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Original poster

16 month old waking at 5am

11 replies

G666 · 10/06/2020 10:43

Hi can anyone help my 16 month old son has started waking at 5am every day! He has recently dropped to 1 nap. he has this at 12.15 until about 2.30 then goes to bed at 6.30. He always seems over tired! I've tried giving him 2 naps but he refusing his second one. Is this just a phases a he gets older he will be able to cope better with more awake time between each nap! HELP!!

OP posts:
SnowdropFox · 10/06/2020 10:53

Are the early morning birds or light bothering him more now?
Dropping his nap by 16 months is pretty normal but he might just be adjusting to his new schedule. Has it been a few days or weeks since his early morning starts?

Original poster
G666 · 10/06/2020 11:13

Hi I've got blackout blinds and checked he not cold or to hot. It's been about 3/4 weeks now he's been waking early. I just don't know what to do??

OP posts:
HoneyBee03 · 10/06/2020 11:28

My son went through this phase around 16-18 months. It was hell and it was also winter so 5am was pitch black. I can't help in terms of fixing it as I couldn't figure it out, but I can tell you that it just stopped one day. It was about a month or two (sorry) but then he randomly started waking up later over the course of a week and went back to 7am starts.

My tips would be to keep the living room as dark as you can, put the tv on quietly, settle your son down with some quiet toys or books, or get some cuddles in while you doze on the sofa. I think I just reached acceptance after a few weeks of getting stressed about it!

DS is now just turned 2, naps for a good 2 hours in the middle of the day (would go for 3 hours if I didn't wake him), and consistently sleeps 7pm - 7am. I hope it passes for you too! Hang on in there.

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Colouringinbook · 10/06/2020 11:30

I found it involved a lot of nap tinkering to get right - my DS has an early nap so he has a longer awake stretch in the afternoon and a shorter one in the morning. At that age he'd nap from from 11am - 1ish and then in bed for 7pm with usually a 6.30ish wake up.

Original poster
G666 · 10/06/2020 14:06

Thank you everyone. I will just have to hope he grows out of it, and get used to more awake time inbetween his naps. Wish me luck. 😁

OP posts:
nadine6301 · 10/03/2021 11:56

Hey G666, it's been a while now since this thread ended but just wondering if you're little man did stop waking so early?
We are going through this now and it's horrible!! Uurgh
Looking for some light at the end of the tunnelSmile
TIA

Saltisford · 11/03/2021 13:25

We have had the same issue and since dropping to one nap he has gradually started to wake later. It has taken a while for it to happen though

doireallyneedaname · 11/03/2021 20:44

My 1 year old has been doing this recently but it’s 5:30. I’m hoping it passes like all the other phases did!

nadine6301 · 12/03/2021 11:35

Isn't everything a phase?? Smile
We get out of one and roll into another, thank goodness for coffee!!

clpsmum · 12/03/2021 11:45

Put him to bed a bit later maybe??

ijokeijoke · 12/03/2021 11:54

Use the clock change to your advantage!!

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