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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask how I can get my 2 year old to sleep past 5.30am?!

51 replies

tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 07:57

Know it's not really an AIBU - but desperate for sleep!

So I awake to another morning of DD banging on her door at 5.30 shouting "mummy, mummy!". Impossible to get her to go back to bed as she screams bloody murder & we can't even bring her in with us as she's wide awake and just wants to play.

DD goes to bed at 7 and up until a month ago slept til 7; she also had a mid day nap for 1 1/2.

Do you think it's time to start putting her to bed later? Dropping the mid day nap doesn't work - when she's at nursery (3 times a week) she's doesn't have one (they can't get her down) & she's still up at 5.30 - even 4.30 sometimes!!

Please help wise MNers - I'm falling asleep by 8 each night!!

OP posts:
BohemianGirl · 22/12/2013 08:01

Old wives tale but fresh air regardless of the weather - wrap her up and let her run about outside or take her to the park

Some people are just owls whilst others are larks. Personally I'd be going to bed at 8 and getting up at 5.30

VashtaNerada · 22/12/2013 08:07

Yes, tire her out with fresh air and exercise, and move her bedtime to later. It won't be long before you can get her one of those clocks that change colour when it's morning. When she's ready for that you tell her to play quietly when she first wakes up. Also, double-check her room's the right temperature just in case that's waking her.

ll31 · 22/12/2013 08:07

Yep agree with fresh air and exercise too. Seems v early bed time but my reading of mumsnet over the years has convinced me that English cchildren go to bed extremely early!!!
Wouldn't cut nap, if she needs it she nneeds it.

RegainingUnconsciousness · 22/12/2013 08:08

The Gro Clock has done wonders for us. Start with it set at her normal waking time till she gets the idea, then gradually, in 5 min increments, move it to a more human time.

Good luck!

YellowDinosaur · 22/12/2013 08:10

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001O3OKYO/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1387699729&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

This was the best 20 quid we ever spent

wigglesrock · 22/12/2013 08:10

I have 3 kids, the youngest is almost 3 she's up by 5.30/6.00 every morning, her older sisters were exactly the same.

With dd1 I spent so much time faffing about trying different bedtimes, encouraging/dropping naps, playing outside in the late afternoon, if I ever hear the word groclock again, I will scream Smile .

It's just the way they are - apparently I was the same. Do you know what helped them stay in bed later? - starting school, they now have to be wakened - that's such a delight Hmm

Original poster
tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 08:11

Thanks all.

Fresh air a good idea - we seem to have been trapped in the house for ages with colds/bugs etc.

I was contemplating one if the clocks but I'm not sure whether she's too young at the moment - definitely an investment for the future though!!

OP posts:
wigglesrock · 22/12/2013 08:11

Oops - sorry about my groclock hatred Smile.

YellowDinosaur · 22/12/2013 08:11

Sorry link didn't work. It's a clock similar to the one the previous poster mentioned

Original poster
tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 08:12

Ha ha wiggles. MIL says I should be grateful DD wants to spend time with me as in 10 years I won't be able to get her out of bed for love nor money!

OP posts:
Original poster
tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 08:13

Thanks yellow!

OP posts:
tankflybosswalkjamnittygritty · 22/12/2013 08:13

My 3.5 year old ds has never woken later then 6am and still wakes often at night. I found acceptance helps. Got my fingers crossed starting school will help.

YellowDinosaur · 22/12/2013 08:13

We started with the clock when he was 18 months and it worked wonders. Sure they don't work for everyone but must be worth a try! I don't think it necessarily stopped him waking but it did get him to stay quietly in bed until 7

YellowDinosaur · 22/12/2013 08:14

Good luck!

ImagineJL · 22/12/2013 08:22

Mine are both early risers, now ages 4 and 8, and I have tried everything without success.

I had a clock when DS1 was about 3, which sort of worked, but the problem was it made a noise which woke me anyway, and then I wouldn't sleep because he was young enough for me to worry about what he was up to. Now at 8 he can get up when he likes and will amuse himself, but being a boy he stomps around the house banging doors, so if there had been any possibility of DS2 staying asleep, he ends up waking him.

My advice - try everyone's suggestions but be prepared to just accept your destiny, and thank your lucky stars that you had a spell of 7-7 sleep, which is a mere fantasy for me!

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/12/2013 08:22

Likes wiggles I did everything everyone has suggested here and some others nothing has worked. Once she got to 5.5years a could switch the TV on was a relief, still as a nearly 10 year she uses at 6.30am on weekends - of course I can not get her out of bed on school days!

Original poster
tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 08:26

I'm an early riser myself - usually up at 6.30 - but the forced wake up and having to be wide awake immediately is getting tough. May have to face facts DD is a lark too.

Have tried leaving toys in her room but she's very talkative & I can't don't want to sleep through her cute, rambling conversation with her dolls!!

OP posts:
ForTheLoveOfSocks · 22/12/2013 08:31

A few people on here before have suggested making their bedrooms a bit colder, so it's cosier in bed than getting out? Maybe worth a try?

DamnBamboo · 22/12/2013 08:31

When you figure it out do PM me (please). DS is 6 and is ready to go at 5:30am...every...single... day Hmm.

Always has been.

Original poster
tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 08:37

fortheloveof, thanks for advice but her room is cool - we have a pretty cold house!

Damn, will do! We'll just have to set up an early risers MN club or something. Share the pain!

OP posts:
pcbmc00 · 22/12/2013 08:43

Sorry but also a massive fan of groclock I have a 3.3 year old who was awake since 5.50but stayed in her room until 7.30am stick with it another few months. Try the warm pj also!!

roses2 · 22/12/2013 08:48

If she is waking up alert and happy and not tired, she won't wake up later unless you put her to bed later.

Up until last week my DS was like this (11 months). I changed his bedtime from 7.30/8pm to 9pm and now he sleeps through until 7/7.30am.

Original poster
tiredbutstillsmiling · 22/12/2013 08:51

That's my thinking roses. She's not tired at all, just wants to play. I brought her downstairs 3 hours ago & she's still bouding around like Tigger! Would love an ounce of her energy!

OP posts:
mumofweeboys · 22/12/2013 08:54

Gro clock. My 2 year old has had one since his second birthday (like his big brothers). It took about a month for him to click that I wouldn't let him get up before the sun came up (very stubborn toddler). I started with 5.45am then moved it to 6am after a couple of weeks. Now it's dark iv managed to get them all to 7am. The boys are awake at times but they know to stay in their beds and play quietly with their toys.

SJisontheway · 22/12/2013 08:55

Agree with roses. She is sleeping for 10.5 hrs a night, which is typically all mine ever slept. They don't all need 12 hrs unfortunately. A later bedtime should do the trick, but you can't just switch in one go. Gradually make bed time later until the 10.5 hour stretch suits your routine.
Others will swear this won't work, but most of our kids manage just fine when the clocks change, or when travelling abroad, but obviously there is an adjustment period.

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