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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be horrified I used to wake at this time every day?

237 replies

iusedto · 02/01/2025 05:08

At 18 months my previously crap sleeper started sleeping through (mostly) but swapped multiple night wakings for waking very, very early - 5-530 generally.

This lasted for around a year. Then he dropped his nap and sort of shifted that sleep to the morning. Gradually he’s been waking later and later and now sometimes I have to wake him. (Not often.)

I have a ‘new’ 18 month old who thankfully doesn’t seem as inclined to start the day when it’s still the middle of the night but she did just wake me about half an hour ago and I am waiting for her to go back to sleep.

But - AIBU to be horrified this was a habitual start time if you like for me once upon a time? I’ve given myself such a hard time about not properly enjoying ds as a toddler but I kind of think no wonder; I must have been sick with exhaustion!

OP posts:
handsone · 02/01/2025 11:54

I've never had early mornings with mine, they've both always got up at 7am. But they've never had early bedtimes either - I'm sure other parents would be horrified at a 9pm bedtime for a 2 year old. But it works for us.

phoenixbiscuits · 02/01/2025 11:05

I literally never got up at 5am to entertain a toddler. She far preferred a split night and dodgy naps with late nights 😭

Christmas day I was clock watching until 9am!!! But Christmas period means no bedtime 😂

Confusedandhormonal · 02/01/2025 10:58

Yes 5am is a horrible time to get up. Thank God mine never arose.before 7 and HRT has sorted my early wake ups out. Life is much better now

Comtesse · 02/01/2025 10:55

Getting up at 5am out of choice to do yoga / go horse riding / think beautiful thoughts is one thing.

Being woken up by a grumpy toddler who you then have to entertain for the next 14 hours is a very different kettle of fish!

Original poster
iusedto · 02/01/2025 10:47

At least you can always rely on MN to tell you you’re over dramatic and all toddlers get up at 5, unless they’re getting up at 3.

For most of DS’s 5am stint I was pregnant which obviously makes a difference. I maintain it is extremely early though. And there is a difference between gently stretching into the day through choice and being woken by a squawking toddler!

OP posts:
PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 02/01/2025 10:17

Oh i remember this! Mine used to start the day super early. I remember us both being up/dressed/fed/cleaning out the rabbits and having a quiet play in the sunshine one hot summer-when we came back in I realised it was still only 5am!!

WeRateSquirrels · 02/01/2025 09:48

YANBU but all the natural morning people just won’t get it.

Thankfully, menopause hasn’t affected my sleep or I’d probably have gone completely insane. Just had a lovely solid 9 hours 😴

User79853257976 · 02/01/2025 09:30

If they were sleeping through it’s not that bad.

piscofrisco · 02/01/2025 09:25

I had two babies under two at one point and I kid you not they both got up at 5 am until the youngest one was 6. 6 bloody years. I was exhausted.
Like pp said I am nor exhausted due to peri as I wake up at 3.10am on the dot every bloody day. But at least I don't have to entertain a toddler so on balance it's still not as bad.

ClairDeLaLune · 02/01/2025 09:20

leafybrew · 02/01/2025 05:13

Hehehe - wait til you hit the menopause. I'm awake between 4 and 5.15 every single day. Have been like that for years.

Meh

I used to be like that then I went on HRT and now I sleep through every night - it’s been a game changer for me!

niadainud · 02/01/2025 09:18

I'm obviously very lucky to have a cat that will usually snooze with me until I'm ready to get up, and I'm not an early riser.

livingafulllife · 02/01/2025 09:17

Im up early this morning ive been up 17 minutes.

Bizarred · 02/01/2025 09:08

Yes OP, I look back and think the same. But I used to put myself to bed earlier. 9 sometimes.

Gumbo · 02/01/2025 09:05

BoldExpert · 02/01/2025 08:49

Now that you don’t have young children @Gumbo do you still do this? given you enjoyed it so much?

