Page 5 | Or is 4am a ridiculous time to get up?

Cinocino · 2024-07-15T07:09:39+00:00

Someone tell my baby!! A month into 4 am wakes 😩 cooing, chatting and up for the day despite about 8 hours of broken sleep max. 5am I think I could do, wakes in the night I’m prepared for but night wakings and a 3:50 start!!! I’m dead. Shes 7 months and getting 1 or 1.5 hrs of daytime sleep top s!

Hopeandmoss · 15/07/2024 08:39

Mine are teenagers now but both were early risers and went though the 4am phase. I found the trick was to give them some supper 1 hour before bedtime - something bland and boring like a weetabix or a slice of toast as I found they were waking early because they were hungry. Make sure your routine is cast iron too - bed at a set time each night so they get into a good routine. It will pass I promise - but until then there is always coffee (for you).

Original poster

Cinocino · 15/07/2024 08:39

INeedAnotherName · 15/07/2024 08:30

If she's only cooing and chatting then leave her, she might settle herself down eventually. Only go to her if she does her hungry/wet nappy cry. Then a quick feed or change and back down she goes. Make it as boring and quick as possible. She will either drop this time or self soothe but you do have to be consistent.

The chatting is just to point out that she wakes ready for the day at that point rather than a hungry or comfort night wake. Leaving her results in screaming to be picked up after a few mins and no amount of feeding, changing rocking can settle her after this point in the night. Her body is very much up for the day!
This morning after 40 mins of trying to rock/ cuddle her in the dark I offered a bottle at like 4:30 but she refused it.

Making it as quick as possible is exactly what can’t be done though.

OP posts:

INeedAnotherName · 15/07/2024 08:30

If she's only cooing and chatting then leave her, she might settle herself down eventually. Only go to her if she does her hungry/wet nappy cry. Then a quick feed or change and back down she goes. Make it as boring and quick as possible. She will either drop this time or self soothe but you do have to be consistent.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 15/07/2024 08:29

Mine all did this, my 3rd especially was allergic to sleep.

It does end.....eventually. I think mine started to make it past 5am around primary age and then 6am around 8 years old.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/07/2024 08:25

Perplexed20 · 15/07/2024 08:17

Mine did this. She's 22 now. My health visitor told me it was because she was clever - I'm sure it was a sop. (She is by the way.) The only thing I can say is it will pass.
Mine didn't like going to bed either but we just persisted. I made mornings as boring as possible and eventually she got the message.

Similar here - not quite such an early waker but not a napper unless there was a car journey.

One obvious question - do you have good blackout curtains in her room?

DoublePeonies · 15/07/2024 08:23

Mine did this.
He's also bright.
And still a sleepdodger at 15y.
Just traveled overnight, and hasn't slept at all - so woke up 6am Friday, went to bed 10pm Saturday.....

Very unlikely to change them by much. Making all meals and naps, along with bedtime, an hour later might help.
And VERY early nights for you to ensure you get enough sleep.

They eventually get old enough to make their own breakfast - and if you are lucky with their personality pancakes for their parents breakfast!

Perplexed20 · 15/07/2024 08:17

Mine did this. She's 22 now. My health visitor told me it was because she was clever - I'm sure it was a sop. (She is by the way.) The only thing I can say is it will pass.
Mine didn't like going to bed either but we just persisted. I made mornings as boring as possible and eventually she got the message.