9 month waking at 4am

[IC28]

Hoping for some advice as my 9month DS consistently wakes at 4am. I think the problem is he doesn’t know how to fall asleep again so when he’s awake that’s it. I’m very lucky as he sleeps 7pm straight through to 4am (maybe that’s not lucky but it’s a lot better than he used to be!) but he definitely is still tired as falls asleep again about 6am-7am for a few hours. I’m wondering if there are any techniques to help change this or if I should just accept it and go to bed earlier myself. The issue is I know he is capable of sleeping later as once in a while he sleeps to 6am which is great. I find myself analysing the day before to see what I did differently but can’t think of anything!
He is definitely not hungry at 4am as refuses a feed and just won’t stop crying until I pick him up and then that’s it - we’re up!
We have finally got a fairly solid bedtime routine and he falls asleep easily.
Dinner 5pm
Bath 6pm
Bottle 6:30pm
Story time then bed by 7pm

Naps during the day depend on when he wakes. If he wakes at 4am then we have 3 naps. If he wakes at 6am then naps are 9am - 10:30am and 1:30pm/2pm - 3:30pm.

He’s never been the best napper but sleeps great in the pram. I’ve accepted this as taken it as an opportunity to get my exercise in - never walked so much in my life!

It’s a long day 4am - 7pm. I know i should probably just accept it, roll with it and go to bed early but if anyone has any magic advice then please let me know. I’d like to have evenings back with my husband rather than go to bed at 8pm!

[Restlessinthenorth]

It's been a while since I've had to deal with this, but I do remember this with my daughter and how knackering it is. I remember feeling like it should be almost lunch time yet it was about 8am!

I think most things are trial and error, but the first thing I would do is push that morning nap back. 6am nap basically reinforces that he can be up at 4am. I know that probably means that he will be cranky, but i would keep shifting it back 15 mins each day till it was quite a bit later and see what impact that has.

Good luck OP. I promise all this passes, even though that it no help when you are stuck in the middle of it

[IC28]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me. That’s interesting - I’m definitely go to try this. Fingers crossed it works. I’m glad this phase will pass one day. At this rate 6am is a lie in. Yes I know what you mean. Today at 1pm I felt like I’d had a whole day already! We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Expecting another early start as usual - not helped by me staying up late wrapping presents! Thank you again - have a lovely Christmas.

[Namechange8471]

Can you bring him into your bed for a cuddle?
Don't engage with him much and he may get cosy and fall asleep.