twin 2 and a half year old boys and early rising

[Mimil]

My 2 and a half year old twin grandsons rise at between 5 and 5.30 a.m. I don't do the early mornings, but my poor daughter is thoroughly exhausted by the time she gets them to nursery around 8.30 (and then goes to work). They are super energetic in the morning. They go to bed around 6-7 in the evening with no fuss, they are usually really tired by then. They also have about an hour to an hour and a half nap at nursery. Any suggestions so they might sleep later? Their mother says keeping them up later doesn't make a difference. She is a single mum, I help her out but she is finding it a struggle. Thanks.

i personally dont give much truck tot he idea of keepin them up later - i have found that they dont sleep in rather they get less sleep and kids desperately need their sleep.

i have a couple of suggestions.

an alarm clock - they are not allowed out of their room until the alarm clock goes off at 7.am this will need enforcing and may take 1 or 2 weeks of much firmness

the second and golden ule IMO of parenting babies - sleep when they do.

if they go to bed at 7 then she could got o bed at 9 or 10 meaning by 5 am shes had 8 hours.

mine were the same at that age (and even now at just over 4 they often don't make it to 6am - ugh).

What works - a clock and tell them they have to stay in their rooms quietly until a given time - write the time on a card beside it so they can compare. And just consistently return them to their rooms until that time.

chicken wire over the top of the cots

Not sure really, mine got up early too. I just used to get up and hope they grew out of it. They did, at 8 they are spositively sloth like in the morning unless it's a weekend and i want a lie in

I may resort to chicken wire on the door

Do they really need their nursery nap? Ours have pretty much cut theirs out now and they sleep a lot better at night!! These days they usually wake about 7ish?
Blackout blinds are a good idea too....planning on getting them ourselves now the mornings are getting lighter!

I agree with some other posters.
Blackout curtains
Go to bed early yourself - very sound advice that one
There is a bunny clock, which they can leave their room when the bunnies eyes are open. I have heard good reports for that, although they might be a little young now. At least if this continues, she could enforce that when they are 3 maybe?

Sleep issues for me = a book, Solving Your Child's Sleep Problem, Dr Richard Ferber, explains EVERYTHING!

I will link it for you when I find it. It really does help and it maybe that that is their pattern (certainly at their age....) ........and she either goes with it and corrects her own, or tries very, very hard to correct theirs. (Much easier if they ARE having a day nap......)

Let me see what I can find........

My dts1 is notorious for this. And at age 5 he still does it on average about twice a week.

We've done the blackout blinds.

We've done the clock thing.

He is just an early bird. However, it is amusing to wake listening to dts2 telling his brother in a very annoyed voice to go to sleep. I try and bore him into going back to sleep, he has to lay in bed, no getting up or reading books or playing with anything - he either falls asleep or starts singing to himself.

Haven't been much help, sorry.

worked for me and my DTs. Sorted them out in a week

I also agree with giving them a time to get up and think that the bunny clock would be perfect.

It will take some returning them back to bed but as your daughter is already exhausted this is the best time to do it.

Lots of luck and love to her.

Thank you Mars, the link was just what I was thinking of and its the thought that counts......

The book is extremely good. Points out lots of stuff you wouldn't otherwise think of. Think about day sleep, how long? and what time does it happen? Does she ever let them nap in the car and for how long and at what time? Does she accomodate early rising by allowing food/telly/chat/sleep in her bed? A couple of weeks being denied any of the pleasures associated with it will help.

Also, if they wake early and then sleep through the day to make up for lost sleep (where it is not actually needed) then she is only compounding a habit. It might need a day or two of living through the hell that is no day nap to correct the clock.

I will come back tomorrow when sleep is not winning my fight and see if I can be more useful.......

Many thanks to all of you for the excellent suggestions. This was my first time here and you are all so welcoming and supportive.I will pass on the information and see what works and report back. The boys have shutters in their room which block all outside light, no curtains needed, so we leave the overhead light on very low as a night light (all lights are on dimmers). They don't nap in car (no time, short journey) or get into her bed in the morning or have a television in the house. But they have just moved into single beds from cots although they used to get out of their cots with ease. Maybe it is just an adjustment, but in the meantime thanks for all the suggestions, will let you know.

I suppose they maybe just need their sleep clocks adjusted slightly. They are actually sleeping quite a decent amount of time (6/7pm til 5.30am). It would take time but gradually if she keeps putting them to bed a little later (and suffering the awful tired behaviour) eventually ending up at say 8pm, she might get a little more sleep herself. Do get that book, it really is helpful at explaining sleep patterns. Good luck to you all.

try the bunny clock its great!

Hi everyone,
Reporting back as promised. The boys have given up their nap at nursery although if they (or even one) look tired , one of the staff will put them to bed for an hour. They now go to bed at 7.30 and are nearly always asleep within a few minutes and best of all sleeping til 6.30 occasionally even 7! The longer evenings are working out well as everyone is more relaxed, although in the beginning there were some tearful tired times. Thanks for the suggestion.

As an aside we finally got someone to bring us the bunny clock and don't need it now. But will probably give it a try anyway.

Thannks for all the help.