My baby has had a period of awful sleep since her first birthday approximately. For a few months she was waking early. Then for a while she went through a stage of waking for two hours at a time through the night. That's thankfully stopped seemingly by itself (despite all the things we'd tried, nothing seemed to change) around New Year.
Now, she is sleeping again but starting her day any time from 4:30am. I also have another older child, so no chance of me sleeping when the baby sleeps in the day.
Day currently looks like this:
4:30am - up, awake, happy, ready for the day
6:00 Breakfast
7:00 Milk
9:30 - 11:30 Nap
12:00: Lunch
16:00: Dinner
18:00: Milk and supper (banana or weetabix)
18:30 Bed
I have tried moving her nap later (11-1) putting her to bed later (as late as 7:30pm). All these things do it result is a miserable baby who walks around crying and rubbing her eyes, she still wakes early. I've added in a snack before bed in case she wasn't eating enough but even without this she eats like a horse and has had two big bottles of cows milk in a day also. She's not starving for breakfast when she wakes, so I don't think it's hunger waking her. I've stopped any tv, screens or electronic toys for two hours before bed. I've made sure her room is in total darkness with proper fitted blinds (removed her nightlight). The temperature is fine, she's dressed appropriately and in a sleeping bag. She's very mobile and can get herself up and down easily. There is no external noise, we live in a very quiet area.
When she wakes, she isn't unhappy at all, just awake. I can't leave her to cry (which she will do eventually if I don't go in to her) because she will wake my eldest who has preschool and additional needs too, she needs her sleep and actually sleeps amazingly well (6-6).
She has been cutting teeth on and off during this time but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference really as this has been going on for months now. I give Anbesol and/or nurofen if she seems to be in teething pain.
She's healthy, well and zooming ahead with her development. No allergies, a completely happy child. actually goes to bed whatever time I put her down like a dream, just rolls over after a kiss and cuddle and goes to sleep.
Anyone got any pro tips? My eldest never did this, I'm at a loss and completely frazzled!!