Any tips on how to get DD (2 and a half) to sleep past 5am!

[mummycat1]

My gorgeous DD always goes to bed no probs at 7pm and is always exhausted and ready to go - even asking to go! However, she has been waking at 5ish every morning. I know she is not having enough sleep as she is tired in the day and has the odd daytime nap - which she had given up. Any suggestions? [hopeful smiley]

Nightlight or fairy lights on a timer. We have an actual light designed for this purpose (can't remember what its called) and after a few weeks it has largely worked. DS does know how to turn it on though and will declare that he woke bunny up to keep him company . But is also now announcing that he is a winner because he stayed asleep longer than bunny

I would second the bunny clock. Expensive, but worth it for extra sleep.

If she's still in a cot try leaving her until after 6am for a week or two. Make sure her room is very dark and only go to get her at 6am, until she starts getting up closer to 6am. Then only go get her at 6.30am, then 7am. Then even if she sleeps in go get her at 7am so her body clock is reset. No day time naps!

I have tried everything- moving DS in to share with his DSis seemed to work for a while but now they are both up at 5.45 am EVERY day. Yuk. If you find anything let me know

Thank you for your helpful suggestions - I already do what you suggest Naomi and have actually even started to nod back off again even when she doesn't.

Typically - she woke at 6.10am this morning -it's almost like she knows I've put a post on here about her! Don't expect it to last and will search internet for bunny clock - want to put her in a real bed soon (the door will be safety gated)- might as well get on with it whilst I'm already knackered!!

She might be a bit hungry? Can you feed her something just before bed? sometimes my ds gets up early and is ravenous, as he eats about 5pm...so is a long time...not very helpful...I know!

is she warm enough?, i ask cos ds went through a year of early waking and night waking, and no amout of feeding ( and we bought a bunny clock) did any good.
Then in September Mum and Dad bought him a full size single duvet (i think its 9 or 11 tog) and duvet cover (he wanted scooby doo). its totally massive on his toddler bed so i tuck it under at the bottom and down the inside so it doesn't come untucked. lo and behold ds started sleeping his full 11 hours again. (he's never done 12). my theory was he was getting cold/losing his covers in the early hours and waking himself up.

Thanks everyone. 8oreighty what you said about her being hungry made sense as she was very eager to get downstairs and have breakfast, so we have been giving her a snack at 6pm and she has been sleeping till after 6am which suits me just fine. Long may it continue

Sounds like she is overtired. I would reinstate the daytime nap.
Blackout blinds if you haven't already got them. With mornings getting lighter this could be a factor.
Glad the food seems to be working! Only just seen the last post.

just like to say cannot offer advice only condolences ds does the same and know its not right but take him to bed in desperate bid for extra sleep - good luck!!

It might just be that this will be when she wakes. My Dd woke at 0530 till she was over 3, tried everything to get her to sleep later, made not a jot of difference, Ds went through a stage of waking at 0430 for about 2 months when he was about 2, made the 0530 mornings so much more bearable once he slept a bit later. They are now nearly 6 & 4 and still wake about 0600......

Hi mummycat1, just wondered how its going for you Hope you are getting more sleep