Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what cured your early morning wake ups?

27 replies

Homeymum2 · 30/04/2025 06:34

Awake at 4:30 this morning and never fell back to sleep. Usually I do fall back to sleep after an hour, but it’s still very disruptive and making me miserable and unproductive in the day.

going to bed earlier doesn’t seem to have an effect.

what can I do to stay asleep - or get back to sleep quicker?

OP posts:
OnlyOneAdda · 30/04/2025 06:36

HRT - specifically the progesterone.

Some friends also found magnesium worked but it didn't help me.

WhereAreMyKids · 30/04/2025 06:37

Following as I'm finding myself waking earlier and earlier. Unfortunately I'm one of those people that once my eyes open I can't get back to sleep again and loathe just lying in bed. I have found a 20 minute power nap at lunch helps me get though the day.

Agix · 30/04/2025 06:37

Sleeping in separate room to my partner. He wasn't doing anything necessarily to wake me up, I just sleep horrendously, it's like I'm on high alert all throughout sleep. The slightest movement, noise, or sense of something and I'm wide awake. Often waking into panic attacks.

It hasn't stopped me waking, o still wake at night I think, but it's stopped me waking into such a wide awake state and I can fall asleep quicker.

I've also strictly cut out all caffeine and think that helped too.

Cabbagefamily · 30/04/2025 06:37

Is it the light? Blackout blinds, thick curtains and a pelmet.

JuneFromBethesda · 30/04/2025 06:40

HRT for me too.

allnewname · 30/04/2025 06:56

Struggling with this too. Agree with the progesterone element of HRT helping but I only have that for half the month.

HumphreyCobblers · 30/04/2025 07:19

Magnesium glycinate - this form supports sleep. I do find it helpful with the high alert and waking early issue.

Absolutenonsense · 30/04/2025 07:33

Being active in the day. A run or just an active day moving around a lot (like 7,000 plus steps)

MargaritaPracticallyCan · 30/04/2025 07:38

Plenty of water during the day, regular bedtime routine, no screens for an hour or so before bed, eye mask, ear plugs, magnesium glycinate before bed, and I think HRT is helping. I still often wake at about 2 but tend to get back to sleep pretty quickly.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/04/2025 07:47

Podcasts. I don't stress about being too awake to sleep (but not awake enough to get up). I just enjoy being in bed and the podcast gives my brain something to do. I'm still resting; it's not as good as actually sleeping but it's better than stressing about not sleeping.

Bi phase sleep is (was) apparently a thing. If you can build that into your life, that could be a plan.

DisappearingGirl · 30/04/2025 07:48

Not having caffeine after around midday.

justkeepswimingswiming · 30/04/2025 07:50

One of my kids is a diabetic so I’m up most nights with them, and then takes me a good hour or two to fall back to sleep. Been up since 5am this morning, I’ve tried everything from black out blinds to magnesium. Nothing works.

Ilovelowry · 30/04/2025 07:57

A LOT of magnesium glycinate. Over 400mg of elemental.

Plus HRT. I have the coil which made me sleep a million times better when it went in.

Or just get up? I was up at 4.40, went for a power walk/run, did some weights, fed the animals, watered the garden, got the teenager up, made his lunch then left the house at 6.55 for school run and work.

Happynow · 30/04/2025 07:59

Phenergan works for me. It's an OTC antihistamine and can be used for sleep problems too. It takes a week or two to kick in (or at least did for me) but I found if I woke in the early hours, I'd be able to drift off to sleep again.

HumphreyCobblers · 30/04/2025 08:20

Ilovelowry · 30/04/2025 07:57

A LOT of magnesium glycinate. Over 400mg of elemental.

Plus HRT. I have the coil which made me sleep a million times better when it went in.

Or just get up? I was up at 4.40, went for a power walk/run, did some weights, fed the animals, watered the garden, got the teenager up, made his lunch then left the house at 6.55 for school run and work.

Yes! You have to take a big dose

HoskinsChoice · 30/04/2025 08:38

A VERY regular sleep pattern. Go to bed at exactly the same time every day, get up at exactly the same time every day. Never ever take a nap.

Going to bed earlier may actually be counterproductive. You might be better going to bed slightly later which trains you to sleep solidly. If you're going to bed earlier and staying in bed longer you're kind of diluting the need for sleep if that makes sense.

Mulledjuice · 30/04/2025 08:38

Homeymum2 · 30/04/2025 06:34

Awake at 4:30 this morning and never fell back to sleep. Usually I do fall back to sleep after an hour, but it’s still very disruptive and making me miserable and unproductive in the day.

going to bed earlier doesn’t seem to have an effect.

what can I do to stay asleep - or get back to sleep quicker?

Are you my toddler?

Original poster
Homeymum2 · 30/04/2025 20:03

Thanks everyone - I’ve tried some of your ideas already, but there are some new ones I can look into - and I will!

OP posts:
Wakemeupbe4yougogo · 30/04/2025 20:06

I sleep well now because DH is in another bedroom on the opposite side of the landing with his restless legs! Though I now have 2 dogs instead but they just fart occasionally which is far easier to live with. I also have a blackout blind, and leave a fan on for background noise.

comoatoupeira · 30/04/2025 20:09

Hormones. Couldn’t sleep when pregnant. Slept badly when breastfeeding (even when baby slept through). Now sleep all the way through.

StillTryingtoBuy · 30/04/2025 20:09

Lots of good ideas - would also recommend avoiding looking at your phone / clock and not knowing what time it is, just try to go back to sleep until your alarm. I think we see 4.30 and get stressed about there not being enough time to sleep again which doesn’t help.

PeloMom · 30/04/2025 20:10

I quit caffeine and sleep so well now. Quit it 10-12 days ago

EveryDayisFriday · 30/04/2025 20:12

HRT and Phenergan

WinterFrogs · 30/04/2025 20:15

I have a sunrise alarm, and I never keep an eye on the time unless i get up for the loo. I bought a pillow speaker, and turn on an audio book or podcast if I'm awake before 'sunrise'. If the book/podcast is downloaded, it works with the phone on flight mode. Doesn't always work, but does stop my mind from wandering.
Hrt helped too.

Original poster
Homeymum2 · 19/11/2025 09:26

HumphreyCobblers · 30/04/2025 07:19

Magnesium glycinate - this form supports sleep. I do find it helpful with the high alert and waking early issue.

I can only seem to find magnesium bi-glycinate - the pharmacist says it’s the same- have you tried this?

What dosage did you find works?

thank you

OP posts: