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Waking up extra early every weekend

12 replies

FancyNewThings · 16/03/2024 08:02

Monday to Friday ds, who is 7, will lie in bed until the very last minute, sleeping peacefully until I have no choice but to wake him up.
Come Saturday however, he's the first one up bright and early. This morning he was awake two hours earlier than a school morning. Same will happen tomorrow, as it has every weekend for as long as I can remember.

I've told him if he wakes up early to either lie quietly until a certain time, read or play something that doesn't make a lot of noise. Basically just be respectful to the rest of the household who are still sleeping.

He doesn't. He will call me repeatedly until I go to see him. It's never for anything other than to tell me he's awake and wants to get up now. I say he can do any of the above or come and lay with me in my bed. He often chooses to stay in his room but makes a lot of noise.

I will never fall back to sleep once he's awake and will often get up with him after about half an hour usually to prevent him waking up anyone else.

I know this is quite common for some children and wondered what people have tried to try and help with this. It doesn't matter if he goes to bed at a different time. Earlier means he wakes up even earlier and later means he will just have less sleep.

It's exhausting!

OP posts:
Whattodowithit88 · 16/03/2024 08:05

Can you start to teach him to make his own cereal now? Put milk the night before into a mixing jug so he can even do the milk himself. That will give him a task, something to do, then goes and plays in his room or does what he likes but is to not wake anyone and only call out in an emergency.

Try drumming it in that his in his house and as long as he doesn’t open the door to anyone he is safe so can rest assured playing in his room.

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 16/03/2024 08:07

Surely he's old enough to get up, make some breakfast and watch TV for a bit?

Redlarge · 16/03/2024 08:08

Yeah hes 7 he can get up on his own. Get breakfast and watch tv. Get some cereal bars and brioche and apples and some carton drinks. Leave them out for him the night before.

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LightSwerve · 16/03/2024 08:09

Lots of children wake early for emotional reasons. He could be more worried or more excited on weekend days.

Given his young age, I'd get up with him, then tell him I'm exhausted and have a nap on the sofa.

He'll grow out of it, but it sounds like he needs you just now.

LightSwerve · 16/03/2024 08:10

Practically I agree he's old enough to breakfast alone. I just think it sounds like he wants something emotional.

BrutusMcDogface · 16/03/2024 08:12

It’s common to wake up early on weekends, in my experience. I think they’re just so excited that it’s the weekend!

One of mine is 12. Can’t get him out of bed for love nor money Monday-Friday. This morning, however, he was up at 6.00!

SilverDoe · 16/03/2024 08:13

My son is 6 and similar to yours, is a pain in the bum to get out of bed on a school morning but awake bright and early on the weekends! (So am I to be fair Grin)

He plays minecraft or something on a console and I grab him some food and he's happy to chill til around 9am.

This is not mandated, I am up anyway with my 4 year old, it's just his routine.

Can you let your son play nintendo or similar, or get him some craft stuff or lego etc out and ready? We have all this in the house but my DS won't get it out himself in the morning, he needs a bit of directing.

FancyNewThings · 16/03/2024 08:19

I appreciate that he is probably excited it's the weekend. I remember being the same but would literally lie in bed and read until at least a normal school morning time.

I've tried to let him make his own breakfast and watch some tv. He ended up eating a wagon wheel and then came to jump on me 20 minutes later. I'd laid out his breakfast the night before but he climbed to the cupboard to get chocolate instead! Tv can end up full blast too.

It really puts us all in a bad mood for the day. Other dc need more sleep and are really grumpy if they get woken up too early.

OP posts:
SpringOfContentment · 16/03/2024 08:19

What time are you asking him to stay quiet until?
I'd make that as early as you can - ours stuck at school get up time for weekends and holidays.
And yes to breakfast and TV on his own.

But then I'm celebrating having to wake DS1 for school for the first time ever yesterday. He's 15. Weekend lie ins still aren't a thing in this house!

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 16/03/2024 08:47

You should be able to set the TV so that it only goes up to a certain volume. Locks on the cupboards.

But I also wonder about what a PP said about emotional connection - does he get lots of time with you in the week? Does he resent his sibling taking you away from him?

MuggleMe · 16/03/2024 08:48

Does he tend to watch TV contentedly at other times of day? I started with an iPad of cartoons on a timer and supplying a snack (e.g. banana or cereal bar) in bed.

LlynTegid · 16/03/2024 09:07

Time for tough love. Make something he views as a treat conditional on being quiet at the weekend, and don't back down.

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