanks all. Gro clock ordered and nap time will be cut to one hour.....fingers crossed!

[hypermum1]

Well little one had no nap at all yesterday and made it to 6am.

[addictedtosugar]

Great start. Give it a week of consistency before making a decision on if it works or not.

When the clock arrives, set it for about the time you are currently being woken, and slowly move it to a more respectable time.

Happy sleeping!!

[hypermum1]

Clock arrived yesterday so used it last night. Set for 6am. She woke at 5.45 so I went in with her and we waited for the sun together. I think it will take a couple of days doing this, then hopefully she ll get it!

[redcaryellowcar]

I think cutting nap time might be a mistake? I've read quite a bit about sleep and I think if I remember correctly that in order for naps to be worth having they need to be two sleep cycles which is around 1 1/2 to 2hrs? Over tiredness can cause early waking. I'd take the approach of having nap time as early as possible, eg have early lunch and down by 12.30. I think a gro clock is a great idea, and quiet play until the clock is yellow probably the best approach. I have early wakers, I don't think they need more than 10-11 hours sleep at night, so I go to bed as early as possible myself.