Struggling with early wake ups

[Olivebranch5]

I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on how to stop my 8 month old waking between 4.50 and 5.20. Although I don’t go in to get her up until 6 she is very much awake (although usually happy enough), and it means we’re awake and she’s exhausted early in the day.

Roughly sleeps for 30-45 minutes around 8am when I walk the dog, then around 1hr20 (with a very occasional 2hour nap) around 12.15 and then half an hour around 4pm. She’s really tired at these times. She almost always is in bed asleep by 7 and the reason it’s that time is she is just so miserable in the evening!

A lot of the time now she sleeps through and doesn’t need a feed so I’m not sure if I’m expecting too much, and I would have killed for this a few months ago so should I just be grateful for the sleep I’m now getting!? I find the really early starts hard work hard though because the days are so long!
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated x

[orangejuicer]

5am is the norm here. We're just used to it now. Make sure you are sharing chores equally with your partner, assuming you don't live alone, as it helps with the lonnnnnnnnng day!

[Jamhandprints]

At 8 months old, this is absolutely awesome! Your baby is sleeping perfectly. Don't worry, it won't be forever. You just need to go to bed a bit earlier while this lasts. But if she is sleeping for 9 hours, that's incredible!
What happens if you bring her into bed with you as soon as she wakes up at 4.50? I used to do this with DS and he would often go back to sleep if cuddled...but he was older, probably at 8 months she is starving by that time. Can you feed her and then get another hour lying in bed?

[mynameiscalypso]

I was going to suggest feeding too. DS is slightly older but, generally, if he wakes before 6, I get him quickly, give him a feed while he's still half asleep and then he'll go back to sleep for at least an hour, sometimes more.

[minnieok]

Keep them up later, after nap time ... change by 30 mins a day or so. It's not inevitable they will wake early, but it means bed time will be significantly later. Mine went to bed at 8

[Olivebranch5]

Thanks so much for the replies. I think it’s a good reminder that she’s doing well sleep wise and that I can be bad for always wanting more with sleep!
Oddly she isn’t looking for food when she wakes up and doesn’t want milk until 7 most mornings. And as much as I’ve tried, cuddles in with me has never been something that settled her otherwise I’d have gone with co sleeping. I will try delaying her naps a bit and see how we get on with a slightly later bed time. Thank you x