early waking!!

[clareey]

HI can anyone give me any tips, my 7 yr old DS keeps waking up really early, ie 5am, 5.30am for the last 6/7 weeks. He is tired when he goes to bed at between 7.30-8pm and goes straight to sleep, he doesn't usually wake in the night.
Doesn't make any difference if i keep him up later, he still wakes early and is just more bad tempered!
I wake him and take him to the loo when i go to bed so that he doesn't wake up needing the toilet. I am running out of ideas and patience!
We are both getting tired and ratty at getting up early every day!!
Any tips greatly received!!

Bump

My eldest DC is a very early riser (and always has been) When he was younger we used to have a timer on a string of fairy lights in his room. He was allowed to get up when the lights came on, until then he had to stay in his room and read/play quietly/go back to sleep. We started by setting it at 6am (his normal waking time was about 5.30) and gradually added on 10 minutes every couple of days until we ended up at 7.15 - which is what time he gets up now. (He's now 11 and is perfectly capable of telling the time!)
We still do this for my younger two and it has worked for them too, although as they share a room they sometimes need reminding about the 'playing quietly' bit! The rule we enforce is they are only allowed out of their rooms to go to the toilet and then they go straight back until the lights are on. It took a bit of patience at the beginning, but is well worth it.
Lots of people have said to me in the past 'Why don't you let him stay up later, then he'll sleep later', but I found, like you, it made no difference but just meant the next day was hell on earth as he was so crabby.
Hope this helps

JLo2
That is a good idea. I was just pondering this question this morning at 5:45 am when DD wakened us. Will give that a go.

My ds is only 2 but had been a 5am boy from birth until we rapid returned him in the mornings for a couple of weeks. Now wakes up at 6 at the earliest and occasionally a blissful 7am

JLo2

Thanks for the advice will definately give it a go . Cheers