5am waking driving me mad - any tips?!

[Kiwiem]

DS of 8 months was sleeping through from 7pm for a couple of months now (SO fabulous after first 6 months of BF'ing, severe reflux, and no more than 2-3 hours sleep at a time!) He was sleeping until 6 or 6.30am, but now for some reason best known to himself has got into a pattern of waking around 5am. I've tried feeding him but he just chews and dozes and doesn't seem v hungry, tried water, tried just walking him until he drops off (but then he cries going back down in the cot), tried bringing him into our bed (cries), tried putting him to bed later (still wakes up just as early) and reducing his sleep during the day (turns into hideous monster by bedtime). He just seems to enjoy the wee hours. End result is getting up at 5am which is killing me. I know he is excited about cruising but he just wakes up and grizzles so I don't think it's necessarily developmental. Any ideas?

bump

what time is his last nap before you put him to bed for the night?
if its after 3pm then i would push this back so he is up from 3pm til bed.

hi - most babies come into a light sleep between 5.00 and 6.00 am. My LO went through a phase of waking at 5.30 am and being raring to go but i wasn't!!!!! If the waking is like clockwork then it is habit - have you tried the wake to sleep method (the Baby Whisperer suggests it). Basically you pat/stroke LO just enough to wake them altho' not so much that they are wide awake and then let them settle back to sleep - do this an hour before they usually wake. The theory is that this breaks an old sleep cycle and a new one begins breaking habitual waking. Also if LO isn't hungry etc then don't feed, treat it as night so no talking etc and after a few days your LO may well be out of the habit - whatever you decide to do be utterly consistent - ie LO stays in own cot, no patting/walking etc this way they aren't confused ... HTH a bit. Don't know if LO has own room but have you thought about black out blinds - these can be good especially if LO is waking beacause of lights from outside.

good advice taylormama, i'm having similar problems with my 2yr old waking throughout the night. I fear its now a habit would baby whisperer be good for toddlers too? She comes in my room and saying 'cuggle in mummy' holding her teddy and I let her in once or twice and now its constant. I can't remember the last time she slept through I keep putting her back now but she settles then gets up again.

He doesn't usually nap after 3pm unless we're out in the car and he nods off...he's in own room and it's pretty dark. Maybe I'll try the wake to sleep method (thanks taylormama) as I'm pretty sure it is habit. Does that mean I have to get up at 4am?! Urgh

hi - sorry Kiwiem you will have to get up at 4.00 am!!! The idea is those few nights of pain for long term gain. The Baby Whisperer book is the only book that i have read that hasn't made me feel like a total failure as a parent. It is common sense advice and the routines are not totally rigid and take into account that babies, like grown ups have very different personalities so need to be treated accordingly.
Rebelmum - if you want to it is time to have the tough love - when she comes into your room, just return her to her bedroom with no conversation and keep doing it every time - if there is no "reward" ie a cuddle, she should soon stop. I would really recommend the Baby Whisperer book and the website ... Good Luck!!

Definitely worth a try - to my mind there's not much difference between 4 and 5am anyway! I'll let you know how we get on (blimey, never thought I would see 6am as a sleep-in - how things change!)

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Thanks. I failed miserably last night, i put her back 8 times, she slept and then kept waking and on the 9th time i was just so tired and was at work today so let her in... (ahh)My DH said 'you shouldn't have done that' (grr)

you know it's bad when you start pleading

when's his morning nap? jeoys' gone thru the same thing at 7.5 months his AM nap was 2 hours after he woke up for 2 hours (at 5) so basically I put the AM nap back by an hour and he's beeen doing to 6.45 - 7 since, very happey about that here. might work for u.

Can you put a stairgate on her door Rebelmum?

I've considered that one but was worried that she would just cry and get distressed. I asked a friend if she had a similar problem and she said her daughter couldn't reach the door handle ..

You can always call to her from your bed if she wakes and goes to the gate.

Thanks I'll see how I get on, i think i need to prepare myself and have an early night and try and fettle it. I think i'm too soft but that's just not helping anyone especially me...

How did it go Rebelmum? My ds was up at 12.30, 2.30 and finally at 5.30am!!

Just new to mums net. I am expecting my second in 7 weeks and my 11 month old daughter is still keeping me up all night.

Anyone have any good idea's? She always goes straight back to sleep as long as I go through and give her the dummy but as soon as she loses it she wakes again.

I second the Baby Whisperer books - even DH uses them

babywhisperer has a fab website too - v helpful.