Waking at 4/5am

[honeybun7979]

Baby is 7mo, almost 8 and I can't get him out of the routine of getting up so early. I've tried less sleep in the day, tried pushing his bedtime later gradually (just just got up an hour earlier at the slightest change) and I tried earlier bedtime but only briefly so may not have had chance to work:
He currently wakes at 5 on a good day, has a 1.5 he nap at 7ish then 1hr nap at 11ish then 0.5 hr at around 1 or 2 then bedtime at 5. It needs to be later but even with nap adjustments and later bedtime he wakes at 4
He has 2 feeds a night and 2 in the day and 3 meals if it matters

Please please if anyone has anything I have tried? I'm also pregnant so it's v hard

He's actually just turned 7 mo adjusted age

What time does he go to sleep?

A later bedtime takes up to two weeks to work because you've got to wait for the sleep pressure to build. Personally though, I'd have said seven months is a bit young to be messing then around like that because they'll be fairly miserable for those two weeks. Mine has always been an early riser- she's two now and a later bedtime can push the get-up back over a couple of weeks but I find it's an inconsistent change and she always seems more tired for some reason when I've done this. Nowadays, I just go to bed earlier- there's nothing inherently wrong with a 4/5 a.m. get up, provided the adult has prepared for it. When he's a bit older you can use a gro clock to train him not to get up until a more reasonable hour. In the meantime, have you tried bringing him into your bed at four when he wakes? That used to see me through until at least half five.

Good luck x

@Christmasbellsareringing he goes to sleep around 5.30 usually

@FestiveStuffing ah I see, it can work with me getting an early bedtime but I'd read others always making changes to make it better so I thought try to see if I can make my life easier first. I would bring him into bed but don't want to wake Dp before work x
Thank you for replying :)

[quote honeybun7979]@Christmasbellsareringing he goes to sleep around 5.30 usually [/quote]
That'll be why he's waking up at 5. My dc has circa 12 hours sleep. Goes to sleep at midnight and wakes up at 12pm.
You would need to slowly shift it

If you want him to sleep until 7am roughly then his bedtime is too early.

Perhaps look at some routine books and pick the bits you’re comfortable with. Or write down your pattern over a week and then post for some suggestions.

As a sleep specialist it’s not a surprise baby is waking early. Also have you tried a feed in the dark at say 9/10pm to reset the need for a feed later.

Are you waking him to feed or is he waking up?

Are you bottle or breast feeding. Does he fall asleep on his own?
Many factors.

@Christmasbellsareringing I know my question is how because even the slightest movement of 15 mins makes him wake an hour earlier

@Alexa1990
Exactly, been trying for so long to make his bedtime later do you have any tips?
What books would you recommend?
Thank you

@Alexa1990
Sorry didn't finish!
He wakes himself for a bottle feed at 9 then again at 2/3
He falls asleep on his own after some ticking and cuddling but not fully to sleep then he wakes in the night occasionally for his dummy but resettles himself straight away with that if he's not hungry

*rocking

I would adjust his bedtime to 7-8pm if you want a later wake up at that age.

My 2 year old is also a very early riser, up between 4-5. It makes the day feel soooooo long, by the time I start work I feel like I’ve done a whole day job already!!

[quote honeybun7979]@Christmasbellsareringing I know my question is how because even the slightest movement of 15 mins makes him wake an hour earlier [/quote]
You'll need to change it by hours.

My suggestion would be to gradually move his bedtime. 5.30 is too early imo.

It would be unusual for a child to sleep 5.30pm-7am 😊

I will get back to you a little later with some top tips but-

What is your entire routine daily-

Morning nap?
Lunch nap?
Do you do a bedtime routine and if so what time. I’m thinking. Supper at 5pm, half bottle, then a bath, then second half of a bottle and settle between 6.30-7pm.

I'd try a couple of things:
moving that bedtime back to 7 (I'd do it in half hours every couple of days and prepare for it to be awful)
keep him in bed/cot until it's "morning" so for me I can get up anytime from 6am but before that it's still nighttime - I used to stick my DD in bed with me when she woke up at 5am and told her it was still nighttime repeatedly. I'm not sure it worked but we could usually doze till a more acceptable hour
Giving more milk feeds during the day if you can - only 2 in the daytime doesn't seem a lot for a 7mo even with three meals a day.

I completely sympathise, we've had periods of horrendous sleep and it takes such a toll.