To think ds shouldn't be getting up this early?

[Autumnishereagain]

Ds is 11yo and is getting up some days at between 4-6am. Now he didn't have a clock in his bedroom which was a bit stupid of us really, so we got him a clock thinking that would resolve it.

He's still doing it. Now I'm a really deep sleeper, I get up at 6.30am for work and sometimes ds is still in bed or so I think, but dh is a light sleeper and gets up earlier, and tells me that he's found ds getting up at all hours and has sent him back to bed, so when I think he's sleeping he's actually wide awake. Other days dh might have to be up at half 5 and gets up to find ds sitting downstairs.

I've told ds to stay in bed until at least 6.30am and try to go back to sleep but he's obviously ignoring me.

He goes to bed between 9-10pm.

Maybe let him try out different bedtimes so he is more tired

So if DS wakes up at 4 and is expected to stay in bed until 6.30, what exactly do you expect him to do at this time? 2.5 hours is a very long time to just lie in bed wide awake!

Have you tried getting him some audio books to listen to in bed? Or music? So he might drift back off

I often wake for the day at that sort of time and no way would I just stay in bed for hours trying to get back to sleep

If he was waking up at 5.30 am each day, I wouldn't see the problem really, due to his age. At 11 years old he is more than old enough to head downstairs when he is awake and help himself to some cereal etc.

If he was waking you all up to keep him company etc then yeah, I wouldn't be having it, but I don't think that's your actual concern here?

However, if you guys are getting up at 5am and he is ALREADY up, it begs the question of when is he actually sleeping? I know some folks manage perfectly well on only 4 hours sleep each day, and maybe he is that way inclined. Has he got things to keep him entertained in his room so he can stay in bed and maybe fall back asleep, rather then heading downstairs where it becomes more likely he will be fully awake for the day? I also know some people who just cant lie in bed once awake, so perhaps that wouldn't work for him either.

Is he very tired during the day, or does he seem to be functioning well on the sleep he does have?

I suppose I would expect him to try to get back to sleep.

I will look for some audio books, I don't think he'd be keen but I can only try.

It just doesn't seem right tonight he has got Scouts so by the time he's home and has had chance to wind down he won't go to sleep until gone 10.

I'm not one for sleeping in but I feel his times are extreme.

Is he tired during the day? Have his teachers noticed anything of concern? What is his behaviour like?

That is an extremely short sleep stretch for a child. I too would be interested in how he is during the day, tired or alert? How is he doing at school? Has he said WHY he gets up so early? Insomnia?

*If he was waking up at 5.30 am each day, I wouldn't see the problem really, due to his age. At 11 years old he is more than old enough to head downstairs when he is awake and help himself to some cereal etc.

If he was waking you all up to keep him company etc then yeah, I wouldn't be having it, but I don't think that's your actual concern here?

However, if you guys are getting up at 5am and he is ALREADY up, it begs the question of when is he actually sleeping? I know some folks manage perfectly well on only 4 hours sleep each day, and maybe he is that way inclined. Has he got things to keep him entertained in his room so he can stay in bed and maybe fall back asleep, rather then heading downstairs where it becomes more likely he will be fully awake for the day? I also know some people who just cant lie in bed once awake, so perhaps that wouldn't work for him either.

Is he very tired during the day, or does he seem to be functioning well on the sleep he does have*?

No he's not waking me up, I'm just very worried about how little sleep he must be getting.

It's different each day but dh has got up to find ds already up before 5.30am.

He hasn't got tv/phone in his room but he's got books and drawing things etc. Perhaps I need to focus on encouraging him to stay in his room doing quiet activities.

He does seem to be ok, he does get tired but not excessively. I'm just thinking if he's asleep by 10 and getting up just say at 5, that's only 7 hours sleep, it doesn't seem enough.

That doesn't seem enough sleep and I guess the question is what is he getting up for? If he's going downstairs onto tech- Xbox or phone then that's not on but if he's reading and genuinely can't sleep then I guess ok for a short while. It could be hormonal?
My sleep pattern is shot due to the menopause, my 11 year old has learnt to sleep in until 11.30 on holiday but generally is asleep before 10 and up around 7 so 9 hours

Is he tired during the day? Have his teachers noticed anything of concern? What is his behaviour like?

He's just started secondary school but no concerns have been raised from his school or primary. His behaviour is ok, he's a pain, but probably typical 11 year old stuff, being messy having to be nagged sometimes.

He hasn't said why, he used to say it was because he didn't know the time, which was fair enough, so we bought a clock and he's still doing it, he says he can't get back to sleep, but he won't if he's heading downstairs.

He's not allowed in games console in the mornings before school so it's not that, although he has grabbed his phone or our laptop so we've taken to hiding them so he's not getting up for gadgets.

Soon he'll be a teen and sleep all day. If he's healthy and well behaved don't worry. Gp for reassurance? Have a snack in his room, bananas or nuts are good in case he's hungry, make sure his room is not too hot or cold.

My Ds has Adhd so doesn’t sleep well . He is expected to stay in his room till a reasonable time.

He can however read, play quietly.

I would ensure he has no access to electronics . Does he have digital turned off before bed?

I can sleep for 4 hours at a time and it's always been like this

Can you get him a sleep tracker fitness thing? Just to see how much he is actually sleeping?

I think I'd say he has to stay in his room until 6am, but he can read/listen to an audio book/draw quietly. Some people really just are early risers and don't need as much sleep as others.

it doesn't sound enough, I would be tempted to up his physical exercise to see if that helps. If he is a very active child, can't fall asleep any earlier than he does and is not tired during the day, then not much else you can do.

I disagree that you can't tell him to stay in bed until 6am though, that's what books are for if he really can't sleep.

Has he always been an early riser? 4.30am is incredibly early to be getting up.

Has he always been an early riser? 4.30am is incredibly early to be getting up.

As a baby/toddler he slept loads. He started getting sleepless when he started school. But the very early waking thing has been going on for about 18 months I'd say.

He is fairly active, he plays football 3 times a week, he does Scouts which involves long walks and active games and he runs 2-3 times a week. Equally he does get chill out time and Scouts is the only late evening thing.