18 month old, 4am waking, tiring!

[Kjaysmum]

hi, my ds has started waking up earlier everyday. He is still getting teeth although is not showing his clasic symptoms at the moment (nappy rash, blotches) but these are his last teeth so wondered if they are still quite far down. I bought a thermostat heater for his room as the waking seemed to coincide with the start of the cold weather but he's still waking. He does have a bottle at night and in the morning and feel the urge to break the morning bottle habbit as maybe he's waking up for it but he only goes back to sleep for ten munites or so after having his bottle. Reluctant to leave him to cry so was up with him this morning until he fell asleep on me. I realy hope is just teething and will pass, any suggestions?

I've realised now he went through this before I used to give him a warm drink in a bottle and I took the teat away and replaced it with a sipper he went mental so I stopped the drink all together and started taking him straight out (in a strop, fun not)he doesn't tantrum outside(not at first anyway)then I'd give him a little box of raisons which he loves. Aha a link thanks so much smee sometimes you can't see for the trees eh, I shall try giving him a little box of raisons when he wakes.....And what of your DS have you been lucky enuff to get 8 hrs again, I hope so

kjaysmum I think your ds is over tired at bedtime and is waking early as a result - this fits in with him just going from two naps to one. I would try putting him to bed much earlier - between 7 and 7.30pm. If he chats for a bit before dropping off it's a good thing. The theory is that very tired children go into a deep, deep sleep early in the night and then can't get back off when they go into a light sleep around 3-4 am.
It may take a week or two to get a result. In the mean time let him have short morning nap around 9.30, and let him have as much sleep as he needs after his lunch, say up to 3pm. Then drop the morning nap.

ok thats a new thought shall give it a try, vivie thanks

well he just woke up in such a good mood that I am typing this!Ate raisons with pleasure, what a difference. Interesting because he had two sleeps today which fits in with your idea vivie, I shall try putting him to bed at 7.30 tonight see if it makes any difference

well things are really picking up now, I feel like I got my little boy back. Thanks for all the help and advice

Glad it's all working well for you. You have a good point that sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees. i have often been surprised by new teeth just appearing after 2 days of red cheeked sniffles, but the penny didn't drop until I saw the tooth

HOORAY - DS slept through the night.. He's only ever done that a handful of times. Amazing!! I think vivie's point about being not too tired at bed's a good one - we had a lousy night the night before, and I let him have as long a sleep as he wanted in the afternoon - 1.5hrs, which is loads for him. He went to bed easily at 7.30 and slept until 8.30am! I feel like a human being again (though of course I went in to check on him three times during the night

my mum always says 'the more they sleep the more they sleep'.... How are you all doing?