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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

22mo waking at 5.30am, still tired!

21 replies

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 06:48

My 22mo DS would sleep through from 7.30pm to 7.30am every night, pretty much without fail every night until he went through a really bad teething phase around 2 months ago. He would wake around 6am when I would give him calpol and a cuddle on the armchair in his bedroom (he was getting around 6 teeth at this time). When he was still waking early but I wasn't sure if he was teething, I would pick him up and sit in the armchair and have him fall asleep on me until he woke up naturally around 7ish. I think this is where I went wrong!

Now, the teething is definitely over and its become a habit for him to wake at 5.30am like bloody clockwork! I've tried cutting his naps down and extending them, putting him to bed earlier and later, putting 10 dummies in his bed, putting the heating on full whack at 4am... Nothing makes a difference.

He's started chucking his teddy and dummy out of the bed so we go in. If I go in, he puts his arms out for picking up (which I don't!), screams, kicks the cot frame, sobs. It's horrific watching him get so worked up. Ive started sending my DH in and he has a completely different reaction from DS - he will quieten down but will not go to sleep.

Please, if you have any advice I would really appreciate some help! Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

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SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 06:52

Just to add, I am not adverse to crying out. It has worked well for us in the past when going through difficult sleep phases. However, if we leave him these days, he gets hysterical which is new!

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KatherineOfGaunt · 01/03/2021 06:56

My DS had a two-month phase of 4:30am waking around the same age. I got a groclock. I don't know whether it was that or he just grew out of it, but he now sleeps 7-7 (or is at least content in his cot if he wakes earlier).

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/03/2021 06:59

Honestly doubt anything you can do, going through an early rise stage (count yourself lucky one early rising stage for us was 4.30!!!).
My only advice is don’t move breakfast earlier otherwise creates the idea that this is the time we get up. I stuck my toddler in bed with us with the tv on (gave water until breakfast time).

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 08:09

Thank you for replying. We have a groclock but haven't used it yet because I thought he might be too young, but I will definitely use it tonight!

You know when you're at the stage of 'I don't know what else to do but I cannot live like this!?' - I'm there!

I'm 6 months pregnant and starting a new 27 hour a week job next week after being off for nearly 2 years due to covid. Although I can manage if I get to sleep early, I just don't want to encourage or put up with DS waking up early if I can help it!

4.30am is BRUTAL!!! We had that around 11 months and it was awful xx

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/03/2021 08:18

What’s the day and nap schedule look like? Appreciate you’ve tried tweaking it already

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 08:22

@OnlyFoolsnMothers It used to be

30am wake up

In bed with us watching TV til 8
8am breakfast
10am snack
12pm - 2pm nap then snack
5pm tea
6.30pm bath
7pm 8oz milk, book, bed
Xx

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OverTheRainbow88 · 01/03/2021 08:38

I think your expectations are quite high. My 2 year old wakes daily around 5 and has done for months and he wakes 2-3 times each night.

7-7 and a 2 hour nap is a lot.

I would alternate who wakes up with your son with your OH, so every other day one of you gets a ‘lay in’

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 08:50

If he wasn't so so tired from waking up at 5.30 then I would be inclined to agree. However, he's absolutely knackered. He will happily fall asleep on me until 7am if I get him out of bed.

Alternating mornings is a great idea! Thank you xx

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/03/2021 08:55

Do u wake him from his nap in the afternoon?

NameChange30 · 01/03/2021 08:55

Gro clock. He's definitely not too young. I introduced one when DC1 was 19 months old and it worked. You have to be consistent with it. My advice is to start with "sunrise" at 5.30am and then gradually make it later, by 10-15 minutes every few days.

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 09:05

@OnlyFoolsnMothers Yes. He'll happily sleep for over two hours somedays which I used to let him have until he started waking up early. We gave him an hour yesterday but it didn't impact on his wakeup this morning.

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SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 09:09

@NameChange30 thank you!! Getting it out of the cupboard shortly to read the instructions. Will be consistent, thanks for the tip xx

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/03/2021 09:16

I’d try letting him nap as long as he wants- at this age sometimes sleep breeds sleep.
Good luck/ I have an early riser myself, sucks!

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 11:53

I've not long put him down for a nap. He's so grumpy that his early lunch got thrown on the floor and he's been a bit naughty. Will let him sleep for as long as he likes and see how it goes. X

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/03/2021 12:43

Fingers x

SHKMama123 · 01/03/2021 17:22

He slept from 11.40 to nearly 2pm when I woke him up. I did consider letting him sleep until he woke up but it seemed he would sleep all afternoon! We walked to the park and spent nearly 2 hours there so hopefully he's tired enough tonight. Got the GroClock out and spent a bit of time this afternoon explaining the basics of it by pretending to fall asleep and waking up when the sun came on 😂 best acting! Will see how it goes and update in the morning. Fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed xx

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SHKMama123 · 02/03/2021 07:59

Update: we didn't use the GroClock last night because we bought it second hand and only found the instructions and book after DS had gone to sleep. Going to use it tonight though.

We did normal bedtime routine and he went to sleep at 7.30pm as usual. I downloaded a white noise app which went on all night. He woke up at 5.45am, DH went in to settle him and he fell asleep on his own. At 6.20 am he woke up, I went in to settle him but he had done a poo so we woke for the day as no point changing then trying to re-settle at that time. Massive improvement on the weeks we've had. Will try again tonight!

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 02/03/2021 08:23

6.20 is good OP
My rule now with my early riser is:

Pre 5.30 back to bed
5.30am- 6am is hell I have to suck it up
6am-6.30 is normal
After 6.30 is winning

SHKMama123 · 03/03/2021 06:36

5.50am this morning and wouldn't settle at all. An improvement on last week I suppose. It's not going to be overnight (if only!). I was definitely spoilt by post-7am lie ins for way too long.

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SHKMama123 · 03/03/2021 06:37

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I completely agree! 6am is technically morning and not pitch black outside so passable, before that is unacceptable 😂 after 6am is a win win win!

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KatherineOfGaunt · 03/03/2021 06:47

When we were having this problem with my son, I tried reducing naps but soon came to realise he does need his afternoon nap!

Even now, aged 26 months, he will be in bed 7-7 and have a nap roughly between 1pm-4pm. I don't wake him unless it's going on longer than about 3 hours, which isn't usual.

I'm just saying that it is possible for toddlers to have 3 hours in the middle of the day and then be in bed for 12. Don't feel you have to wake him.

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