Show quote history

Absolutely - as mentioned, I was out cycling well before 05:00 today....

devilspawn · 02/01/2025 08:59

Comtesse · 02/01/2025 08:46

This post is full of smug gits if you ask me.

Being woken up by little kids at 5.30am on a cold dark weekend morning is a horrible feeling. I do not miss those days AT ALL.

Enjoying getting up early is definitely an older person thing, the only people I know who enjoy it are aged 50+.

MooFroo · 02/01/2025 08:58

leafybrew · 02/01/2025 05:13

Hehehe - wait til you hit the menopause. I'm awake between 4 and 5.15 every single day. Have been like that for years.

Meh

@leafybrew what do you do once you’re awake at that time?
What time do you go to bed?

BoldExpert · 02/01/2025 08:49

Gumbo · 02/01/2025 08:03

OP I think you're being over dramatic about being 'sick with exhaustion' from having to be up at 5:30 with a toddler, it's really not unusual.

I actually love that time of day (I got up and went cycling at 04:45 today - it was starry and beautiful out). When DS was a baby/toddler he used to wake up early too - I use to give him a feed then chuck him in his seat on the back of my bike and taking him cycling with me! With young children I found it best to embrace the situation rather than getting stressed about it🙂

Now that you don’t have young children @Gumbo do you still do this? given you enjoyed it so much?

Comtesse · 02/01/2025 08:46

This post is full of smug gits if you ask me.

Being woken up by little kids at 5.30am on a cold dark weekend morning is a horrible feeling. I do not miss those days AT ALL.

pelargoniums · 02/01/2025 08:44

Gumbo · 02/01/2025 08:03

OP I think you're being over dramatic about being 'sick with exhaustion' from having to be up at 5:30 with a toddler, it's really not unusual.

I actually love that time of day (I got up and went cycling at 04:45 today - it was starry and beautiful out). When DS was a baby/toddler he used to wake up early too - I use to give him a feed then chuck him in his seat on the back of my bike and taking him cycling with me! With young children I found it best to embrace the situation rather than getting stressed about it🙂

“I don’t need much sleep so you shouldn’t either!”

Wonderi · 02/01/2025 08:38

YANBU

Sleep deprivation is awful!

I get up at 5am now for work which I’m not a fan of but I’m able to go sleep earlier because I don’t have a little one clinging to me meaning that I have to wait until they’re in bed to get chores done or just have some me time.

buttonousmaximous · 02/01/2025 08:32

leafybrew · 02/01/2025 05:13

Hehehe - wait til you hit the menopause. I'm awake between 4 and 5.15 every single day. Have been like that for years.

Meh

Yeah I'm grateful if it starts with five

rosegoldivy · 02/01/2025 08:32

I feel ye!!! My twins woke religiously for the day bang on 4am for 18months!
When they did start sleeping through and sleeping later my body clock was so messed up, I still now over a year later wake up naturally about 4am and just get up.
Now through the chaos I cherish those hours in the morn as it's the only time I ever get to myself!!

JayJayj · 02/01/2025 08:30

My daughter, just gone 2, likes to sleep for a few hours then wake up as if it’s a nap then go back to sleep 4 hours later. Some nights I’m not getting to sleep until 5. Right now I’d take 5am wake ups over this!!! I’m exhausted.

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 02/01/2025 08:24

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 02/01/2025 08:20

Every two hours. Every single night. For the first year and God knows how many months.

I conceived a second child during that time and neither me nor my husband can remember having sex.

New fear unlocked, eh people? Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to pregnancy 🤣

I had this during the pandemic (just without the magic 2nd pregnancy!) - totally empathise! DH was working awful shifts in the covid wards at the time. But according to MN I (under a previous username) was selfish for wanting to see my mum to get some respite (I didn't whilst the lockdown rules were in place, but so wish I had!). and DD didn't sleep through the night until 3.5

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 02/01/2025 08:20

Every two hours. Every single night. For the first year and God knows how many months.

I conceived a second child during that time and neither me nor my husband can remember having sex.

New fear unlocked, eh people? Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to pregnancy 🤣

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