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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My 23 month old son wakes at 5.30 to 6am every day

179 replies

Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 06:48

Which is fine, it is just his sleep pattern. He goes asleep at 7pm every night. But I keep thinking of a previous AIBU thread where parents who let their toddlers watch 2-3 hours of tele a day were flamed, in particular one poster said parents who do this "obviously their heart isn't in it"

So AIBU to think these same parents don't have an early riser...

Because my heart is very much into parenting, but from 5.45 to hopefully 7.15 I can manage to lie in bed whilst DS watches the iPad... Or am I supposed to be bouncing around downstairs coming up with fun filled activities at dawn?

(For the record he also watches the bedtime hour on cbeebies - wind down time.. - hence the 2-3 hours)

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 20/07/2013 07:06

Ds still has a long morning nap so I'm going to go back to bed with him as dp miraculously isn't working today so can play with dd!

Pontouf · 20/07/2013 07:06

I am with you. DS prefers to get up around 5.30 and I am just not at my best at that time of day, especially at the moment when I am up through the night BFing his 3mo sister. I honesty don't think it does any harm to let him watch a bit of tv, as long as it is in combination with lots of one on one time and other activities. My DS loves watching tv but will happily spend hours and hours just running outside or splashing on the beach or digging stones out of the dirt. And you know what I like watching tv and I did when I was little. We make sure the tv he watches is completely appropriate (he ony watches Cbeebies or DVDs.

catgirl1976 · 20/07/2013 07:09

I did build a really half arsed lego tower

I feel exonerated

Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:09

DS just started to look bored, as though he wanted to get up. Have switched from Raa Raa to Chuggington... Phew he is engrossed again...

So DH away this morning, I am 37 weeks pregnant - suggestions for smug activities that would prove "my heart is into parenting please..." (Can't handle the park... I'm too heavy and it is too hot!)

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 20/07/2013 07:11

I'm going back to bed too - I reckon I can get him back down at 7:30

I am counting the minutes but torn between keeping him up a bit longer as going down that early mean he might need an afternoon nap which will bugger up bedtime

catgirl1976 · 20/07/2013 07:12

Can you put him outside and give him the hose to play with? That keeps DS amused for at least 30 minutes and you can weep softly sit in a sun lounger and watch him?

Feel for you being pg in this heat :(

Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:13

Wow... Early morning naps...how nice. We are up till lunch time then 45 mins sleep then on till bedtime.

OP posts:
LtEveDallas · 20/07/2013 07:13

And she's up.

Thankfully I taped an episode of iCarly yesterday (iGoodbye) that she hasn't seen more than 10 times Grin

Smug activities? A bowl of water in the garden and lots of plates for him to 'wash up'? Used to work for DD.

Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:14

Outsiiiiiiiiiiiiide. Yes hose is a plan. Tried the sprinkler the other day, that just freaked him out..

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:15

Oooo washing up - good idea...

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:15

Thinks....maybe I give himssome actual washing up...none of that pretend stuff... ;-))

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 20/07/2013 07:16

Also - some pans with water in and some plastic utensils - seems to work for a bit

Pontouf · 20/07/2013 07:18

)

bouncychair · 20/07/2013 07:20

The 5am risings were how DS got into TV. Seriously what else are you supposed to do that early in the morning?

OP have you got a sprinkler attachment for your water hose? DS and I played with this for ages the other day. Started off as a bit of a water fight between us but then he happily played with it watering the plants (learning about nature) and filling various plastic containers I gave him (maths and learning about volume!).

bouncychair · 20/07/2013 07:20

Massive crosspost!

SpottyTeacakes · 20/07/2013 07:20

I give dd a big bowl if water and one of dp's paintbrushes so she can paint the patio. She also has outside chalks she can draw on anything with

leelteloo · 20/07/2013 07:22

I have been getting up with my dc at between 4&5 am for nearly 4 years (yawn). Without on demand tv I would have gone bonkers by now. I have the added stress of trying to keep them very quiet during the week so dh can sleep. Bedroom directly above living room and zero sound proofing. I do not do any "playing" or being creative till the 7am mark. I think it is enough to be up with them keeping the safe.

Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:24

Outside painting... That's good. Would also not have to hover saying "not on the sofa, no, not on the walls, NOOOOOT my handbag...."

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 20/07/2013 07:25

Yep and when it's just water it really doesn't matter what they do with it!

catgirl1976 · 20/07/2013 07:27

I'm going to try and get DS down and grab an hours sleep

I hope CBeebies and hosepipes give you all a peaceful morning :)

Original poster
Beautifulbabyboy · 20/07/2013 07:27

Nooo leel - this can't last 4-5 years. It just can't.... It can't.

Right. Chuggington is no longer doing it... We are all systems go... Let the active / involved parenting commence.... :-))

Thanks all for cheering me up this morning. Silly woman on the other thread. :-))

OP posts:
JollyHolidayGiant · 20/07/2013 07:28

I don't do times before six. If it starts with 05 it doesn't happen in this house.

27mo DS has a gro clock so he doesn't come out of his room until 0645 six days out of seven . But he's often up playing 'quietly' before then.

I can still count on one hand the number of post-7am lie ins we've had this year.

SirDoris · 20/07/2013 07:29

Up at 5.30 here this morning. 5am yesterday. 22mo DS just watches telly and breast feeds until his sister gets up at a more reasonable time. This has been our mornings for the last year. Yawn

3boys3dogshelp · 20/07/2013 07:31

My 2 get up between 5.30 and 6.30 - watching tv here too :-). Postman pat just came on with the tune from when I was little -ds2 asked ' is this an olden days one?!!', ds1 'yes!'. So now I'm knackered and feeling like a fossil!

NorthernChinchilla · 20/07/2013 07:31

Another one here...

YY to weekends that used to be tipsy, giggly, drag-your-arse-out-of-bed-at-midday jobs.
YY to weekends that are now up at half 5/6am, with the other having a lie-in til 8...although this weekend it's 7 as we're selling the house. So nowhere near as tough as being pregnant in this heat, but horrific trying to keep the house tidy when you have a toddler Confused. And your first viewing is at 9.30am.

Part of the reason we're moving is we don't have a garden, and DS is a whirling dervish of mad puppyness active and not interested in TV, and I need somewhere to eject him at that time.

Sod the neighbours Grin